A VCAT hearing has assessed a proposed multi-storey building at 446-450 Nepean Highway in Frankston.
Frankston Council approved plans for a 14 storey tower at 446-450 Nepean Highway in November 2022. The proposal, titled Harbour Frankston, will be built at the former home of the Pint and Pickle restaurant if it gets VCAT’s approval.
The VCAT hearing took place last week on Thursday, 22 February, and will return a finding soon. The Long Island Residents Group Inc and the Frankston Beach Association Inc were listed among the objectors.
The apartment building plans were approved by Frankston Council with a 5-4 vote. Those plans, as well as plans for a 16-storey building at 438-444 Nepean Highway set to be considered by VCAT soon, sparked protests throughout 2023. “Stop the Great Wall Of Frankston” protesters again met to voice their opposition last week.
Building heights in Frankston’s CBD, including the Nepean Highway near Kananook Creek, are currently undergoing a raft of changes. Council’s FMAC structure plan is going through the planning panel process – the plan outlines new preferred height limits of up to 54 metres, around 16 storeys, in parts of Frankston’s CBD. Planning minister Sonya Kilkenny has implemented interim 12 storey limits near Kananook Creek in the meantime (“Higher height limits approved” The Times 30/10/23).
Plans for a 15-storey building at 424-426 Nepean Highway in Frankston have also been submitted to council for approval. They were exhibited in December.
The planned developments have come back into focus during the Dunkley by-election. Liberal candidate for Dunkley Nathan Conroy has been Frankston mayor for the last three years, and has championed the FMAC structure plan and its new height limits throughout his tenure.