While owners of sites abutting the West Gate Freeway in Southbank have enjoyed recent planning success, the luck seems to run out as developers approach the first major suburban exit, in Spotswood.
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The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal has rejected a proposal by local developer Omni Property Group to replace a vacant tract of land at 637 Melbourne Road, abutting a freeway entrance, with a medium density apartment complex.
The five-level application with 38 flats replaced an eight-storey, 56-unit block proposal put forward last year and rejected by the Hobsons Bay council.
VCAT said Omni's proposal failed to integrate with the Spotswood and Yarraville areas and it was concerned freeway noise would affect occupants. Increased traffic movement at the intersection was also cited as a concern.
Planning authorities have supported "freeway-edge" development in other parts of suburban Melbourne, however.
Along the Tullamarine freeway in the north, Australand is building low-rise apartments in Parkville. R.Corporation is also replacing an infill site at Brunswick West.
Developers have also built new dwellings north and south of the Eastern Freeway entrance at Abbotsford, near Punt Road and the Yarra River.
In the south-east, VicRoads last year pocketed $17 million selling a seven hectare Wantirna block abutting Eastlink, identified by a council housing report study as a strategic site.
