November 04, 2011 at 9:16 AM

It is now 11 years since the St Kilda Triangle site was floated for redevelopment by the City of Port Phillip. At the time it was just one of nine foreshore areas considered for redevelopment but now it is definitely the only one still up for debate. What began as an urban design project became an prime example of the need for community consultation in the planning process.

In 2005, the Port Phillip Council called for expressions of interest and after multiple legal challenges the winning bid was announced in May 2007. The winning bid from property developers Citta, consisted of a commercial megacentre with nearly 200 shops and multiple nightclubs. The announcement was met with whispers of dissatisfaction which quickly multiplied into community-wide calls of outrage. In December 2009, as a result of the public outcry the Port Phillip Council terminated its contract with Citta Property Group and the site retained its status as the carpark with the greatest urban planning potential in Melbourne.

In August 2011, the City of Port Phillip opened an online forum to allow the community to suggest ideas for the use of the site (see http://haveyoursayatportphillip.net.au/st-kilda-triangle). A perusal of the responses received illustrates only one point: that there is no single solution that will please everybody. The site offers a multitude of opportunities, for both developers and the wider community. The site is located at the intersection of the shops and services of Acland and Fitzroy Streets and the recreational precinct of the foreshore and therefore any future development should provide a gateway linking these areas. The site has a location ideal for a high-density residential development as it is close to public transport, shops and services. The bohemian and spontaneous personality of St Kilda means the site’s ideal use may be a public space for events, art and café culture. Each idea suggested has its own strengths and weaknesses and appeals to different members of the Port Phillip community. Of all the possibilities, the only one option we cannot support is allowing this prominent St Kilda location to be wasted as a car park for another decade. However if it is, then you can continue to read about all the progress here on the Keen Planning Blog.