PART ONE

1. The discussion forum
In response to the tremendous turn out at the St Kilda Town Hall meeting on 13 December, unChain St Kilda, together with the Esplanade Alliance, has seats at the negotiating table with:

• Mayor Janet Cribbes
• Councillor Dick Gross
• CEO David Spokes
• David Elsum, banker and member of St Kilda Edge (SKE) Committee
• Steve McMillan, BBC and one of his colleagues.

2. The discussion
At the heart of the discussion is the independent consultants finding that the Development Plan (DP) does not meet the guidelines, which govern the planning and principal outcomes for the St Kilda Triangle crown land site.

"Submissions which state that the DP is inconsistent with the outcomes and vision sought by the St Kilda Foreshore UDF, DPO1 and SUZ3 have considerable merit."
Matrix Consulting

Our position is that there would have to be substantial changes to the proposed DP, such as a material reduction in the retail and commercial floor areas (including nightclubs, pubs and taverns) and significant design modifications to leave views intact, in order to bring the DP into compliance.

We have entered discussions with the Council and BBC in good faith in an attempt to find a creative way around the current situation and we hope that Council and BBC have entered likewise.

3. Key issues raised so far

Alternative funding for Palais refurbishment
We have tabled alternative funding models for the refurbishment of the Palais Theatre, in conjunction with:

• a public 'pledge' campaign launched by Rachel Griffiths on 28 December that has already attracted national and international interest.
• a call to the State Government to redirect some of the public funds ($35 million this year) that underwrite the Grand Prix.
  

Our position is that alternative funding models should be explored (in the first instance within the integrity of the tender), that do not demand an intensive commercialisation of the neighbouring crown land site.

• The Palais refurbishment should not be hostage to commercial drivers for rest of the site.
• The Palais is not a public 'burden' on the site. Under the right theatre/venue entrepreneur, and the security of a 99-year lease, it has real revenue generating potential.

The alternative funding models were well received by Mayor and BBC.

Opposition to a supermarket
We raised objections to the location of a 3,200 square metre supermarket - the largest in inner Melbourne - on the foreshore crown land site.

Our position is that this is not a complementary activity for a cultural and entertainment (diverse, all ages) precinct and thus not envisaged by the UDF, DPO1and SUZ3.

Council is backing BBC's 'shopping mall' model, predicated on the notion of 'anchor' tenants to generate consumer traffic. BBC has said the supermarket is not negotiable.

4. Next meeting...
We have asked that Matrix Consulting provide advice on the implications of its key findings on two of our key issues - massive retail and nightclub components. Matrix found that:

• The DP does not provide any detailed justification ... for the level of retail and commercial activity proposed
• Submissions about the effects of licensed premises are legitimate

5. The design review
Concurrently, the St Kilda Edge Design Committee, guiding Council on the design aspects of the DP, has invited two local architects - experts in history and heritage of the foreshore - to advise on changes that will leave belvedere views intact (i.e. views from the public realm of the Upper Esplanade) and maintain the landmark status of the Palais Theatre.

We have requested that Council extend an invitation to an expert representative from unChain St Kilda to also advise the committee.

unChain St Kilda is consulting an eminent heritage consultant about the conservation and heritage status of the Palais as a landmark free-standing pavilion.

For more details, see council minutes

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