The Warley apartments: "a high-quality architectural response which satisfies the vision for the site by virtue of its scale, quality, and compliance", according to the planning department.
By Catherine Watson
IT’S RARE that a major new development on a landmark site wins unanimous approval but on Wednesday Bass Coast councillors heartily approved a 91-apartment complex planned for the old Warley Hospital site.
Cr Ron Bauer described the $25 million project as an appropriate development for the site and a resolution for a painful chapter in Phillip Island’s history.
“It’s been a long time coming. With the new community hospital we can finally, and without a qualm, say goodbye and close a chapter on the Warley Hospital.”
IT’S RARE that a major new development on a landmark site wins unanimous approval but on Wednesday Bass Coast councillors heartily approved a 91-apartment complex planned for the old Warley Hospital site.
Cr Ron Bauer described the $25 million project as an appropriate development for the site and a resolution for a painful chapter in Phillip Island’s history.
“It’s been a long time coming. With the new community hospital we can finally, and without a qualm, say goodbye and close a chapter on the Warley Hospital.”
Artist's impression, looking south Since the hospital closed in 2008, causing great community distress, there have been a number of development proposals. In 2017 councillors voted five votes to four to reject a proposal to re-open the hospital as a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre and medical clinic.
The current mayor, Cr Michael Whelan, argued then that the proposal would tie up one of Cowes’ most valuable development sites for decades when it should be used to accommodate the town’s growth and development as a vibrant tourist centre.
It also ran counter to the Cowes Activity Centre Plan which aims to deliver more housing choice, diversity, and affordability in and on the edges of the commercial core.
The latest proposal meets those objectives with two five-storey buildings containing 15 one-bedroom apartments, 62 two-bedroom apartments and 14 three-bedroom apartments, along with 117 basement car parking spaces and 112 bike spaces.
Cr Rooks said he was pleased with the range of apartments to accommodate families and singles. “This is 91 apartments within walking distance of town, in an appropriate location to have an increased housing density. Plus 112 bike spaces to encourage active transport and supporting a pedestrian-friendly crossover from their side towards town.
Cr Rochelle Halstead congratulated the planning department for successful negotiations with the developer.
“It’s taken three to four months to get to this stage and that’s a fantastic outcome. It shows what happens when developers work with our planning department to address concerns I think it will be a terrific addition for the community of Cowes.”
There were four objections with concerns related to parking, traffic and pedestrian safety; neighbourhood character and height; impact on drainage and overlooking. All were satisfactorily managed, according to the planning report.
“The application has been assessed against the Bass Coast Planning Scheme and is considered to provide a high-quality architectural response which satisfies the vision for the site by virtue of its scale, quality, and compliance.
“Appropriate articulation is provided by incorporating two separate buildings to break up the potential of massing as well as a variation in setbacks and materials.
“The three-storey street wall and vaulted canopy between the two buildings will create a human scale along Warley Avenue with the built form recession behind the street wall ensuring that view lines are protected from the public realm towards Western Port Bay.”
The report noted that the location on a slope reduced the visual impact from properties further south along Warley Avenue. “The Norfolk Island Pines which are up to 18 metres in height along Warley Avenue and proposed landscaping will assist in enhancing the visual amenity by softening the impact of the built form from the coastal areas.
The current mayor, Cr Michael Whelan, argued then that the proposal would tie up one of Cowes’ most valuable development sites for decades when it should be used to accommodate the town’s growth and development as a vibrant tourist centre.
It also ran counter to the Cowes Activity Centre Plan which aims to deliver more housing choice, diversity, and affordability in and on the edges of the commercial core.
The latest proposal meets those objectives with two five-storey buildings containing 15 one-bedroom apartments, 62 two-bedroom apartments and 14 three-bedroom apartments, along with 117 basement car parking spaces and 112 bike spaces.
Cr Rooks said he was pleased with the range of apartments to accommodate families and singles. “This is 91 apartments within walking distance of town, in an appropriate location to have an increased housing density. Plus 112 bike spaces to encourage active transport and supporting a pedestrian-friendly crossover from their side towards town.
Cr Rochelle Halstead congratulated the planning department for successful negotiations with the developer.
“It’s taken three to four months to get to this stage and that’s a fantastic outcome. It shows what happens when developers work with our planning department to address concerns I think it will be a terrific addition for the community of Cowes.”
There were four objections with concerns related to parking, traffic and pedestrian safety; neighbourhood character and height; impact on drainage and overlooking. All were satisfactorily managed, according to the planning report.
“The application has been assessed against the Bass Coast Planning Scheme and is considered to provide a high-quality architectural response which satisfies the vision for the site by virtue of its scale, quality, and compliance.
“Appropriate articulation is provided by incorporating two separate buildings to break up the potential of massing as well as a variation in setbacks and materials.
“The three-storey street wall and vaulted canopy between the two buildings will create a human scale along Warley Avenue with the built form recession behind the street wall ensuring that view lines are protected from the public realm towards Western Port Bay.”
The report noted that the location on a slope reduced the visual impact from properties further south along Warley Avenue. “The Norfolk Island Pines which are up to 18 metres in height along Warley Avenue and proposed landscaping will assist in enhancing the visual amenity by softening the impact of the built form from the coastal areas.