fii31anc

Ms Elizabeth
Bensz

Manager,
Planning, Building and Investigations

Bayside City
Council

PO Box 27, SANDRINGHAM VIC 3191

Dear Ms Bensz,

Planning
Application Ref. 5.2004.880.1: No. 31a North Concourse, Beaumaris
 

Beaumaris
Conservation Society Inc. refers to the planning application for 31a
North Concourse, Beaumaris, and lodges its objection to this
application for the reasons detailed below.

Impact on Public
Trees and Land: The
advertised plans show a balcony and awning extending along and over the
north and east boundaries of the applicant’s freehold land, so that the
proposed structures would protrude significantly over publicly-owned
and publicly-used land. The structures would extend a considerable way
into or over two existing large and well-established indigenous trees
on the western nature strip on the side boundary in East Concourse.
Those trees, shown in the accompanying photograph, were officially and
purposely planted as street trees. The awning would not appear to serve
any public purpose, as those footpaths, which do not lead to shops or
car parks, are seldom used.

View of East Concourse boundary of 31A North
Concourse, Beaumaris, on 5th September 2006

Value of Street Trees: The proposal would necessitate, or can be
expected to lead to, the significant and inappropriate pruning of those
trees. The trees appear to be Narrow-leaf Peppermint Gum-trees (Eucalyptus
radiata). The impact of the structures on the trees
would be severe, and be an unacceptable outcome for Beaumaris
Concourse. As the Concourse largely comprises built form, roads and
paving, there is limited area available for the planting of street
trees. It is essential that Council seek to maintain and encourage the
limited existing number and opportunity for street trees in the
Concourse to protect the traditional village atmosphere of the
Concourse, and its distinctly Beaumaris ambience, for the purposes of
shopping, a place to work, conducting business, and general enjoyment
of the facilities in this area.

For any
proposed development in Bayside, as affirmed in VCAT decisions on
Bayside, retention of street trees is a key requirement to be
satisfied. BCS Inc. strongly recommends that this proposal be rejected
in its current form based on the adverse impact it would have on the
current and required future canopy structure of the adjacent street
trees.

Opposition to
Balconies over Public Land:
BCS Inc. considers that private balconies should not be permitted to be
built in public air space above public land. Such structures there, and
their use, are an undesirable intrusion into the public domain, and
provide scope for accidental or reckless actions that could result in
offence or danger to passers-by due to noise, or the dropping of
offensive or dangerous articles or substances. Such structures provide
an intrusive yet protected stage for offensive or anti-social behaviour
that is not easily controlled or subject to ready redress or sanction.

Acceptable
Alternatives: An acceptable
planning proposal would comprise a balcony structure that does not
protrude over public land or interfere with the current and future
growth of trees on public land. Such balconies should be set back from
those tree canopies far enough so that future inappropriate pruning is
not required or sought on the grounds that the growth of the trees to
their full size has impinged, or threatens to impinge, on the amenity
of the balconies.

Yours
sincerely,

Adrian Cerbasi

President,
Beaumaris Conservation Society Inc.

cc. Mayor and
Councillors, Bayside City Council