Saturday, June 26, 2010

Morale boost for objectors, but the fight is not over yet…

On Wednesday 23rd June more than 200 local residents turned up to the Moreland Council Urban Planning Committee meeting to object to the proposed expansion of the Brunswick Terminal Station. After several compelling presentations by objectors, Council unanimously agreed to reject the application for a permit from Singapore Power Ausnet. Several Councillors thanked local residents for organising such a strong and well-argued campaign.

Moreland Council Urban Planning Committee

It is unclear at this stage what Singapore Power Ausnet will do next (either back to the drawing board to develop a new planning application, or appeal the Council’s decision at VCAT) however what is certain is that this issue has not gone away. There WILL be an upgrade/expansion of the Brunswick Terminal Station in some form, and it is up to residents to ensure their voices are heard and given proper consideration.

If you want to keep up to date with the campaign to put the Brunswick Terminal Station underground, watch developments as they are posted on this campaign blog.

If you want to get actively involved in the campaign, contact one of the following by phone: Francesco 9486 6359; Anne 9481 8404; Irma 0421 838 856; Kerry 9489 8009.

Thank you to all those residents who have already shown their support for this campaign and all those who have made a commitment to helping sustain the campaign as it goes forward. Thanks must also go to the Moreland City Councillors who listened to the voices of residents, and both Darebin and Yarra Councils for responding so quickly to this issue once it was brought to their attention by the residents’ campaign. We look forward to continued support from our elected representatives at local, state and federal levels during the next stage of this campaign.

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Brunswick Terminal Station Planning Officer's Report

DCD41    46 KING STREET, FITZROY NORTH - PLANNING APPLICATION MPS/2009/776 (D10/104136) Brunswick Terminal Station

Executive Summary

The application seeks approval for buildings and works associated with the existing utility installation (electrical terminal station).  The application was advertised and 16 objections were received. [Over 250+ now received] The main issues raised in objections are impact on visual amenity, increased noise, landscaping, works are outside ‘existing use’ criteria and the affect to resident’s health.  A public consultation meeting was held on 31 May 2010.  No consensus was reached.  The report details the assessment of the application against the policies and provisions of the Moreland Planning Scheme.
The Director City Development is recommending the issue of a Notice of Decision to Grant a Planning Permit for building and works associated with the existing utility installation (terminal station) at 46 King Street, Fitzroy North in the South Ward.


Click here for the entire report.

Please note: The council refused the application on Wednesday 24th June.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Sparks fly on Brunswick East pylons

The Moreland Leader featured our fight in the June 21 2010 issue.

RESIDENTS are furious at plans for a dozen massive steel electricity towers they say will spoil the pleasant outlook over Merri Creek.
Power company SP AusNet plans to build a dozen 25-metre towers at its Brunswick Terminal Station, next to Sumner Park and on the Yarra border.
The plans have infuriated residents who said it would destroy the feel of the neighbourhood and could expose them to an increased risk of cancer.

more -> the whole article

Saturday, June 19, 2010

MORELAND COUNCIL’S VISION FOR OPEN SPACES

a summary, based on Moreland Open Space Strategy 2004
as published on the Moreland Council’s website

or


Moreland Council has a strategy in place for the open spaces of Moreland.  It sits within a broader policy framework that includes policies adopted at a State Government level.

Moreland Council’s strategy supports the State Government’s Melbourne 2030 policy which recognises the Merri Creek “as being part of the regional public space network” (ie. a major, rather than local, park which is consequently managed by Parks Victoria.)  Parks Victoria’s intention is to “protect, enhance and where possible link the significant riparian vegetation of waterways such as the Yarra River, the Plenty River, the Moonee Ponds Creek, the Merri Creek and Watsons Creek in order to establish regional wildlife corridors.”  So the Merri Creek is not considered only of relevance to the local area, but to the region.

The State Policy Planning Framework, Victoria Planning Provisions Cl.56-05, states the provision of public open space should “take advantage of and protect natural and cultural features, and incorporate land for regional linear open space where appropriate.”

Moreland’s goal is to “restore ‘natural’ landscapes, primarily along the waterways, to provide habitat for indigenous plants and animals and for informal outdoor recreation”.  To achieve this, council says it will “utilise up-to-date, sustainable environmental design and technology in open space development and redevelopment” and ensure that “any new buildings, other structures and car parks cause minimal encroachment into public open space…”

Council acknowledges that “to many people, the appeal of open space lies in vegetated landscapes and opportunities for contact with nature within the urban environment”, and the role these spaces have on “human spiritual and physical wellbeing”.  Council also notes that “in Moreland, most of the natural plant and animal communities, and even some landforms and creeks have been replaced by roofs, roads and other hard surfaces.”

Council says there is “still much work to be done in restoring the creek corridors to conserve and enhance their natural, cultural heritage, landscape and recreational values.”  And it is their intention to “acquire land to establish a minimum 30 metre wide public open space corridor along the Merri, Moonee Ponds and Edgars Creeks” as opportunities arise.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Urban Planning Committee 23 June 2010 Brunswick Terminal Station

Application No: MPS/2009/776 Building and works associated with the existing utility installation (terminal station)
Property: 46 King Street, FITZROY NORTH VIC 3068


I refer to the above planning application and your objection lodged to this application.
Please be advised that the application will be considered at the next meeting of the Urban Planning Committee.  7:30pm  Wednesday 23 June 2010
Council Chambers
- Municipal Offices, 90 Bell Street Coburg


You are invited to attend this meeting. At the meeting both the permit applicant and any objectors will be given a brief (usually 3 minute) opportunity to address the Committee


The officer’s report is contained in the meeting agenda and will be made available on the Friday prior (that's tomorrow the 18th) to the meeting. If you require a copy of the agenda, please contact Council’s Governance Unit on 9240 1115

Monday, June 7, 2010

Residents Object to the planned expansion of the Brunswick Terminal Station

The choice that politicians and administrators will have to make is either defacing a neighbourhood or improving Melbourne.
The choice – improving or defacing a residential neighbourhood. Merri Creek Parklands (left) could be expanded, if the Brunswick Terminal Station (right) was to be redeveloped as an underground station as in Sydney or Anaheim.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Underground Substation in Australia is a Win-Win

Haymarket Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS) Substation Design and Construction

Creating the largest underground substation in Australia and devising an ingenious "labyrinth" to capture escaped gas.

The Challenge
Transgrid NSW required a substation to meet the growing demand for power in Sydney and to address the ageing infrastructure. The challenge was to maximise the real estate available to construct the substation, given space is at a premium in the central business district of Sydney. Another crucial element of the Haymarket project was the gas capture and recovery system, which is an important consideration given the close proximity of buildings in the CBD in relation to the substation. The positioning of energy infrastructure of this magnitude in the CBD was a major requirement of the customer.

The Solution
Siemens built the Haymarket substation in a five-storey building, three of which are underground and contain 28 bays of gas insulated switchgear plus Australia's first gas insulated transformers. The systems installed included 23 bays of the Siemens 132kV 8DN8 gas insulated switchgear, and four bays of the 330kV 8DQ1 gas insulated switchgear. Siemens created a labyrinth to capture and recover any escaped gas: this system is a world first innovation in the management of gas. The Haymarket substation is now the largest underground substation in Australia.

The Outcome
  • Ensured certainty of power supply for the Sydney CBD and southern suburbs
  • Achieved economies of space: the multi-storey building directly above the substation is an added benefit, given space is at a premium in the central business district
  • Installed auxiliary power, lighting, air conditioning, security, fire protection and a building management system to the building, designed to carry a future nine-storey office tower
  • Used SF6 – a non-flammable greenhouse gas – in the transformers, so the capture and recovery has important environmental and safety implications
  • Devised an innovative solution to the problem of escaped gas
Solution Overview and Case Study

via Siemens

Win-win. An underground electricity substation.

An electrical substation was put underground in order to create a public park for the residents of Anaheim, CA. This solution is the best practice solution for crowded modern cities.