By Charlene Macaulay
Southern Rural Water and Wyndham council have come to a compromise regarding a SRW plan to sell off part of its Werribee headquarters and rezone the land to an Activity Centre Zone.
The Government Land Standing Advisory Committee last month considered SRW’s plan to subdivide the Tower Road site into two parts with a view to retaining the heritage-listed water tower and front office building and building a new office attached to the existing office.
SRW also wanted to rezone the remainder of the land from Public Use Zone 1 to Activity Centre Zone 1 – which would allow for development up to 18.5 metres in height – and sell it off.
SRW managing director Clinton Rodda said the Tower Road site was underutilised and the office was in poor condition.
Mr Rodda said SRW had sought the rezoning to reflect the strategic planning for Werribee’s CBD, with the preferred building height range of 8-18.5 metres matching the height of the water tower.
However, following discussions with the council, SRW agreed to reduce the height range to a maximum of 13.5 metres, or four storeys.
“There will also be a setback of approximately 10 metres from the water tower to any new buildings to the rear of the site,” Mr Rodda said.
Wyndham council city economy director Peter McKinnon said although the council originally advocated for a building height of 11 metres, “it was agreed that a 13.5 metre height with a significant setback from the water tower was an appropriate outcome for both parties”.
“It’s important to note that a planning application for the land behind the water tower is yet to be submitted and this initial process simply gives any future planning application the best chance of meeting residents’ needs,” Mr McKinnon said.
However, councillor Mia Shaw believes the site should not form part of Werribee’s activity centre.
“I … have concerns about the amenity impacts, such as overshadowing for adjoining residents, and the impact to an already highly congested intersection,” she said.
