"Death traps for the future”: Why did Manningham Council approve 25 townhouses with just one visitor parking space?

Despite concerns about how one visitor parking spot could support a 25-townhouse development in Doncaster, Manningham Council has approved the project, but with caveats.

At the meeting on Tuesday April 29, councillors unanimously approved the permit application for the development on 449-461 Doncaster Road, subject to 32 conditions.

Councillor Geoff Gough told the meeting such high-density developments with low visitor parking allocations were “death traps for the future”, but said councillors were hamstrung by state planning regulations. 

What is the development?

Spanning six lots and six buildings, the development would include the demolition of the six existing houses and the construction of 19 three-storey and six two-storey dwellings.

The site would cover 4,313 square metres, with a site frontage of about 127.53 metres and a maximum building height of 11.2 metres.

While each dwelling would include two car spaces in the form of garages, the entire development would only create one car space for visitors.

Mayor Deirdre Diamante said in the meeting she was pleased to approve the development with appropriate amendments. These include a Construction Management Plan, which she said would restrict the parking of trades vehicles and lighten the burden already placed on nearby residents who are currently living with the North East Link works.

“The Doncaster Road Bridge and the Doncaster Park and Ride is within 100 metres of this property,” she said. “I have asked that in the construction of these substantial number of townhouses … there be consideration of truck movements and also of worker parking.”

What concerns were raised?

Despite councillor Geoff Gough voting for the permit application, he told the chamber the application was an example of a large-scale development not adequately providing enough parking spaces for visitors.

“It’s not council’s fault, it’s actually the regulations and the State Government and the planning scheme and what they’re allowed to do,” he said.

Councillor Gough said in the meeting it was worth considering the broader impacts of high-density living on future generations.

“These are death traps for the future,” he said. “We can’t lie to people and tell them that it’s not going to end up like Fitzroy or Collingwood or any of those inner suburban areas in 10 years’ time.”