By Hannah Vandenbogaerde
A new planning application for West Footscray’s Wool Store has sparked debate across Melbourne’s west.
Following the expiry of its previous permit, music and events company Untitled Group has submitted a proposal seeking to increase both the size and number of events held at the venue, alongside a reduction in parking.
“The Wool Store has been a local landmark for generations, but has sat unused for years. Together with Creative Victoria, we’re excited to be bringing the precinct back to life as an arts, music and cultural hub, and a place West Footscray can be proud of”, says Pete Sofo, Director of Festivals and Major Events at Untitled.
Some residents have welcomed the initiative with open arms. Local Colette Deschamps says she supports the opening of any event space, because they will make the west more liveable.
“I think it is a great idea. I think more entertainment venues of a decent size anywhere in a city is great, but in the West it is fantastic. It will give us access to amazing events.”
Another local, Jacqui Hannon has mixed feelings. While she says she’s not been bothered by events in past years she does have concerns about parking.
“We do not actually really hear the music much at all when they are on. So for us, that is not really an issue,” says Ms Hannon.
However, she says that reduced parking and bad traffic management has often led to congestion on their streets.
“The residents had nowhere to park. And it was one particular occasion, it was impossible to drive down the street, there was just nowhere to pull in, or it was very difficult for us to get in and out of the driveways for those who live near the Wool Store.”
The new proposal is seeking 34 car spaces during major events and 58 spaces during minor events, resulting in a projected shortfall of 1,275 parking spaces for major events and 92 car spaces for minor events.
With the goal of increasing their patronage from 5000 to 8500 for major events, local Bruce Smith has also expressed concerns about the heightened risk of disturbance after events.
He says he does not believe a sign will be adequate ‘for managing the dispersal of up to 8500 people at night.’
Ms Hannon is a little more optimistic. She says Untitled has improved traffic management for their most recent events and is hoping the company will continue to keep residents in mind.
However, she also says she would like some more forward planning and consultation about any changes.
“There has to be a bit of consideration put towards the narrow streets, there is a lot of construction in our area. There is a major data centre being built,” she says. “So we are all pretty hypersensitive to traffic and road closures.”
“As long as the organisers communicate with the actual local community, we can sort of live all harmoniously side by side.”
Mr. Sofo says they are communicating with Council about establishing ‘community consultation’ nights to ensure the project is delivering to community expectations.
Bruce Smith however is not confident about the community consultation process. He says often “have to compare multiple reports and try to determine which version is current or which statements take priority.”
“For an ongoing entertainment venue of this scale, residents should not have to reconstruct the proposal themselves from documents that appear incomplete, unclear or inconsistent.”
One of the aspects that is creating a lot of confusion for residents is the company’s definition of ‘minor events’.
The proposal states there is no annual cap on these events and could involve up to 1000 patrons. Council has recommended more clarification which the Untitled Group has ejected.
Mr Smith says the lack of information is concerning.
“An unlimited number of events involving up to 1000 people should not be treated as insignificant. Clear and enforceable limits are required.”
Furthermore, he says he is worried about the application of noise limits and if there will be enough effort to reduce noise as far as reasonably practicable.
“One of the most serious concerns with this application is that it appears to be structured and assessed in a way that circumvents the usual EPA Noise requirements applying to permanent entertainment venues.”
Wool Store’s noise management plan states that EPA limits for outdoor events should be applied to all stage areas within the venue as that will allow for practical noise monitoring.
An EPA spokesperson has confirmed that outdoor entertainment venues must obtain event permits from the EPA if those events meet certain criteria.
“Whether the Wool Store is considered an indoor or outdoor entertainment venue will depend on the nature of individual events held at the location.”
Despite Council recommending an independent review, this has also been rejected by Untitled.
Lastly, there are also concerns about the building’s heritage.
Jacqui Hannon says the venue looks ‘a little unloved’. She says the buildings on and near the Wool Store site are a big part of the West Footscray Tottenham community and are much loved.
“They have been there for a very long time. The building next to it has been beautifully restored. They have really done an amazing job to clean up that area because it was pretty deserted and unloved: a lot of graffiti, a lot of tagging, dumped rubbish,” she says. “But the Wool Store itself, I don’t know if there has been much done to the external part of it.”
Mr Smith says he is also unsatisfied with the Conservation Management Plan which states that repairs that should be completed in following years ranked according to priority.
He says the plan does not hold enforceable heritage works, firm deadlines and clear responsibility for funding and completing those works.
“Those measures are useful, but they do not appear to represent substantial or immediate investment in the building, particularly when an ongoing commercial venue approval is being sought.”
According to a Department of Transport and Planning spokesperson, relevant agencies and stakeholders are consulted for any application going through the Development Facilitation Program, and the community can continue to send their submissions to the Department of Transport and Planning until a decision has been made.
The Development Facilitation Program (DFP) is a program created by the state government to “expedite planning pathways and facilitation services for eligible projects that inject investment into the Victorian economy”.
The Department also states that a range of matters will be considered within this assessment, including noise management, traffic management, heritage protection and more.
“Every proposal is considered on its merits and as this proposal is currently under consideration, it would be inappropriate to comment further,” a Department spokesperson says.
At the time of writing Maribyrnong City Council has stated it will not provide any comment at this stage.
