VCAT hearing fast approaching

The appeal of Yarra Council's decision to reject the York Street development is listed to be heard by VCAT on May 6, 7 and 8.

VCAT has the power to overturn the Council's decision and allow the development to go ahead unamended. This would be catastrophic for neighbouring residents and the rest of York Street.

All affected neighbours are entitled to make submissions and be heard at the hearing. If you haven't already made a submission, or been approached to make one, please contact saveyork@yahoo.com.au as soon as possible.

Time is running out! Even if you don't think you can get involved, every contribution helps, no matter how small - it all counts as evidence before VCAT on the negative effects of the development. The more people that stand up and be counted, the harder it will be for VCAT to approve the development.

The community speaks!

A recent addition to the bridge over York Street:

Meet the developer

The Gold Coast property developer behind the proposed York Street development is Anthony Gordon. Anthony lives in a big house at 129 Hedges Avenue Mermaid Beach on the Gold Coast. He is a lucky man, as this street is known locally as 'Millionaire's Row' and was recently reported in the Courier Mail as containing the most expensive real estate in Queensland.

An aerial view of Hedges Avenue shows what a great location it is. Anthony's place is highlighted:
A close-up picture illustrates in even greater detail what a nice location it is:

Anthony's house is a 'modern' style of building which may not be to everyone's tastes. Not surpsiringly, it bears a few similarities to his York Street proposal.

Anthony's front door on Hedges Avenue:

Like his York Street proposal, the front facade of Anthony's house does not exactly project a welcoming image to the street:

Like the York Street proposal, it is a big, slab-sided building that takes up as much of the block as possible, and is not very attractive to look at from most angles:

Though at least the back of the house facing the beach is slightly more attractive:

The view from Anthony's front yard is stunning:

And from his front yard he has a perfect view of the centre of the Gold Coast:

Why are we telling you all this?

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Because Anthony obviously values his property, values his view and values his lifestyle - just as residents of York Street do, 2,000km away. Unlike Anthony, however, residents of York Street will have to live with the consequences of his overdevelopment, and live with the consequences of his greed.

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Anthony is lucky. Nobody is planning to build a huge 72 apartment complex right next to his house. If they were, here's what the effect would be:

This graphic represents what would happen if Anthony's York Street development was built in the same proximity to his house as he is proposing for its York Street neighbours. The effect on Anthony'a house would be catastrophic. The new building would:

- block out natural light from the East;

- create intolerable overshadowing problems;

- create huge amounts of noise and congestion from his 72 new neighbours; and

- be completely out-of-character with the neighbourhood.

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These are exactly the same effects that his building will have on York Street residents.

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If Anthony Gordon is concerned about such a proposal, then perhaps he should start paying attention to the concerns of York Street residents. Anthony will never have to live in York Street - he will probably never even visit it - but he should think long and hard about what he wants to inflict on those who do.

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Anthony Gordon would be justifiably angry if an arrogant out-of-towner from 2,000km away tried to impose a similar monstrosity on his Gold Coast beachfront street.

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Residents of York Street have every right to be just as angry with Anthony Gordon.