Resident anger on Lend Lease plans

By Shane Scanlan

Tensions are running high over Lend Lease’s plans to develop the vacant “paddock” between the Mosaic/Montage buildings and The Gauge in Bourke St.

Mosaic and Montage residents say they have been told that a 16-storey mixed residential and commercial building is to be built on the site.

They say this contradicts what they were told when they bought their apartments and that they were expecting a development of not more than nine storeys with a substantial community component such as a childcare centre or library.

Lend Lease says it won’t comment on the residents’ claims as its plans for the development are awaiting approval by the State Government.  

A spokesperson for the Department of Planning and Community Development said: “An application for the development of a 16-storey mixed use building at 807-817 Bourke Street Docklands (Site C2) was received on 29 January, 2010.”

“The site is part of the Victoria Harbour Precinct Masterplan (Victoria Precinct Development Plan) and has been identified for future residential development.”

“The application is currently being considered by the department,” the spokesperson said.

Vivas Lend Lease has written to prospective buyers offering a “sneak preview” of the plans and offering preferential treatment to place a “reservation of interest” on a selected property.

Known as Serrata on the Park, Lend Lease has told prospective purchasers that anticipated price points are from $385,000 for one-bedroom apartments and from $575,000 for two bedroom apartments.

“I would strongly recommend you act promptly during the preferential pricing phase, prices are expected to be increased upon the wider market release,” salesman Matthew Davidson wrote.

Mosaic and Montage property owner Adrienne McGregor said the experience had led her to change her view on the “honesty of the Lend Lease company”.

“Not only was I informed verbally that this development site was to be low rise with a community focus, but Lend Lease employees, on many, many occasions during discussions prior to my purchase, were at pains to point out that the scale model of Victoria Harbour, on display in their showroom, depicted the maximum dimensions of any future development,” Ms McGregor said.

“They led me to understand that they could not possibly gain approval for a larger development.  Some time later and after my purchase, the scale model changed to depict a much larger possible development.”

 “When one is considering purchasing in an area such as Docklands, future development on land immediately adjacent to the property is a major factor influencing one’s final decision,” she said.