Shrine of Remembrance overshadowing concerns arise from Australia 108 tower proposal
The Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle has concerns Australia 108, the touted tallest highrise in the southern hemisphere, could overshadow the Shrine of Remembrance.
Cr Doyle, a Shrine trustee, said the mooted 108-storey Southbank apartment and hotel tower exceeded the city council's height limits. The council's Future Melbourne committee is to consider a report on Australia 108 next Tuesday.
"There are a couple of things that are sacrosanct - one is the Shrine and the other is the Yarra - and there are rules in the planning scheme to prevent that sort of overshadowing," Cr Doyle told The Herald Sun.
"If something is getting that big that it's overshadowing the Shrine, you'd really have to say, 'What are we gaining through that height?' "
Architects Fender Katsalidis, who designed the nearby Eureka Tower, are behind the Australia 108 project, which would be the world's 18th tallest building at 70 Southbank Boulevard.
On its November unveiling, Property Observer noted its had a few hurdles to overcome before fruition.
But today's report has the Shrine CEO Denis Baguley saying he has no concerns after the Planning Department provided images of shadows moving across the city on Anzac Day and at the winter solstice.
"From my observation, I don't believe there are issues of overshadowing that will concern us," he told the Herald Sun.
"In our view, the effect is minimal - no more than (from) existing buildings and our own trees, and (it's) only late in the day, when there are no services," he said.
"I'll be advising my trustees of that."
Planning Minister Matthew Guy, who has final approval, has previously been positive about the tower, saying that it underlined a confidence in Melbourne and showed that Australia was "coming of age".
But Cr Doyle said: "It's no good just saying that height equals landmark. Some of the finest buildings in the world, some of the finest architectural solutions, are not great big towers."
The Victorian planning minister Matthew Guy, who has final approval, has previously been positive about the tower, suggesting the proposal underlined a confidence in Melbourne and showed that Australia was "coming of age".
But Cr Doyle told the Herald Sun: "It's no good just saying that height equals landmark. Some of the finest buildings in the world, some of the finest architectural solutions, are not great big towers."
