A heritage-listed house in Sunshine has been saved from demolition.
The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal has upheld a Brimbank council decision to refuse a planning permit for the property at
57 Benjamin Street.
The single-storey weatherboard house dates back to 1914 and is part of Sunshine’s historic Railway Station estate. The property’s owner planned to build two double-storey units in its place.
The council refused an application for a planning permit for the property in December, 2016, saying the development did not satisfy the necessary requirements for demolition of a heritage-listed property (structurally unsound or unsafe), and the planned units did not fit the heritage of the surrounding area.
“Council is not satisfied that the demolition of the contributory heritage-listed building
is justified or appropriate having regard to Clause 22.01 of the Brimbank Planning Scheme, as to whether the building is structurally unsound or beyond reasonable repair,” a report stated at the time.
“The development does not maintain and respect the heritage significance of the heritage place and heritage precinct.”
Plans for the site have been revised since 2016. The owners argued at the VCAT hearing in August that the loss of the building would have a “modest” impact on the heritage of the precinct, and that the new units would be appropriate for the area.
In making a judgement, VCAT member Christina Fong said the area had a heritage overlay due to many contributory elements, and to demolish one of these elements would rob the precinct of a significant part of its heritage significance.
“This heritage precinct contains many buildings that are not entirely intact, and the declaration of this heritage precinct was based on these conditions,” Ms Fong said. “If there is justification to demolish this building … that would undermine the objective to conserve the significance of the heritage place.”
