FAQ's
Is this a done deal?
No. The outgoing Council have agreed to sell the land to Coles, but the sale isnt due to take place until March
Isn't the Coles redevelopment a good thing?
We want to make sure it is! Better Balaclava are not against future development by Coles, we just want to ensure a large and significant development like this reflects the best of the Balaclava we all know and love and kick-starts the much needed renewal in the right way.
Coles are a part of our community, we’ve all had the experience of running into people we know there and having a chat. They have been since at least the 1950’s, when they operated out of where Priceline is now.
What is the Coles proposal?
All we know is that the development will be of significant scale and that it will be mixed use, with a full line supermarket, supporting retail, basement carparking, housing and some open space, as noted in the Council meeting on 21 August 2024. Coles’ proposal hasn’t been submitted yet but you can see the land involved on the homepage. Coles already own about 8,130m2 of land in the block and Port Phillip is proposing to sell them another 2,240m2. Generally speaking, the development will encompass pretty much the entire block (apart from Glass Merchants Coffee and Wall 280) between Camden Street and Nelson Street, Carlisle Street to Alfred Street.
When is the development going to happen?
There are no timeframes for the actual development as yet. But our opportunity to have our say ends soon.
Who are Better Balaclava?
We are a group of local residents who want to help make Balaclava better. We come from a range of professional backgrounds, including governance, communications, development, design, architecture and urban planning.
How can I help?
There are a whole bunch of ways you can help and be a much needed voice. Start on the ‘How can I help?’ section on the home page.
Who is my local Councillor?
You can find out here.
Have you met with the Carlisle Street Traders Association?
We have
What is happening on the Woolworths site?
We wish we knew, Council sold the carpark behind the shop to Woolworths in 2021, and it seems nothing has happened.
Why is Council proposing to sell all of the land Port Phillip owns in the block to Coles?
Council resolved to commence the process of selling its properties in Balaclava on 20 November 2019. Discussions were held with the previous owner of the Coles building regarding selling them the land owned by Port Phillip before the building was sold to Coles in March 2023. Coles have since approached Council with a concept masterplan for a major mixed-use development, which included acquiring the Council owned land in the block.
Normally, Council would sell its land by competitive public process, for example an auction or Expression of Interest campaign, to ensure transparency and best value. The reason given for not doing this in the case of the land in question is that the configuration of the land, and the extensive neighbouring land holdings by Coles which surround the site, it is proposed to sell the land by private treaty to Coles. While this logic makes some sense with regard to the two larger laneways, it doesn’t for the sites at 2-8 Alfred Street and 49-53 Nelson Street at the north-east corner of the site.
What might the development be like?
Activity centres have a height limit of 20 stories.
Two examples of recent mixed use development by Coles are Coles Elsternwick, officially called The Mark, and Coles Richmond, officially Richmond Traders.
What are the conditions of sale that Council is proposing?
• That Coles undertake a significant development, including a new full line supermarket and residential component.
• Replacement of existing surface level public car parks with at least the same number of publicly accessible basement spaces, with equivalent time permissions, and no obligation to shop.
• New public toilet facilities within the development.
• Public open space contribution.
• Retention of existing at-grade service access and egress to the rear of Carlisle Street shops via Nelson Street
But that all sounds pretty good, doesn’t it?
In principle, yes, but to ensure a great outcome for this huge and highly significant development, it is vital that there are more specific conditions than these.