2.0 exiSTing COndiTiOnS...2.0 exiSTing COndiTiOnS. 14 Draft St Kilda Triangle Masterplan - 25 November 2015 ... State Library of Victoria A/S04/09/75/92a; A/S04/09/75/92b ... design

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Draft St Kilda Triangle Masterplan - 25 November 2015

2.0 exiSTing COndiTiOnS

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2.1 existing site

The St Kilda Triangle site is bound by Jacka Boulevard, Cavell Street and The Esplanade. The land sits within a highly urbanised, mixed-use precinct next to Port Phillip Bay.

The study area is approximately 21,700m2. It excludes the Palais Theatre lease area but includes the carpark, the Lower Esplanade and The Slopes.

The St Kilda Triangle is one important component in the broader plans for the renewal and revitalisation of St Kilda. Strategically, the St Kilda Triangle, along withLunaPark,comprisesthenodeofthefiveactivity zones - Fitzroy Street, Acland Street, the ‘Residential Hill’ and foreshore - providing a linkage between the urban environment and the marine environment of the St Kilda foreshore. The St Kilda Triangle site and its surrounds, most notably Luna Park, have historically been a community focal point.

The existing built form on the site comprises the iconicPalaisTheatre.Inadditionandforasignificantamount of time, the site also contained the Palais de Danse and the 1960s-era Palace Nightclub demolishedin2007followingafire.Otherstructuresinclude an existing toilet block at the northwestern end of the site.

Aside from the Palais, the major dominant land use on site is the at-grade carpark. This offers 418 car parks (337 on the site proper and 81 on the Lower Esplanade).SignificantlandscapeincludesTheSlopes,a steep grassy area currently separated from The Esplanade by a breezeblock wall.

Thesiteexperiencesasignificantchangeinlevelfrom just 2.6 metres above sea level at the Jacka Boulevard frontage to 9.8 metres at The Esplanade. Thesitebenefitsfromthevisualhighpointsprovidedalong The Esplanade with views towards the bay. At

Jacka Boulevard, the natural environment has been significantlyalteredtoaccommodatethepresentdayuse of the land as a carpark.

FIG. 2.1.1 OVERVIEW OF THE ST KILDA TRIANGLE

FIG 2.1.2 ST KILDA TRIANGLE AERIAL pHOTOGRApH

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da beach

lda beach

20105 30m0

EXISTING CONDITIONS PLAN 1:1000

RL 3.294 RL 3.026RL 2.485

RL 2.618RL 2.877

RL 4.106

RL 4.755

RL 4.813

RL 9.013

RL 6.372

RL 4.274

RL 9.857

RL 9.715

TOILETS

FAIRCHILDFOUNTAIN

CARPARK

“THE SL

OPES”

PALAIS

LUNA PARK

CAVELL ST

THE ESPLANADE

RO

BE ST

JACKA BOULEVARD

“THE ROCKERY”

ST KILDA BEACH

KIOSK

STOKEHOUSE

DONOVANSROTARYPLAYGROUND

ST KILDALIFE SAVINGCLUB

418 CARS (INCLUDING LOWER ESPLANADE)_

ALL HEIGHTS ACCORDING TO AUSTRALIAN HEIGHT DATUM

da beach

lda beach

20105 30m0

EXISTING CONDITIONS PLAN 1:1000

RL 3.294 RL 3.026RL 2.485

RL 2.618RL 2.877

RL 4.106

RL 4.755

RL 4.813

RL 9.013

RL 6.372

RL 4.274

RL 9.857

RL 9.715

TOILETS

FAIRCHILDFOUNTAIN

CARPARK

“THE SL

OPES”

PALAIS

LUNA PARK

CAVELL ST

THE ESPLANADE

RO

BE ST

JACKA BOULEVARD

“THE ROCKERY”

ST KILDA BEACH

KIOSK

STOKEHOUSE




ALL HEIGHTS ACCORDING TO AUSTRALIAN HEIGHT DATUM FIG 2.1.3 EXISTING CONDITIONS AND pROJECT AREA pLANpROJECT AREAALL HEIGHTS ACCORDING TO AuSTRALIAN HEIGHT DATum

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2.2 History of the site

Built over Indigenous wetlands, the St Kilda Triangle has long been the recreational destination for Melbourne, with an amusement park, miniature railway and theatre. After a development plan was abandoned in 2009 due to strong community opposition, Council has worked closely with the community to develop a vision for the future of the St Kilda Triangle.

Miniature Railway locomotive

Miniature railway

1930s-1960s: Heyday

In 1962 at the rear of the Palais de Danse, the Stardust Lounge catered for small functions. It was destroyed byfire,alongwiththePalaisdeDanseII in 1968.

Pre 1862: Boon Wurrung

early 1900s: Forming of a Mediterranean-style resort

1860s: Beginning of land transformation

1970s-2000s: Fire anddevelopment proposal

2010-present: envisioning St Kilda Triangle

Hugh George for Wilson and MacKinnon, 1875State Library of Victoria A/S04/09/75/92a; A/S04/09/75/92bWood engraving published in The Australasian Sketcher

Following the opening of the cable tramway in 1891, the St Kilda Fore Shore Committee was formed as a State and Local Government endeavour to beautify the area. Carlo Catani designed it after a Mediterranean-style resort with entertainment parks, tearooms, a kiosk and Luna Park.

Stage 0Council began a new plan for the future of the Triangle in 2010 conducting extensive community consultation through ‘speak outs’, surveys, questionnaires, vox pops, focus groups, round table conversations, social media and the Council website. Over 900 people participated whose feedback helped inform the revised Vision document released in November 2011.This work informed the preparation of St Kilda Triangle 2012, adopted by Council in August 2012. Council undertook to commence a Planning Scheme Amendment to implement St Kilda Triangle 2012.

Stage 1In August 2014, Council adopted the following: “Council will Co-Design with our community and stakeholders a funded project for the St Kilda Triangle which creates a locally-loved place that the world admires.”Stage 1 commenced with working groups including Councillors, communitymembers,contentexpertsandCouncilofficers,torefineparametersforthesite.The outcomes from the Working Groups and subsequent Synthesis Workshop informed the development of key documents which formed the framework for Stage 2.

Stage 2The project is now at Stage 2 — Collaborative Design. To complement Council’s urban design, communications and engagement,andfinancial/commercialthoughtleadership,external consultants have been engaged to provide advice, specialist expertise and capacity. Stage 2 activities include the development of Masterplan, Project, and Public Realm options and will culminate in a Business Case that will be submitted to the Victorian Government for funding.

The original Palais de Danse, opened in 1913 on the site of the Figure Eight Coaster in the face of large scale opposition from locals, who thought it unseemly and lewd for people to dance so closely. Vida Goldstein, a suffragette campaigner, and friends led a sit-in at a council meeting to object.

On what is now known as the St Kilda Triangle, “The Figure Eight Coaster” ride opened in 1907. This consisted of a continuous 900ft. long track of rails, rising from the level of the ground to a height of40ft.,inthreetiers,eachtheshapeofafigureeight. Advertised as “thrilling, but absolutely safe.”

The Wounded Soldiers Lounge opened in 1916 by the Governor General Ronald Munro-Ferguson (Lord Forster) to provide a place for wounded soldiers to relax and recover. During this time, the idea that sea air was enormously good for unwell people made this location ideal.

indigenous history

1909 Foreshore Plan Palais de danse

A view of the Triangle site ca 1930, showing Palais Pictures and the Palais de Danse II, amusement rides and the foreshore interfaces.

Triangle Site ca 1930

Stardust lounge

Figure eight Coaster Wounded Soldiers lounge

This detailed map of the area of the plans for Separation Day military exercises dated 1 July 1860 shows the extensive network of wetlands between Acland/Mitford streets and the sea.

The Palais de Danse III opened in 1972, and later became The PalaceEntertainmentCentre.Itwasultimatelydestroyedbyfirein 2007.

In 2007, a Masterplan was developed and approved by Council incorporating repair work required for the Palais Theatre, however the plan was abandoned in 2009 due to strong community opposition.

Wilbraham Liardet sketched the St Kilda Foreshore in approximately 1862, detailing the various pursuits of the day along and in the water.

Separation day military exercises St Kilda Foreshore

Palais de danse iii St Kilda Triangle 2012

Previous development proposal

St Kilda Triangle 2012 (Orange Document)

Additional research

Design Brief

St Kilda Triangle Cultural Charter

Statement of Community Participation

Concept Design

Business Case

Delivery Strategy

Planning Scheme Amendment

Commercial tender document

Detailed documentation

Planning Scheme Amendment C106

A community-driven framework to ensure future proposals for St Kilda Triangle reflect community consultation

Articulates the place essence, experience, programming and activation of the St Kilda Triangle, and informs the activation, design, development and the ongoing management of the site

Studies: Views and vistas, car parking, preliminary contaminationand Palais Theatre Requirements

Reflects the parameters deliberated by the community and state partners, and brings together an understanding of design, funding and delivery

Sets out what, when, how and who Council will work with to develop and deliver the project

A funding proposal to justify public and private investment

Articulates the path and decisions for securing partners to co-fund and construct the project

Plans that show the agreed urban design, landscape, built form envelopes, uses and a staging plan. This will be prepared by co-designing Masterplan Options, Project Options and Public Realm Options

Detailed design and development may be separate or integrated subject to agreed Delivery Strategy

Facilitates the Concept Design and specifies further approvalprocesses and associated notice and review rights

Further detailed documentation and approvals

Statutory controls to implement the statutory planning elements of St Kilda Triangle 2012 and reinstate third party notice and appeal rights.STAGE 0

BackgroundCreate a vision and framework for the site and prepare technical reports

STAGE 2 Collaborative DesignThrough a collaborative ‘Co-Design Workshop’ process develop a fundable and deliverable Concept Design that is supported by the community and stakeholders

STAGE 1Refine the ParametersImprove understanding between Council and community about what is preferred and what should be avoided. Understand the financial implications of these choices

STAGE 3 Detailing and FundingPrepare the planning controls to facilitate the Concept Design and Delivery Strategy. Secure funding for delivery, and complete commercial tender documentation

STAGE 4 ImplementationPreferred tenderer and delivery partner is selected

STAGE 5 ManagementSite is opened and managed as per the St Kilda Triangle Cultural Charter

Community involved in developing SKT2012 through workshops, forums, Have Your Say/website, and

e-newsletters.

Statement of Community Participation

Range of community representatives collaborated with Council to deliberate on refining the parameters.

Broader community informed of the process through media, social media and Have Your Say.

Community members, professionals (commercial, designers, planners, etc.), Councillors, decision

makers, and state government representatives come together in an extended, facilitated multi-day co-

design workshop, to enable informed in-the-moment decisions and considerations that will produce a

Concept Design, draft Business Case and Delivery Strategy.

Broader community informed and involved in such ways as public information sessions, listening posts and

through media, social media and Have Your Say.

Involve and collaborate with community to prepare Planning Scheme Amendment through Working Group meetings. Consult the community on Planning Scheme

Amendment through formal exhibition process.

Community informed of statutory permits. Extent of community involvement determined by planning

scheme controls and alignment with/variation from the agreed Concept Design.

Investigate opportunities to establish a community reference panel to provide advice on how Detailed

Design aligns with Concept Design and Cultural Charter.

Inform community of construction impacts through media, social media and Have Your Say.

ST KILDA TRIANGLE ROADMAP FOR CO-DESIGN UPDATED JULY 2015

Site management to align with Cultural Charter

ConstructionConfirm project partners and operators

SITE OPENING

Consult the community on Planning Scheme Amendment through formal exhibition process.

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2.3 St Kilda - an iconic destination

The St Kilda Triangle site has a unique opportunity as Melbourne’s last bayside renewal site for a new institution or a home for Melbourne’s signature events.

Vibrant - St Kilda is a key destination for Melburnians and visitors, known for its stunning foreshore, beach, night life, live music scene, top class restaurants and festivals.

Cultural - St Kilda has always embraced cultural innovation and pushed the boundaries. It is a key part of Melbourne’s cultural footprint.

Connected - Close to the CBD with great public transport and cycling links.

St Kilda’s resurgence

St Kilda is made up of several precincts including Fitzroy Street, Acland Street, the St Kilda Triangle and the foreshore. Each precinct has a role in the resurgence of St Kilda, each with difference challenges to address and opportunities to realise.

There are a number of projects planned or underway in St Kilda, including:

• Palais Theatre refurbishment

• new St Kilda Life Saving Club

• upgrades to Fitzroy and Acland streets

• new Stokehouse Restaurant; and

• Route 96 tram stop upgrades.

The redevelopment of the St Kilda Triangle is an integral part of the City of Port Phillip’s broader strategy to revitalise St Kilda, one of Melbourne’s iconic destinations.

FIG 2.3.1 pROJECTS pLANNED AND uNDERWAY IN ST KILDA

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FIG 2.4.1 mETROpOLITAN CONTEXT FIG 2.4.2 LOCAL CONTEXT

2.4 existing connections

Metropolitan context

The St Kilda Triangle is situated 6 kilometres from the Melbourne GPO site, and is serviced via tram routes 3, 16, 12 and 96. It is close to Balaclava Station, which is connected to the site by the route 16 tram. St Kilda Road and Swanston Street form the cultural spine leading towards St Kilda.

local context

The site is linked to Acland Street and Fitzroy Street via The Esplanade. Connection to the beach and foreshore is via pedestrian crossings or the pedestrian bridge over Jacka Boulevard. Catani Gardens, Junction Oval, Albert Park, O’Donnell Gardens, Peanut Farm Reserve, St Kilda Botanic Gardens and St Kilda foreshore create a green network the St Kilda Triangle site can link to.

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2.5 existing landscape characterThe site is currently characterised by carparking infrastructure and a number of existing palms. These can be transplanted for reuse in the future. The surroundingexistinglandscapecharacterisdefinedby formal gardens and coastal landscapes. On the north boundary, The Esplanade, carparking, tram lines and three storey built form - predominately apartments-definetheurbanedgetothesite.ThesouthernlandscapeboundaryisdefinedbyJackaBoulevard and the St Kilda promenade, which forms the interface between the beach and gardens. THE ESpLANADE LOOKING NORTH

THE SLOpES AS VIEWED FROm THE FORESHORE ACROSS JACKA BOuLEVARD

LOWER ESpLANADE, LOOKING EAST TOWARDS THE pALAIS THEATRE

CARpARK LOOKING TOWARDS DONOVANS

JACKA BOuLEVARD AND FORESHORE CONNECTION

THE ESpLANADE LOOKING EAST TOWARDS THE pALAIS THEATRE.

GARDEN SLOpES

THE ESpLANADE LOOKING TOWARDS THE pALAIS THEATRE

CAVELL STREET FRAmED BY LuNA pARK AND THE pALAIS THEATRE

FIG 2.5.1 EXISTING LANDSCApE CHARACTER

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2.6 existing views

The sense of place and openness associated with the St Kilda Triangle is linked to the views available from and across different parts of the site, especially the panoramic views of Port Phillip Bay and the horizon. These views are partially interrupted by the Palais Theatre and the vegetation and built form on the foreshore, such as the Stokehouse (currently under reconstructionfollowinga2014fire),StKildaLifeSaving Club and Catani Arch.

The St Kilda Triangle Cultural Charter seeks to ensure new development protects and enhances important views and vistas from a range of different points.

Important views are described on the following pages. The Masterplan response to these important views is analysed in Section 4.3.

FIG 2.6.1 EXISTING ESpLANADE VIEWLINES

da beach

lda beach

20105 30m0

EXISTING ESPLANADE VIEWLINES 1:1000

TOILETS

FAIRCHILDFOUNTAIN

CARPARK

“THE SL

OPES”

PALAIS

LUNA PARK

CAVELL ST

THE ESPLANADE

RO

BE ST

JACKA BOULEVARD

“THE ROCKERY”

ST KILDA BEACH

KIOSK

STOKEHOUSE




1

2

3

4

5

da beach

lda beach

20105 30m0

EXISTING ESPLANADE VIEWLINES 1:1000

TOILETS

FAIRCHILDFOUNTAIN

CARPARK

“THE SL

OPES”

PALAIS

LUNA PARK

CAVELL ST

THE ESPLANADE

RO

BE ST

JACKA BOULEVARD

“THE ROCKERY”

ST KILDA BEACH

KIOSK

STOKEHOUSE




1

2

3

4

5

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ESpLANADE VIEW 1

FIG 2.62 EXISTING VIEWS FROm THE ESpLANADE

ESpLANADE VIEW 2 ESpLANADE VIEW 3 ESpLANADE VIEW 4 ESpLANADE VIEW 5

The Esplanade View 3





Scale = 1:2000

a

B

C

d

BLOCK WALLSTOKEHOuSE (uNDER CONSTRuCTION)DONOVANSST KILDA LIFE SAVING CLuB (pROpOSED)

JACKA BOULEVARDTHE

ESPLANADE

JACKA BOULEVARD

THEESPLANADE

JACKA BOULEVARD

THEESPLANADE

JACKA BOULEVARD

THEESPLANADE

JACKA BOULEVARD

THEESPLANADE

a

C

a

dB

a

dB B

a

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2.7 Traffic analysis

2.5.1 TRANSPORT & ACCESS

People get to St Kilda in a variety of ways, depending on the time of week, season and their destination.

The following section summarises the main issues and opportunities for the site relating to transport, carparking and access.

A detailed transport and access report is included in Appendix C.

2.5.2 ACCESS TO ST KILDA

A high proportion of people walk to St Kilda and the Triangle site. For example, approximately half of visitors to Acland Street walk the whole journey, indicating a strong local catchment.

Visitors to the Palais Theatre, on the other hand, tendtobemorecardependent,reflectingthewidercatchment and ample supply of carparking that is available during usual show times, which are at night.

There are also very noticeable seasonal demand patterns. In particular:

• There is considerable transport network and car parking capacity throughout most of the year (mid-week and non-summer periods)

• During peak periods (weekends and summer months),thereissignificantcongestionandlimited available carparking, to an extent that it is not appropriate or feasible to provide enough parking or road space. Access should be encouraged by modes with spare capacity (walking, cycling, public transport).

At present, there is a relatively low mode share for both public transport and cycling to St Kilda, which indicates an opportunity to encourage

and promote access by these modes during peak periods. Depending on the type of use attracted totheTrianglesite,therearelikelytobesignificantopportunities to promote access to the precinct by sustainable modes (for example, tourists may be more likely to catch a tram to St Kilda if it is promoted as the best option).

2.5.3 SITE SPECIFIC TRANSPORT ISSUES AND OPPORTUNITIES

There are a number of aspects of the parking and access strategy for the St Kilda Triangle site which are best considered as part of a wider precinct-based approach to transport and land use activity. A reasonable level of carparking is needed on-site to support the proposed and existing land uses. However, there is a need to separate the existing precinct-wide issues that should not restrict the potential redevelopment of the St Kilda Triangle, especiallygiventhebroaderbenefitsitwilllikely provide.

The peak visitation periods for the precinct represent both a challenge and a key opportunity for the site. In this regard, it is proposed to manage busier times of the year through strategies such as marketing alternative modes of travel or providing parkingwayfindingsigns,ratherthan‘supplyside’measures (i.e. providing more parking).

Carparking in St Kilda is constrained during peak times, as noted above. Given that it is not feasible or appropriate to provide for peak parking demand, the appropriate response for the Triangle site is to provide for expected repeatable daily volumes, but not attempt to cater for busier times when access by other modes will need to be encouraged. The following considerations are noted for carparking

on the site:

• The seasonal ‘feast or famine’ situation has resultedininefficientuseoftransportassets,aswell as limiting the level of attraction to the wider community as a place to visit due to a lack of accessibility and parking.

• The redevelopment of the Triangle provides a significantopportunitytoincreasethelevelofactivity during the quieter periods, but could also exacerbate congestion and amenity issues during the peak activity periods.

• The type of land use proposed for St Kilda Triangle is likely to have a strong regional, interstate and potentially international attraction capacity, and as such is well placed to encourage strong public transport and organised tour group mode share.

The transport response should ideally be linked to the overall transport and economic objectives for both the site and wider precinct, and be delivered inanintegratedmanner.Specifically,theinteractionof any carparking management changes, incentives for public transport use, and other limitations on private vehicle travel (such as congestion, parking pricing and availability) should be coordinated to achieve a progressive shift to more sustainable transport modes.

Documents

2.0 exiSTing COndiTiOnS...2.0 exiSTing COndiTiOnS. 14 Draft St Kilda Triangle Masterplan - 25 November 2015 ... State Library of Victoria A/S04/09/75/92a; A/S04/09/75/92b ... design