Woolies wins bid to build on ABC’s Elsternwick site

Retail giant Woolworths has won a bid to build a supermarket and two-tower apartment complex on an Elsternwick site formerly owned by national broadcaster, the ABC.

The development on the ABC’s former Selwyn Street site in Melbourne’s inner-south will go ahead after Woolies successfully appealed a second rejection of its plans at Victoria’s planning tribunal.

The supermarket chain’s development company, Fabcott Pty Ltd, originally wanted to build a podium with two towers, one 14 storeys high, on the site, a scheme that was first rejected by the local Glen Eira Council and also on appeal at the tribunal.

Fabcott then submitted similar but revised plans for two towers, the tallest at nine storeys with increased setbacks.

They eventually gained the council’s approval despite initially being rejected and receiving multiple objections from local residents.

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Locals fear the sizeable building’s negative impact on nearby heritage properties, its use as a supermarket, amenity impacts on nearby homes and the extra traffic.

Fabcott’s plans include a full-line supermarket, a bottle shop selling packaged liquor, two small shops, a place of assembly that also has offices, a library/museum, cafe and function area as well as apartments above.

The tribunal heard there were also concerns about the development impacting the heritage former Elsternwick fire station.

Any changes to the fire station will need approval from Heritage Victoria and will potentially require amendments to Woolies plans for the site.

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