Development in the wind

Emerald Hill Weekly
Wednesday 19/9/2007 Page: 9

Port Phillip Council has approved plans for a controversial Elwood development with a four-metre high rooftop wind turbine despite residents' concerns. At last week's meeting, councillors voted unanimously in favour of a four-story development of 25 units at 35 Ormond Road. Councillors praised the development's novel wind turbine, which will power building facilities such as the lift service and lighting in the foyer.

It will be the first residential building in Victoria to have its own wind turbine. "This a six-star building, and we want to encourage innovative ways of developing sustainable housing," councillor Janet Cribbes said. The building will also be designed to conserve water, including a system for treating grey water, stormwater filtration and a rainwater tank. However, some residents objected to the plans, saving the development would be unsightly and too tall for the neighbourhood.

Cr Cribbes said the development complied with council height restrictions for the area and met Victoria's residential development guidelines for buildings of its type. She said that the project would serve as a pilot for environmentally sustainable living, and if it proved to be successful, other developers might be encouraged to build similar developments. Developers Contour Consultants said local bird life would not be affected by the turbine and measures would be adopted to muffle traffic noise that could impact the building's residents. The proposal is now awaiting formal approval from Planning Minister Justin Madden.