The City of Port Phillip (COPP) voted on Wednesday 6th September to consult with the community on development of a live music and performance venue with a 5,000 standing capacity at the St Kilda Triangle; a proposal that could redefine St Kilda's iconic foreshore. Council's decision was made after establishing the commercial feasibility of a multipurpose venue and the development of design concepts. Council will now seek public feedback and funding from private and public business partners. This announcement has reignited a longstanding debate that has polarised the community for years. Councillor Rhonda Clarke, during a Council meeting on September 7, 2022, lamented the current state of the Triangle, stating, "We've spent millions and millions on the St Kilda Triangle to achieve a carpark so far." This sentiment encapsulates the frustration many feel about the site, often described as a "scar on the foreshore." Currently serving as a carpark, the Triangle has long been a point of contention, a blight amidst the natural beauty of the St Kilda foreshore.
The Triangle's history is a tapestry of controversy and missed opportunities. In 2007, a $400 million plan aimed at converting the site into a seaside version of the Chadstone Shopping Centre. The proposal was met with vehement community opposition, leading to its eventual withdrawal. Since then, COPP has treaded carefully, fully aware of the strong public sentiment surrounding any proposed changes to the site. However, the latest proposal seems to signal a new direction. After a year of meticulous planning and an initial budget allocation of $498,000, the Council is contemplating a transformative vision for the Triangle. The cost to date emphasises the complexity of the project and the need for strategic planning and validating a market need for a new multipurpose venue. An additional $80,000 was approved for consultancy support to complete the commercial analysis, for resources to support the community engagement program and additional design consultancy to review and consider feedback and its implications on the design feasibility work.
The proposal also includes a significant reduction in car parking spaces, from the existing 360 to 240. This is a calculated move, backed by a business case that argues against the construction of additional carparks. The document further reveals that the Council has engaged in detailed planning and market sounding, leading to this request for additional funding. It also highlights the need for good upfront planning to support effective delivery, given the project's complexity.
New information published in The Age also reveals concerns about the project's financial feasibility. Trevor White, a member of the Port Phillip resident's group Unchain, questioned the Council's financial plan, stating that any development would also have to address contaminated soil on the site. Music promoters Live Nation, TEG Dainty, Destroy All Lines, and Hardware Group participated in the feasibility study, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest.
Port Phillip Mayor Heather Cunsolo acknowledged the project's complexity, stating that the Council is in the early stages of identifying a realistic development cost, which would depend on many factors, including community feedback, and potential partners who are willing to invest in the project.
Public opinion remains sharply divided. Some residents view the proposed music venue as a catalyst for economic development in St Kilda, while others question the necessity of another entertainment space, especially one adjacent to the iconic Palais Theatre. This dichotomy is aptly captured in a headline from The Age, which asks, "Do we need another one? St Kilda considers new music venue next to Palais"
Photo by Nick Karvounis on Unsplash
