I am writing to formally lodge my strong support for planning application GE/DP-38698/2026, which proposes the construction of a 3-storey apartment building containing 8 dwellings at 1304 Glen Huntly Road, Carnegie.
As a Caulfield South resident and an urban planning student, I view this proposal as an excellent example of transit-oriented development and exactly the type of well-considered, medium-density housing that aligns with modern activity centre frameworks.
I urge Council to support this application for the following reasons:
1. Delivery of "Missing Middle" Housing
Glen Eira is facing a severe housing shortage. This proposal provides 8 high-quality dwellings on a single site, offering an excellent example of "missing middle" housing. Small-scale apartment buildings provide diverse housing options for young professionals, students, and essential workers who are increasingly priced out of the detached housing market, allowing them to remain in the municipality.
2. Excellent Strategic Location
Glen Huntly Road is a major arterial corridor that is highly appropriate for increased residential density. The site is exceptionally well-serviced by public transport, including trams, buses, and the nearby Carnegie and Glen huntly train stations. Facilitating gentle density in such highly walkable, transit-rich locations encourages active transport, reduces reliance on private vehicles, and supports local businesses along the Koornang Road and Glen Huntly Road commercial strips.
3. Appropriate Height and Built Form
A 3-storey built form is a highly appropriate and modest scale for a main road. It provides a respectful transition between higher-density commercial activity centres and the lower-density suburban streets behind it. It makes efficient use of the land without imposing the visual bulk of a larger development, demonstrating a sensitive approach to local neighborhood character.
4. Modernizing the Special Building Overlay (SBO)
While the site is located within a Special Building Overlay, a modern development of this nature presents an opportunity to improve the site's environmental and drainage performance. Contemporary engineering and stormwater management systems will manage water runoff far better than the aging, existing housing stock on the block.
To maintain Carnegie’s vibrancy and ensure it remains an accessible, forward-looking suburb, Council must approve sensible, well-located medium-density projects like this one. Refusing or heavily scaling back this proposal would be a missed opportunity to provide much-needed homes in a premium location.
I strongly urge Council and the delegated planning officers to approve this application and issue a Planning Permit.
Please keep me informed of the progress of this application and any upcoming Council meetings where it may be discussed.
