Defend the Espy!
By Chris Spindler
MELBOURNE — More than 1000 people demonstrated outside the historic Esplanade Hotel in the suburb of St Kilda on November 15 to oppose a proposed 38-storey shopping and hotel development on the site. The proposal by the Becton corporation breaches limits on shore development.
The Esplanade Alliance has defended the heritage site and popular meeting place against developers keen to make money from the popular bayside property for over a decade.
Speakers from the alliance and a number of the parliamentary parties opposed the development. John Brumby, leader of the ALP state opposition, said the campaign would be an election issue, while the Liberal spokesperson could only express "personal" opposition to the development. The state Liberal government is encouraging such developments.
Port Phillip Council will decide next month whether to pass a planning scheme amendment to allow Becton to build the tower and demolish heritage-listed buildings. The alliance is demanding that the council reject the amendment outright.