Tallest building in southern hemisphere approved

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Sorry, this video has expired Video: Tallest building in southern hemisphere approved (7pm TV News VIC)

The Victorian Government has given the go-ahead for plans for the tallest building in the southern hemisphere.

The 388-metre high, 108-storey hotel and apartment building is planned for Melbourne's Southbank area.

Melbourne City Council had opposed the project due to fears it would cast a shadow over the Shrine of Remembrance.

The tallest buildings in the southern hemisphere

1. Sky Tower - Auckland, New Zealand, 328 metres



2. Q1 - Gold Coast, 323 metres, 71 storeys



3. Gran Torre Costanera - Santiago, Chile, 300 metres, 60 stories



4. Eureka Tower - Melbourne, 297 metres, 91 storeys



5. 120 Collins Street - Melbourne - 265 metres, 52 storeys



Source: Emporis Auckland, New Zealand, 328 metres- Gold Coast, 323 metres, 71 storeys- Santiago, Chile, 300 metres, 60 storiesMelbourne, 297 metres, 91 storeysMelbourne - 265 metres, 52 storeysSource: Emporis

But the Planning Minister, Matthew Guy, says most of council's concerns have been addressed and the shrine trustees support the project.

"There is absolutely no way we would have brought forward any project where the shrine trustees were concerned," he said.

"They've told us that they don't object to the proposal.

"That, plus advice from the City of Melbourne, gives the Government a view that we should green-light the proposal."

Architect Nonda Katsalidis, of Fender Katsalidis Architects says the building, Australia 108, takes its inspiration from the Australian flag.

"I think it's going to be spectacular," he told ABC local radio.

"The hotel at the top is designed as a starburst. We took the inspiration from the stars on the Australian flag."

Mr Katsalidis describes it as a tall skinny building and the point of difference is that is has a 300 room hotel at the top.

"It's designed to be eye-catching, complex and complimentary with Eureka to give an identity to the city internationally," he said.

"We don't have an Opera House but we have a complex culture and all those ideas were thrown into this project."

Michael Smolders, the president of the Southbank Residents Association, is concerned about the approval process.

"What we need to do is make sure we have appropriate planning structures and schemes in place that are adhered to by the Government," he said.

"The Minister has taken it upon himself to disregard those guidelines and gone ahead with this particular approval which is totally disastrous."

The building is expected to be finished in about 4-and-a-half years.

Topics: local-government, urban-development-and-planning, southbank-3006

First posted