The Age

by Jason Dowling
June 14, 2010 - 3:00AM

“VICTORIA'S heritage watchdog has come under attack for not doing enough to protect some of Melbourne's most valued buildings as a string of prominent central business district properties are targeted by developers.

The chief executive of the National Trust, Martin Purslow, has attacked Heritage Victoria's decision to grant the Halim Group a heritage permit for a 91-metre hotel tower to be built at the back of the Windsor Hotel.

''When you allow a building like this, 91 metres, on economic grounds, we don't feel you take due consideration of the heritage overlay applying to that whole precinct. You basically open the floodgates on economic grounds,'' he said.

Mr Purslow said Heritage Victoria registration now offered questionable protection for buildings given the Windsor permit in an area with a 23-metre height limit.

Some Melburnians are now considering forming a new community group to champion the heritage protection of significant CBD buildings.

In August, the Melbourne City Council will begin its first review in two decades of its heritage overlays and protection of significant buildings in the city.

It follows the destruction this year of the 1934 art deco Lonsdale House to make a laneway wider for delivery trucks.

Across the CBD, heritage buildings are attracting the attention of developers.........”

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/heritage-victoria-under-fire-20100613-y5ya.html