Rooms to rent

By Kath Gannaway
WARBURTON’S landmark Water Wheel precinct is set to welcome galleries, cafes and other retail outlets.
Yarra Ranges Council voted on Tuesday 24 April to adopt a site-specific planning amendment, which will allow a number of tourism and commercial uses that are prohibited under current zoning.
Planning Minister Justin Madden approved the amendment in January. It will now go to the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) for certification.
The amendment will enable planning permits to be granted for a range of retail, tourist and community events.
There will also be an opportunity to incorporate enterprises such as art and craft galleries, an exhibition centre, museum, restaurant, takeaway food outlet, office space and a public assembly area.
A report to the meeting from Alison Cran, the shire’s director of social and economic development, disclosed that the anomaly which saw the building straddling two zones – the upper level in a Public Park and Recreation Zone (PPRZ) and the lower level in a Residential 1 Zone (R1Z) – was discovered when the shire was looking at letting out part of the building.
Space on the lower level (formerly operating as a bakery and cafe) has now been vacant for about two years.
Ms Cran said the Water Wheel was a high profile site and its continuing vacancy was a concern to local business, community and to the council.
The top level of the building is currently home to a heritage display, Warburton On-Line (WOL) public computer and internet and the tourist information centre.
Cr Monika Keane welcomed the move to change the zoning to accommodate the current users and enhance the viability of the entire complex.
“I am looking forward to the Water Wheel being fully tenanted,” she said.
One of the proposals put forward for the lower level shop front is to relocate the tourist information centre.
Tourist Information Centre volunteer coordinator Eric Stanfield said the volunteers have some misgivings regarding space, but they are happy to work with the shire as part of the reshuffle.
Warburton On-Line volunteer Chris Gallard said they too are keen to work with the shire but the consensus among WOL volunteers was that the lower level shop-front area was too small to share.
“We are tossing ideas around at the moment and one of those ideas is perhaps starting up an internet cafe.
“We want to play an active role in what is happening here,” he said.
James Martin, the shire’s manager of community relations, said the shire was consulting with all the existing tenants as part of the reorganisation of the Water Wheel building.
“There is a lot of work going on around the integration of the Water Wheel, the Mechanic’s Institute Hall and the Upper Yarra Arts Centre and the mix of uses and tenants,” Mr Martin said.
“Warburton On-Line and the Tourist Information Centre are important players in that process,” he said.