Triangle Wars, The (ATOM Study Guide)

A celebrity photographer. An eccentric politician. A high-powered property developer. A fierce battle to decide the fate of one of the most coveted foreshore development sites in Australia – the St Kilda Triangle.

In May 2007, the City of Port Phillip Council unveiled plans for a $300 million development of the St Kilda Triangle site that would include 180 shops, a hotel, a supermarket, eight cinemas, a gallery and bars for 5000 patrons. Local residents were outraged, and with developers preparing to push the project through council, the community galvanised to stop it going ahead.

In this compelling story of democracy in action, truth proves stranger than fiction as accusations of betrayal, deceit and corruption abound. Filmed over three years, The Triangle Wars captures the fascinating battle between a passionate community, an intractable local government and a powerful development consortium, as heads roll and careers are destroyed.

The Triangle Wars would be suitable for middle and senior secondary students across a number of curriculum areas, including:

• Civics and Citizenship
• Politics and Society
• SOSE/HSIE
• Media Studies