Hobsons Bay council has approved an eight-storey, 62-dwelling apartment block in Williamstown following a statewide review of residential development near major hazard facilities.
A decision on AVJennings’ plan for 3-39 Nelson Place, which is on the Port Phillip Woollen Mill site, had been deferred in December pending Planning Minister Richard Wynne signing off on the review.
Mr Wynne last month accepted most of the recommendations of the review, including granting greater decision-making power to WorkSafe Victoria on developments near major hazard facilities (MHFs).
There had been questions hanging over the Nelson Place site’s proximity to Mobil’s Point Gellibrand tank farm, but WorkSafe did not object to AVJennings’ proposed development.
In a letter to the council dated January 24, 2018, WorkSafe head of hazardous industries and industry practice Michael Coffey said there was no objection, provided the applicant considered design measures to prevent or minimise exposure of occupants to hazards in the event of major incident at the tank farm.
The letter stated “the design should include measures to prevent and/or minimise the potential projectile of shattered glass” and that an emergency management plan must also be developed with the local fire authority.
A special planning committee of council, comprising mayor Angela Altair and councillors Colleen Gates and Jonathon Marsden, approved the plan two-one, with
Cr Marsden voting against.
Cr Altair said the plan had been supported with a number of conditions consistent with the recommendations of the council’s planners and WorkSafe’s feedback.
“We were comfortable that the conditions applied will achieve a quality residential outcome with safety being one of the principal considerations,” she said.
“This development will add to the diversity of our housing stock in Williamstown. It’s giving people choice, allowing them to live in a great location and, importantly, allowing many locals to remain locals.
“The applicant confirmed that nearly 50 per cent of purchasers so far have come from Williamstown, with many of the others from nearby suburbs.”
To date, permits have been issued for 218 apartments and 74 townhouses on the mill site.
