Hobsons Bay council has not ruled out a Supreme Court challenge to prevent high-rise development on the Port Phillip Woollen Mill site at Williamstown.
As reported by Star Weekly, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal has approved a 128-dwelling, 10-storey tower and 41 three-storey townhouses for Nelson Place and Kanowna Street.
Hobsons Bay mayor Sandra Wilson said VCAT’s decision – which the council opposed – could only be appealed on a point of law. “The council is considering VCAT’s decision.”
The development site is opposite Mobil’s tank ‘farm’, which is classed as a major hazard facility (MHF). The oil company says the development threatens its future in Victoria.
The Save Williamstown lobby group has called for a statewide moratorium on construction near MHFs to protect residents.
Mobil spokeswoman Melanie Saliba said allowing “inappropriate residential development close to major hazard and manufacturing facilities creates many issues for the business and residents”.
Williamstown Labor MP Wade Noonan blamed Planning Minister Matthew Guy for the 34-metre tower being approved.
“The Liberals made an ironclad promise to protect Williamstown from high-rise developments. They’ve clearly broken that promise,” he said.
Western suburbs Liberal MP Bernie Finn said the only promise the Coalition had made was to give planning control back to local councils.
