AN entire street block on the former Port Phillip Woollen Mill site at Williamstown will be demolished to make way for high-density, high-rise residential development.
Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal member Geoffrey Code has granted a demolition permit for the site despite his reservations it could create a “long-standing bombsite”.
Mr Code said he would only allow staged demolition until relevant new buildings were approved, and no part of the perimeter wall could be demolished until a permit was granted to construct a building at that spot.
He said this would mitigate noise from the adjoining naval shipbuilding operations and Mobil’s tank farm. Another condition requires an archaeological survey and photographic record to be carried out in line with the requirements of Heritage Victoria and Aboriginal Affairs Victoria.
The ruling paves the way for Nelson Place Village Pty Ltd to build potentially more than 800 dwellings housing 2000 residents on the site bounded by Nelson Place and Aitken, Ann and Kanowna streets.
It comes a month after hundreds of residents rallied against plans to build a ‘Beacon Cove’ in their suburb. Mobil joined objectors at VCAT last month in opposing the demolition of vacant industrial buildings over an entire street block covering about 1.72 hectares. The permit excludes the Titanic theatre-restaurant, the former Oriental and Telegraph hotels, and land south of Aitken Street.
Mr Code said none of the buildings earmarked for demolition were included on the Victorian Heritage Register or classified by the National Trust, and Hobsons Bay Council’s heritage advisor did not oppose the application.
