SIX objectors will be heard at a tribunal hearing on the proposed demolition of the Port Phillip Woollen Mill site at Williamstown.
Two days have been set aside for the hearing, starting today in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, over an application to demolish nearly all buildings between Nelson Place and Aitken, Ann and Kanowna streets.
Two exceptions are the Oriental Hotel and Nugget Factory, which are subject to separate demolition permits.
Demolition would make way for plans by Nelson Place Village Pty Ltd to build potentially more than 800 dwellings housing 2000 residents on a site about the size of Williamstown football oval.
Save Williamstown spokeswoman Charmian Gaud accused the developer of abusing the planning process by lodging multiple applications.
“Hobsons Bay Council rejected the demolition, saying it was premature and there should be a master plan which would allow a minimisation of the time between the buildings being demolished and new buildings erected,” she said.
“All the time there are no buildings, existing residents are subjected not only to noise from the expanded BAE Systems [shipyard] work but also noise from Mobil’s tanks and fuel importation ships, and also the dangers of any explosion on the point.”
Developer spokesman, Evolve Development managing director Ashley Williams described safety concerns as a “furphy” and accusations that he was abusing the system as “a nonsense”.
“Council officers supported our application for this stage one demolition application,” Mr Williams said.
“There’s absolutely no planning grounds for a permit not to be granted and yet council’s special planning committee decided they’d go against the officer recommendation and not issue a permit.”
A public rally will be held at the Williamstown Mechanics Institution at 11am on Saturday.
