Williamstown residents held an ‘evacuation drill’ on Sunday to highlight the lack of clear planning controls around major hazard facilities.
Save Williamstown has been lobbying against high-rise development on the former Port Phillip Woollen Mill site, near Mobil’s Gellibrand tank farm.
SW spokesman Godfrey Moase said the lack of rules put at risk the lives of people living and working in Williamstown.
“What would happen if everyone in Williamstown was trying to evacuate at the same time?” he asked.
“Why have no measures been taken to ensure everyone would be able to make it to safety.”
New committee
Planning Minister Richard Wynne has appointed a committee to advise on buffers and land use between major hazard sites and residential development.
Hobsons Bay council, residents and Mobil have welcomed the announcement.
Victoria has 45 major hazard sites, eight of them in Hobsons Bay.
Williamstown MP Wade Noonan said that, as suburbs continued to change, it was essential that planning regulations keep pace.
“This review will … allow for independent recommendations to be made to government,” he said.
Mobil spokeswoman Melanie Saliba said the oil giant looked “forward to participating in this important review of land use planning.”
