The part-owner of the Port Phillip Woollen Mill, Williamstown’s largest private land holding, has queried Labor’s ability to deliver on its pre-election pledge to restrict high-rise development on the site.
As exclusively reported by Star Weekly, Williamstown MP Wade Noonan vowed the state government would approve any planning scheme amendment put forward by Hobsons Bay council to limit high-rise development to eight storeys on 60 per cent of the mill site, which could house about 2000 people.
But part-owner Ashley Williams, Evolve Development managing director, questioned whether the council could wind back planning policy.
He said he was willing to negotiate with the council, dangling carrots such as not demolishing the historic Nugget factory, making contributions for infrastructure and providing community spaces.
Mr Williams said he had spent three years and close to $2 million successfully appealing all of the council’s refusals in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Planning Tribunal (VCAT).
“My understanding is that the council have to have some due consideration of the subsequent VCAT matters and look at the bigger picture before they jump at just a single-line planning scheme amendment,” he said.
“In my opinion, it’s unfortunate that a local member would get so committed to a position that isn’t necessarily based on a detailed understanding of the planning history that’s gone before.”
Mr Williams said VCAT costs and building delays added to pressure to get more dwellings on the site.
He said reducing the height or putting a blanket height on buildings on the site could lead to other problems for residents or objectors.
“A reduction in height in a certain area could lead to an increase in density in other parts of the site,” he said. “What we’ve tried to express to council is that if you compress or cap the height in certain places, that might actually result in an overall bigger number of dwellings.”
Mr Noonan also vowed a Labor government would order an inquiry into appropriate buffer distances between residential development and major hazard facilities (MHFs).
The mill site is next to Mobil’s Point Gellibrand tank farm, which is classified as a MHF.
Mr Williams said he had demonstrated to VCAT that his past applications complied with all the required rules and regulations.
“I don’t think those are issues that are really relevant in future applications,” he said.
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