Residents lobbying against high-rise development on the Port Phillip Woollen Mill site launched a Williamstown safety committee on Monday and will prepare for an emergency evacuation drill in November.
The historic 1887 Nugget boot polish factory was bulldozed last week as a development housing up to 2000 people proceeds.
Residents are awaiting a state government review of residential development near major hazard facilities (MHFs), such as Mobil’s Point Gellibrand tank farm, which is opposite the mill site.
Save Williamstown spokesman Godfrey Moase said there were no clear planning guidelines on residential development near MHFs.
“There’s more than three dozen MHFs listed across the state, with Hobsons Bay having the highest concentration,” he said.
“Given WorkSafe is on the record as having concerns, Mobil is on the record as having concerns; we need to do something to change the rules.
“So we’re going to do that – given that there are no clear rules at this stage – by taking safety into our own hands,” Mr Moase said.
“We are going to be building towards an evacuation drill on the peninsula of Williamstown in late November to test our safety and readiness.”
Sea captain Bill Korevaar, who has more than 30 years’ experience, mainly in gas and oil shipping emergency response, said the Australian Maritime Safety Authority had responsibility for the safety of shipping in port waters and WorkSafe had responsibility for Victorian workplaces, but there was no responsible body to enforce standards and regulations for planning in land surrounding the ports, ships and MHFs.
“To expect Victoria Police to manage thousands of residents, probably a lot of infants, children, elderly, possibly disabled people, to try and evacuate them safely during the night or during a busy weekend, without impeding the actual response to the emergency, is unreasonable,” he said.
“That’s where we need the guidelines – so there’s appropriate development, so the risks can be managed.”
