Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay councils are calling for WorkSafe to provide further information about amendments to land use planning guidelines near hazardous material sites, citing concerns about impacts on residential property owners and developers wishing to build new properties in the future.
Under the changes, ‘safety areas’ around 13 Major Hazard Facilities [MHFs] within the inner west, including the Mobil terminal in Yarraville, would be changed, increasing the areas to include more than 3000 residential, commercial and industrial properties in Footscray and Yarraville, as well as 5000 new dwellings in the Joseph Road Precinct development.
Maribyrnong council has said this would lead to 918 additional residential, commercial and industrial properties and facilities in Maribyrnong to be impacted.
Substances deemed hazardous included petrol, ethanol, wood preservatives, industrial solvents and fertilisers.
Maribyrnong council chief executive Celia Haddock said while council’s priority was to keep its residents safe, it had not been consulted about the changes.
“Our community has lived near these hazardous sites for many years and we welcome initiatives that ensure they live and work safely,” she said.
“However, we are concerned that the changes to the inner and outer safety areas have occurred without conversation with council or notification to the community and impacted property owners, despite directly impacting many residents and businesses in Melbourne’s inner west.
According to WorkSafe, while WorkSafe is responsible for the registration and licencing of MHFs, there is no statutory requirement for responsible authorities, such as councils, to seek advice from WorkSafe and in most circumstances, responsible authorities are not required to accept WorkSafe’s advice on on land use applications close to a MHF.
WorkSafe published the amended guidelines in April following consultation from a range of stakeholders including the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Hobsons Bay City Council and WorkSafe’s Major Hazards Advisory Committee.
“WorkSafe is committed to ensuring community safety is not compromised by decisions on land use surrounding Victoria’s Major Hazard Facilities,” a WorkSafe spokesman said.
Ms Haddock said it was important for the council to understand why these changes were made in order to explain the guidelines to the broader community.
“Although council is responsible for issuing planning permits, WorkSafe is the expert when it comes to safety, and we would take their expertise into account when deliberating on permits that fall within these updated guidelines,” she said.
Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay councils have requested a meeting with WorkSafe to clarify the details of the new extended safety areas and advocate for additional consultation and engagement on behalf of their communities.
Details: www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/land-use-planning-near-major-hazard-facility
