The developer of the former Port Phillip Woollen Mill site in Williamstown will contribute almost $2 million towards community infrastructure in the suburb.
Hobsons Bay council voted at last week’s meeting to set a developer contribution of $2468 for each of the 800 proposed dwellings, a total of just over $1.97 million.
Under the previous state government the developer, AVJennings, would have been required to pay only $900 per dwelling, about $720,000,
But mayor Peter Hemphill said the current state government changed planning regulations last June, allowing a higher developer contribution.
“The redevelopment of the former Port Phillip Woollen Mill will be the most significant residential development in Williamstown over the next 10 years, with an estimated 800 new dwellings adding about 1200 new residents to Williamstown,” Mr Hemphill said.
“A project of this magnitude will mean a significant increase of new dwellings in Williamstown and will certainly put increased pressures on our existing community infrastructure and services.”
AVJennings bought the Waterline Place development, on the former Port Phillip Woollen Mill site, for $350 million in June last year.
‘Good neighbour’
The company’s acting general manager, Joanne Furlong, said the company agreed to the additional levies without hesitation as it was committed to being a good neighbour.
“We believe that housing matters and community matters,” she said.
“This additional funding will be invested in community facilities that will benefit almost everyone in Williamstown.”
Projects to be funded are community infrastructure for Dennis Reserve, Fearon Reserve and JT Gray Reserve, Williamstown Mechanics Institute, Williamstown Town Hall, drainage for Aitkent, Ann, Cecil, Cole, Electra and Hanmer streets, the Coastal Trail, Williamstown heritage elm tree replacement and street and park tree planting.
AVJennings will also pay about $1.5 million as an open-space contribution.
Higher levy welcome
Save Williamstown spokesman Godfrey Moase said the residents lobby group welcomed the higher levy.
“The cost of the infrastructure to accommodate this development would see a huge deficit borne by the council even at the [lower] level of contribution,” he said.
“In Sydney’s west, a similar development adding to local population would incur [a charge] of between $12,139 and $20,000 per dwelling, a contribution of over $10 million.”
