AN 11-storey tower proposed for Williamstown has been knocked back as an oil giant warned of the potential for a catastrophic disaster.
Mobil barrister Peter Willis said the company’s ability to operate in the interests of the state – supplying half Victoria’s fuel – would be affected if a 137-dwelling tower planned by Evolve Development went ahead.
Mobil’s Point Gellibrand tank farm is next door to the site of the proposed development.
Evolve’s plan for 41 three-storey townhouses on the Port Phillip Woollen Mill site was also rejected by Hobsons Bay council last Thursday.
The applications for 2-10 and 339 Nelson Place and 16-20 Kanowna Street form part of a much larger development that would add about 2000 people to Williamstown’s population.
A special planning committee meeting of the council, attended by a packed public gallery, unanimously rejected the development applications, part of which would fall inside a 300-metre safety buffer from Mobil’s tank farm and supply ships.
Evolve managing director Ashley Williams did not attend. His agent Lloyd Elliot told the panel that his client was not there because of “personal reasons”.
Mr Willis said Mobil operated for 96 to 110 hours continuously, and from 2015, when bigger ships would arrive, operations would increase to “170 hours continuously or just over seven days, day and night”.
Mr Willis told the panel Mobil’s motto was “nobody gets hurt”.
“If things go wrong, they could go wrong catastrophically,” he said.
He said a pressure wave could be set off as a result of a disastrous event and all windows of a high rise would be susceptible to being blown out.
While admitting the risk was unlikely, he told the council panel: “No one wants to be responsible for exposing more people to it.”
Cr Peter Hemphill, who was one of three Strand ward councillors on the decision panel, asked Mr Elliot to respond to Mobil’s safety concerns.
“With all due respect, it’s not an area that I can possibly comment on,” Mr Elliot replied.
Cr Hemphill asked: “Do you know if your client’s had any discussion with Mobil about the design?”
Mr Elliot responded: “Not directly.”
Evolve had already lodged an appeal with the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal prior to the council’s refusal.
The council received 276 objections to the application.
