Summary

1.    Regarding Rezoning the community has NO SAY - it is determined by the Minister as Residential - politically we can still try to overturn this with the fear of backlash at the elections later this year but that is all the community can do.

2.    What height  of buildings amd what form will be allowed on the site will be determined by the Minister’s Development Plan Overlay on the advice of an advisory committee who will talk to Council, Stakeholders and Community Groups BUT not individuals unless there is a change in terms of reference from the draft terms proposed by the minister.

3.    After the Zone and Development Plan Overlay is determined the developer will be required to apply to Hobsons Bay City Council for the actual building designs on the site.  However the developer will be able to use the new provisions of VCAT to fast track any application worth more than $5 million and if the  developer provides documents in time to VCAT then the community will have a very short time frame in which to go to VCAT and object to inappropriate plans.

Documents which you may like to refer to:

Minister’s decision on rezoning and his advisory committee

On the request of Nelson Place Village, the Planning Minister, Justin Madden has used his delegated authority to rezone the land at the Former Port Phillip Woollen Mill Site.  Effectively the community has NO SAY in the rezoning despite the fact that the community and Hobsons Bay City Council were agreed that “Mixed Zone” would be a more appropriate zoning. Also the rezoning is contrary to the provisions in the Planning and Environment Act 1987 where the Williamstown Shipyards are to be protected and the minister has rezoned part of the site which is defined and mapped in the Williamstown Shipyards. 

Downloads

1. •Minister’s Press Release 26th March 2010
   http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/component/content/article/9897.html
   

2. •Draft Terms of Reference
   Draft Terms of Ref.pdf
   

3. •Planning Environment Act 1987 as amended to 2007
   http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/vic/consol_act/paea1987254/
   

The minister will have an advisory committee report to him on what planning constraints will be set the “DPO - Development Plan Overlay” for the Former Port Phillip Woollen Mill Site and this will form the limits to which the developer can make their planning application.  it will include matters to do with height, heritage and nearby industry.

The current status of the Terms of Reference of the Advisory Committee is that the Draft was sent to  Hobsons Bay City Council for comment.  No one else neither community nor stakeholders were consulted about the draft terms.  The response by council can be dowloaded.

Hobsons Bay City Council Documents

Download

1. •Comments by Hobsons Bay City Council on the minister’s Terms of Reference for his advisory committee
   http://www.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/Files/Amendment_C75_Former_Port_Phillip_Woollen_Mill_Advisory_Committee_Terms_of_Reference.pdf 
   

2. •All the planning scheme application documents by the developer to council
   http://www.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/Page/page.asp?Page_Id=4274&h=0
   

3. •Council Factsheets
   http://www.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/Page/page.asp?Page_Id=4274&h=0
   

4. •C33 Industrial Land Management Strategy referred to by Council
   - Precinct 20
   Industrial_Land_Management_Strategy240608.pdf
   

5. •Hobsons Bay Council Minutes 1 December 2009
   http://www.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/Page/page.asp?Page_Id=3975&h=0
   

We are awaiting the final terms of reference and these will be posted here for download as soon as they announced.  If the draft terms are not modified, individuals in the community will NOT be invited to make submissions to the committee but three community groups will be able to make submissions:

1. •WNSRA - Williamstown, Newport Spotswood Residents Assocation
   

2. •POW - Preserve Old Williamstown
   

3. •and
   

4. •SAVE WILLIAMSTOWN
   

Save Williamstown proposes to collect individual submissions and attach them so we will be providing details of how to send your submissions to us and the time frame when it is known.  If you wish to contact us before please write to:

The consultation which Save Williamstown had with the community suggested Alternative Land Uses - we will continue to try to get the minister to change his mind because we believe that MIXED USE is appropriate and sustainable and the minister has made a mistake in rezoning based on the developer’s application.  It would be excellent if the advisory committee could be persuaded to change the minister’s mind.

1. •webpage Alternative Land-Use
   

The NEW rules for VCAT to fast track large development applications worth more than $5 Million can be downloaded here

1. •Fast Tracking large development planning applications - new rules
   

Save Williamstown presented a petiton to Parliament and Council in July 2009

You can download this petition which was signed by over 3000 people

1. •Petition presented to Wade Noonan for tabling at the Victorian State Parliament - Nelson Village Petition.jpg
   

List of Councillors Names and Addresses  - CouncillorsHBCC2010.pdf

List of Politicians and Ministers & Pro Forma Letter to Politicians - Download .pdf 68k

Local State and Federal Politicians  - Local Members of Parliament.pdf

Also see the State Government website

Press Releases by Dept of Premier Victoria. All department press releases are on this site Peremier of Victoria Media Releases

Car Bumper Stickers & SAVE WILLIAMSTOWN posters - available now - please contact: