Williamstown and Hobsons Bay Council could be in a similar situation described in The Age today at Moreland Council.  If an inappropriate Design and Development Plan Overlay is decided for the Former Port Phillip Woollen Mill Site by Minister Madden on advice from his Advisory Committee, then the developer will be able to proceed with compliant designs and avoid the scrutiny of Councillors and the Williamstown Community.  This is why the community needs to make its submissions to the Advisory Committee with powerful arguments for appropriate sustainable development.  Contact us about submissions

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The Age

Dewi Cooke
June 7, 2010 - 3:00AM

“MORELAND Council has approved a 185-apartment complex near Sydney Road, Brunswick, but locals have no rights to appeal under a development plan for the area signed in the 1990s.

The three-tower proposal for 284-294 Albert Street, by Brisbane-based developer Citimark, was approved by council officers last week and a development permit issued.

The proposal is for a 14-storey tower and two towers of 10 storeys. None of the apartments will be social housing, but 10 per cent will be built with accessible design features for people with limited mobility.

The site, close to trains, trams and shops, meets state government objectives for inner-city development along transport routes and near community services.

But not even Moreland councillors have been required to have any say on the plans. Greens councillor Toby Archer said a development plan overlay, which removed the right of third parties to appeal to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, was placed over the site in 1994.........

........... Marti Cuatt, who was among a group of residents concerned by the plans when they were lodged with the council in 2008, was aghast it had been approved. ''The only reason people knew about [it] was because the direct neighbours get notification,'' she said....”

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/no-appeal-right-on-brunswick-towers-20100606-xna9.html