The advertisement in July for the Minister’s Advisory Committee submissions and hearings stated that:

“The Minister for Planning has rezoned the Former Port Phillip Woollen Mills land to Residential 1 Zone as part of Amendment C75 to the Hobsons Bay Planning Scheme.  A review of this rezoning will not be revisited by the Advisory Committee”

and yet in the Minister’s press release on 28 May 2010 (see below), http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/newsroom/10567.html it stated that:

“Mr Madden said the Terms of Reference take in the former Woollen Mills site as well as part of Precinct 20 to the south of Nelson Place, following a request from Council to consider the adjoining Industrial 1 & 3 and Residential 1 zones.”

This begs the question - what exactly is the Former Port Phillip Woollen Mill land? Is it purely that title held by the former Woollen Mills or does it include land which the developers have options on and which appear on the rezoning map in the Terms of Reference?

Reviewing the Submissions received by Planning Panels Victoria http://dsedocs.obsidian.com.au/planning/Former%20Port%20Phillip%20Woollen%20Mill%20Submissions/

from:

1. Port of Melbourne,
   

2. EPA,
   

3. Worksafe and
   

4. Department of Transport (Freight Logistics Marine)
   

which are all State Government entities, reveals that they have all included statements about the inappropriate zoning of the land within industrial buffer zones.  The Advisory Committee will clearly need to be considering the Residential 1 zoning of the Former Port Phillip Woollen Mill Site which is within the industrial buffer zones and which is 100m from the Shipyards and 300m from the Mobil leased land.

Therefore if the Advisory Committee is considering Government entities’ views on the zoning then the advertisement to the community was ambiguous in saying that the Residential 1 zoning would not be revisited.  Thus it could be argued that those in the community who have referred to inappropriate zoning should also have a strong case to be heard.

The Directions Hearing at Council Offices on Monday, 13 September could prove interesting to the government entities and the community.

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TERMS OF REFERENCE SET FOR WOOLLEN MILLS COMMITTEE

From the Minister for Planning

Friday, 28 May 2010

Planning Minister Justin Madden today appointed an independent Advisory Committee to consider design and development controls at the former Woollen Mills site at Nelson Place, Williamstown.

Mr Madden said he had also approved the Terms of Reference for the committee after incorporation of feedback from Hobsons Bay City Council.

The Advisory Committee will consider matters such as appropriate heights, setbacks, urban design, traffic management, heritage asset protection, acoustics, open space requirements and the need for development contributions.

“The approval of the Terms of Reference means the Advisory Committee now has clear guidelines for determining the most appropriate future design and development controls for the site,” Mr Madden said.

“It is crucial that we provide certainty to the community, council and the proponent on the future of the site.

“I have consulted with Hobsons Bay City Council to ensure that the final Terms of Reference reflect the needs of the community and ensure that the process is fair, efficient and thorough.

“This is a key location that can make a contribution to our long-term plan for managing Melbourne’s growth and it is vital we get the right design and development controls in place now.”

Mr Madden said the Terms of Reference take in the former Woollen Mills site as well as part of Precinct 20 to the south of Nelson Place, following a request from Council to consider the adjoining Industrial 1 & 3 and Residential 1 zones.

“We will continue to work closely with Hobsons Bay City Council, nearby residents and interested parties on the future design and development of the site,” he said.

The independent Advisory Committee will hear submissions from adjoining landowners and the council.  The Council will have the opportunity to review all of the submissions received during the consultation process.