SAVE WILLIAMSTOWN News

Hobsons Bay Leader report under-emphasizes BUFFER ISSUES

Tue, 7 Sep 2010 11:45:02 +1000

The journalist report in today’s Hobsons Bay Leader is an oversimplification. The 200-250 dwellings mentioned in the submission is part of an alternative approach penned by Shelly Penn (Architect) complete with concept drawings of 3 models covering the whole 2.8 hectare site.

HOWEVER the first part of the submission by WADE NOONAN MLA emphasises the same BUFFER ZONE restrictions must be considered to protect the national/state significant Shipbuilding Industry and principal state energy provider Mobil. The same need for limitations were submitted to the MInister’s Advisory Committee by four government department, the EPA, Department of Transport (Freight), Worksafe, and Port of Melbourne, as well as Mobil and BAE Systems. The 300m Buffer Zone from Mobil and the 100m Buffer of the Shipyards both need to be considered - this will reduce the SAFE part of the site for residential to about 30% (see diagram above). Using the concept work of Shelly Penn relating to heritage and urban design, that means that a maximum of about 80 dwellings where people sleep overnight should be allowed. Residences in Buffer Zones are not supported by Wade Noonan's part of the report nor by Joan Kirners. Nor does the Williamstown community support high density dwellings in buffer zones.

see
http://hobsons-bay-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/make-williamstown-estate-half-size-bid-says-joan-kirner/

and add your comments!

HAVE YOUR SAY: Make Williamstown estate half size, says Joan Kirner
Hobsons Bay Leader
7 SEP 10 by JAMES TWINING

“SOME of the strongest voices opposing a high-density apartment tower development in Williamstown have revealed their alternative vision.
Former premier Joan Kirner, Williamstown state Labor MP Wade Noonan and local architect Shelley Penn have condemned a developer’s plan to build a 451-apartment village with four towers up to 47m tall on the Port Phillip Woollen Mill site.
The trio has instead recommended 200-250 dwellings, with a mix of two to three-storey buildings and a small amount of “carefully considered and well-designed five-storey” buildings, within the centre of the main site bounded by Nelson Place and Ann, Aitken and Kanowna streets......”

“....Mr Noonan, speaking on behalf of the three Williamstown residents, said the developer’s proposal was not a good fit.
“Our opposition is directed towards any poorly designed, high density residential use which conflicts rather than integrates with the surrounding area,” he said.
“Protecting local industry and highly-skilled jobs must be a priority in this process.
“Placing a high-density residential development within touching distance of a largescale shipbuilding site is not a good match.”
This was echoed by naval ship builder BAE Systems, which is worried its noise emissions would conflict with new residents.......”

Inconsistencies between the Minister’s Press Release & the PPV advert?

Sun, 5 Sep 2010 17:04:19 +1000

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:
Port of Melbourne,
EPA,
Worksafe and
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.

Mobil Community Bulletin - Update Port Gellibrand - No to Residential in Buffer

Wed, 1 Sep 2010 22:14:17 +1000

September 2010 Community Bulletin - distributed to letterboxes in Williamstown this week.

Local residents may have seen Mobil quoted in the local paper on the issue of the State Government’s decision to rezone the site of the Former Port Phillip Woollen Mill at Nelson Place, Williamstown, from industrial to residential use.

Mobil has long held the view that this decision is inappropriate. The site is very close to the Mobil-operated Port Gellibrand dock and terminal, which the refinery uses for the storage and import/export of crude oil and petroleum products. Under the previous zoning the former mill site served as an effective and important buffer between industrial premises such as the dock, other industrial operators, and the nearby residential area.

Mobil maintains a safe and responsible operation at Port Gellibrand dock and aims to limit the facility’s impact on its few surrounding neighbours. In our view the State Government should support the general principle that any development proposal that significantly increased residential population density in the neighbourhood immediately surrounding a petroleum handling/storage facility such as Port Gellibrand dock should not be accepted.

http://exxonmobil.com.au/Australia-English/PA/community_liaison_news.aspx

Fuelling the fire

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 15:25:22 +1000

The Star By Nicole Precel
27th July 2010 11:06:17 AM

“A DECISION on the future of the former Port Phillip Woollen Mill is closer ......
...Residents have until 27 August to submit to the advisory committee on the proposed redevelopment of the site....

.....Community Group Save Williamstown has distributed a pamphlet advising residents to raise the issues of height, threat to heritage, impact on schools and child care, increased traffic and local parking, impact on ship building and also the affect on industry.

Among their concerns is the proximity of the proposed residential redevelopment at the former Port Phillip Woollen Mills to the Exxon Mobil Fuel terminal.......

....A similar proposal went to VCAT on 17 June, about proposed residential developments which were close to the Mobil Yarraville Terminal and were deemed inappropriate.

......“Mobil is nominated in the Terms Of Reference as needing to be consulted on this issue. The panel is therefore aware of the need to consider buffer distance requirements,” he said.

Exxon Mobil spokesperson said the Altona Refinery uses the Mobil-operated Port Gellibrand dock for the storage and transportation of crude oil and petroleum products.”

http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/92239

URBIS and EVOLVE give some info to residents

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 22:10:12 +1000

Save Williamstown has learned that an Information Sheet with minimal descriptions of its planning changes has been distributed by Urbis/Evolve around the Former Port Phillip Woollen Mill Site. The sheet lets people know where they can view the newly submitted plans but gives wrong information to residents stating that submissions can be made until the end of August. This is clearly wrong, submissions close 27th August - that is this Friday which doesn’t give residents a lot of time to see copies of what Urbis and Evolve are planning. Also the information sheet fails to mention that they are now asking for a 47 metres zone within the Development Plan Overlay and that the Advisory Committee is supposedly considering a Design and Development Overlay.

Delahunty memoir reveals developer sway on planning

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 10:53:52 +1000

The Age
Melissa Fyfe August 22, 2010

“DEVELOPERS wielded influence over the state government in covert ways, were pushy and loved to have ''a word in the ear'' of party leaders about their substantial political donations, former planning minister Mary Delahunty has revealed in her memoir.
In contrast to the assurances of Premier John Brumby and Planning Minister Justin Madden, Ms Delahunty says developers who make donations to the Labor Party do get their interests looked after by Brumby government advisers, who sometimes contact the planning minister's office inquiring about the development's progress.
Ms Delahunty revealed her intense frustration with some community anti-development groups. In her new book Public Life, Private Grief, she says she felt, at times, like ''wanting to lean over and choke them''.
Ms Delahunty, Victoria's planning minister from 2002 to 2005, describes developers as having ''brutal expectations'' about the pace of planning changes and their financial reward.
''Well-heeled developers assume that their at-times substantial donations to the Labor or Liberal parties will guarantee ready access to the minister and a favourable planning decision.''
While ''most of us in government'' did not share the view of such developers, she said, the business heavyweights ''loved'' to have ''a word in the ear of party leaders'' at private functions, ''congratulating them on how well the government was going and adding a throwaway line about their latest donation to the particular party''.
''Such bonhomie could occasionally result, a day or two later, in a friendly call to the planning minister office from a government adviser interested in certain planning matters.''
The Brumby government has consistently denied that developers get special access or treatment due to their donations, or that they wield influence in Labor fund-raising functions. Last August, when controversy over ''cash-for-chat'' functions blew up, Mr Brumby said: ''I wouldn't talk to anybody in any forum about any contract that is before government, about any tender that is before government.''......
......Planning Minister Justin Madden was recently criticised for intervening in an increasingly large number of projects, with little transparency around why he is intervening and which Labor-linked lobbying groups are involved. In June, The Age revealed that builders and property developers have bankrolled Victorian Labor with donations running into the millions during its decade in office....”

http://m.theage.com.au/victoria/delahunty-memoir-reveals-developer-sway-on-planning-20100821-13a1i.html

Tensions rise over housing projects (similar size to Former Port Phillip Woollen Mill Site)

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 14:27:21 +1000

The Age
Simon Johanson August 20, 2010

“A MASSIVE complex of 550 dwellings on Channel Nine's former home in Richmond may further inflame tensions between developers and communities over giant urban renewal sites across Melbourne.
The development plans, outlined by property giant Vivas Lend Lease to neighbouring residents yesterday, reveal a $400 million project, housing 1100 people in townhouses and eight-storey apartments in an area the size of a city block.
''We understand the significance of this site to the Richmond community. Its redevelopment presents a great opportunity and also a serious responsibility,'' the company said.
Lend Lease would consult the community and had reduced the height impact on the neighbourhood by placing townhouses on the outer edge of the block and taller apartment buildings towards the middle, development manager Ben Coughlan said.
Mr Coughlan said the land at 22 Bendigo Street had a rich history. It was formerly a piano factory and then a Heinz factory before becoming host to some of Australian television's most memorable shows. These included In Melbourne Tonight, Sale of the Century, The Sullivans and Hey Hey It's Saturday.
Because most inner-city developments are residential, large projects such as the Channel Nine site are straining local services, Yarra councillor Steve Jolly said.
''From the perspective of a local resident, traffic and parking is dire there. And there is a dearth of services, particularly childcare,'' Cr Jolly said. ''They squeeze in as many people as possible.''.....
.....Plans for 460 apartments and 18 townhouses - ranging from two to 16 storeys - have angered locals who say it will destroy the character of their blue-chip neighbourhood.
Armadale residents accused the state government of failing to heed their concerns.
''We're concerned about the habit of the state planning minister to call in these projects without due process being followed,'' said Orrong Group spokeswoman Kirsten Anderson. ''Our fear is that it's going to jettison any third-party rights to object [to the development].''

http://m.theage.com.au/victoria/tensions-rise-over-housing-project-on-old-channel-nine-site-20100819-12s1x.html

Guidelines could kill off coastal building - will buildings in danger be insurable?

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 12:16:53 +1000

The Age
Kelsey Munro and Matthew Moore August 20, 2010

“THOUSANDS of NSW coastal development sites may never be built on under new government guidelines directing councils to limit construction on beachfront and lakeside land under threat from rising sea levels.
The NSW Coastal Planning Guidelines, released today, encourage councils to reject development and rezoning applications on land deemed at risk.
The guidelines define hazard areas and urge coastal councils to take a strategic, risk-based approach to plan for the impacts of climate change.
Homes in at-risk areas may need to be relocatable so they can be moved to higher ground.
Councils are strongly discouraged from intensifying development or rezoning land from rural to urban in high-risk areas ''unless the impacts of sea level rise can be effectively managed''.
Adaptation strategies could include structural protection works, but councils should prioritise ''soft engineering options'' such as beach nourishment or re-establishing barrier dune systems over the construction of seawalls or sandbagging, which might redirect erosion if poorly designed, the document says.
The Minister for Planning, Tony Kelly, said: "It is vital to properly plan for sea level rise to ensure homes are not built too close to hazard areas.''
The guidelines cite flooding in coastal lakes and rivers as a key issue of concern.
Councils are to map hazard areas on the basis of the state government's benchmarks for sea level rise, which anticipate a 40-centimetre rise by 2050 and 90 centimetres by 2100. Such rises would be associated with projected coastal erosion of between 45 to 90 metres, the guide says.
A NSW Planning spokesman said that while the guidelines were not statutory, similar documents were regularly used to inform land-use planning.
But it was not clear whether councils that disregard the guidelines could be held liable for allowing development on at-risk areas that in future were damaged by sea level rise.
''The department would prefer not to be giving legal advice on liability issues as it is not possible to pre-empt or predict the wide variety of circumstances in which these issues might arise,'' he said.
Insurers have been pressuring governments to clarify where responsibility lies for damage associated with climate change.
The Insurance Council of Australia has not seen the guidelines, but a spokeswoman said: ''We welcome any initiative that provides greater clarity … in [coastal] risk management.''...”

http://m.theage.com.au/environment/guidelines-could-kill-off-coastal-building-20100819-12s53.html

Regional Rail Link: Journey 'to double'

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 16:27:35 +1000

The Mail
BY CAMERON TAIT
18 Aug, 2010 12:00 AM

MORE Newport, Williamstown, Altona and Laverton commuters will be forced into their cars with the arrival of the $4.3billion Regional Rail Link, according to a public transport advocate.
Werribee resident Colin McIntyre says journey times to Geelong could almost double under the plans.
Train and car travel times between Newport and Geelong are at the moment almost the same, though train travel times are likely to increase from about 47 minutes to 90 minutes, under the project.
Mr McIntyre said it would further add to the pain already suffered by those commuting between the south western suburbs and the Geelong region.
"Unlike other regional train services, which stop almost all of the time as they leave or enter the suburban network, the majority of those between Geelong and the south western suburbs are on a two-hour frequency for a large part of the day," he said.

"The current service is totally inequitable; it keeps people poor."
Mr McIntyre said under the Regional Rail Link, due to be finished in 2014, regional trains would no longer travel through Newport or Werribee....

http://www.themail.com.au/news/local/news/general/regional-rail-link-journey-to-double/1915693.aspx

Nelson Place Village now 456 dwellings up by more than 10%

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 17:13:41 +1000

Planning Panels Victoria Website now has a list of SUBMISSIONS to the Ministers Advisory Committee

You can view the submissions received

http://dsedocs.obsidian.com.au/planning/Former%20Port%20Phillip%20Woollen%20Mill%20Submissions/

The list includes

DIIRD - Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development who are against the high rise development

Nelson Place Village Submission Part 1 only can be downloaded. In Part 1 the requested building heights is up to 47m - higher than previous applications. To find out how many dwellings they are seeking you need to refer to Part 2. Part 2 is too large for download and PPV say it has to be viewed at the library or you can request a CD or email copy

Only one submission apart from the developer is supporting the high rise development that submission wants industry removed from Williamstown and a totally residential suburb establishing.

Save Williamstown has viewed the documents in Nelson Place VIllage Submission Part 2 which show that over 10% more dwellings are being sought. This means even higher density. Bruce Henderson Architects documents refer to 456 dwellings but the traffic engineer goes even higher with 497 dwellings referenced in his report. The building rises to over 49 metres above sea-level and what appears to be 3 or 4 levels of underground parking. Even though the 300 m buffer zone goes through the middle of the site, the developer continues to have two of the high rise apartment blocks within the buffer zone.

No options are listed now only one development plan.

As the submission is over 20MB it isn’t available for download. You need to phone or email Planning Panels Victoria and ask them to send you a CD if you want to see the proposed development.

http://dsedocs.obsidian.com.au/planning/Former%20Port%20Phillip%20Woollen%20Mill%20Submissions/

Residents on warpath over planning

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 10:12:33 +1000

In this article in The Age (below), the Planning Minister comments
“.... communities had to decide if they wanted old industrial land to provide extra housing or to remain for industrial use...”
Question when did Williamstown community get a choice on the zoning of the land - the zoning was changed on the sole application of the developer?

The previous planning scheme amendment, C33 “Hobsons Bay Industrial Land Management Strategy” for Precinct 20 Industrial_Land_Management_Strategy240608.pdf
stated that “A residential outcome within this precinct, will also improve the overall amenity of the area, and is the Council’s preferred option” -
NOTE “WITHIN THIS PRECINCT” not the whole precinct.

The Strategy went on to say ““The Minister of Planning directed the Council to amend the Industrial Land Management Strategy to reflect the Government position on protecting the Port Environs. In light of this the Council’s second option is to see the site redeveloped for professional service/commercial offices and light industries. These would also result in a desirable outcome which would assist in meeting the needs of the local population. Tourism uses could be considered appropriate depending on the individual proposal, which may further support the growing tourism industry in Williamstown.
Land zoned IN3Z and IN1Z fronting Ann St, 55-57 Nelson Place (hotel) and 41 Nelson Place (motor mechanic) should be considered for residential purposes, to provide a better amenity outcome for residents on the opposite side of Ann St. Properties would have to front Ann St, and demonstrate appropriate attenuation features to buffer against any concerns in relation to the Port of Melbourne and Tenix.
In this context, it is considered that part of the precinct be identified as a Strategic Redevelopment Area. Any rezoning must foremost ensure protection of the Tenix shipbuilding facility from sensitive amenity uses......”

C33 received full community consultation. So the community discussion and input was ignored by the minister, even his own direction of December 2008 was ignored when 15 months later he changed the whole of the Former Port Phillip Woollen Mill Site to Residential 1.

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The Age
Jason Dowling and Simon Johanson  August 16, 2010 - 3:00AM
The graphic accompanying this article in the newspaper shows under the header “Battle of the Burbs” proposed developments at Hobsons Bay Former Port Phillip Woollen Mill Site), Moreland, Yarra and Bayside municipalities.

“BATTLES between developers and local communities over giant urban renewal projects have broken out across Melbourne.
And with the state government planning to house an additional 316,000 residents in Melbourne's ''established areas'' over the next 20 years and with many former industrial sites ripe for development, confrontations between developers and local communities are tipped to soar.
In Williamstown, residents are battling a huge residential development proposal on the former Woollen Mills site, while across the bay in Sandringham plans for a 500-dwelling development have energised the community.....
.....The opposition has produced a draft policy that would restrict residential towers to a maximum of nine storeys in the suburbs. Planning Minister Justin Madden dismissed the idea. He said Melbourne needed more housing, and communities had to decide if they wanted old industrial land to provide extra housing or to remain for industrial use.
He said the high cost of cleaning up old industrial sites often meant residential developments had to be large to ensure they were economically viable. Mr Madden said there should be strategic planning in advance in which councils consulted communities about where additional housing should be located.
''We're working with local government around housing growth requirements so that local governments can identify the housing growth needs over the next 20 years or so and then they can identify where they justifiably think the housing can go and in a sense the sort of numbers - that is not without some sensitivity,'' he said.
Mr Madden said additional housing was not just about population growth. ''If we had no population growth we would still need more housing because there is a change in the way people are forming their households. People are forming smaller households,'' he said.....

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/residents-on-warpath-over-planning-20100815-12593.html

Windsor looms as election spoiler but Williamstown’s Heritage and Jobs ignored

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 14:41:41 +1000

SW Comment - The Liberals missed their golden opportunity to disallow Minister Madden’s decision on the rezoning “Residential” of the Former Port Phillip Woollen Mill Site. This site was supposed to be protected by the Shipyard Strategy Plan with JOBS in Williamstown protected. The Liberals sided with the ALP in the Legislative Chamber of Victoria’s parliament against The Greens on 13 April . This makes one wonder how serious they are in defeating the Minister on planning decisions where wealthy developer are involved. What went on behind closed doors with the Ministerial Advisors and the developer or in Liberal Party headquarters? One day we might find out if ministerial advisors are required to appear before the parliament!

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The Age
Paul Austin  August 12, 2010 - 3:00AM

“THE Windsor Hotel redevelopment affair could blow up before November's state election, with key upper house MPs contemplating the arrest of senior government advisers for contempt of Parliament.
The non-Labor parties are expected to use their numbers in the upper house to order the advisers to give sworn evidence about whether Premier John Brumby and Planning Minister Justin Madden were involved in an attempt to corrupt planning laws.
But the government intends to order the staff - Mr Brumby's chief media advisers George Svigos and Fiona Macrae and Mr Madden's chief-of-staff Justin Jarvis and former press secretary Peta Duke - to refuse to appear.
In a report to Parliament yesterday, Greens MP Greg Barber said that if the advisers maintained their defiant stand, they should be taken into custody by the upper house's security chief, the Usher of the Black Rod.
Mr Barber said he would then expect the government to mount a legal challenge in the Supreme Court - bringing on a constitutional battle over whether the executive or the Parliament is the supreme body........”

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/windsor-looms-as-election-spoiler-20100811-11zt1.html

Fears rise for Greenland ice mass - Global sea levels up seven metres in 100 years.

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 14:08:47 +1000

What would a 7 metre rise in sea levels in the next 100 years mean for Williamstown.....? The Greenland ice mass could be the beginning of an inevitable process worldwide with the increased temperatures of climate change. The development of the Former Port Phillip Woollen Mill Site could be a big investment in a “temporary” building!

The Age
Suzanne Goldenberg, Washington  August 12, 2010 - 3:00AM

“THE entire ice mass of Greenland will disappear if temperatures rise by as little as 2 degrees, with severe consequences for the rest of the world, a panel of scientists has warned the US Congress.
Greenland shed its largest chunk of ice in nearly half-a-century last week, and faces an even grimmer future, according to Richard Alley, a geosciences professor at Pennsylvania State University.
''Sometime in the next decade we may pass that tipping point which would put us warmer than temperatures that Greenland can survive,'' Professor Alley told a briefing in Congress, adding a rise in the range of 2 to 7 degrees would mean the obliteration of Greenland's ice sheet.
The fall-out would be felt thousands of kilometres from the Arctic, unleashing a global sea-level rise of seven metres, he warned. Low-lying cities such as New Orleans would vanish. ''What is going on in the Arctic now is the biggest and fastest thing that nature has ever done,'' he said.......

http://www.theage.com.au/world/fears-rise-for-greenland-ice-mass-20100811-11znz.html

Developer contributions capped in NSW but neglected in Victoria

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 11:13:05 +1000

SW Comment: Developments such as Former Port Phillip Woollen Mill Site impose enormous strain on the community. In Victoria the developer contributions have been minimal but NSW imposed much more realistic developer contributions (sometimes up to $34,000 per bedroom) reflecting the community sentiment that if the developer makes profit from building huge developments, the individual ratepayers in those municipalities should not pick up the tab for the cost of new or improved infrastructure and commuinity service requirements. Recent changes in NSW impose a limit of $20,000 per dwelling. If translated to the Former Port Phillip Woollen Mill Site this would mean $8.25 million would be paid by the developer to Hobsons Bay City Council.

See NSW Developer contribution minute from City of Sydney Minutes June 2010

http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/council/documents/meetings/2010/Council/210610/100621_COUNCIL_ITEM31.pdf

“The State Government has announced major changes to the section 94 development contributions framework that will slash development contributions to all councils. The changes, announced without any consultation with local government as part of the State Budget, will have an especially devastating effect in our urban renewal areas such as Green Square.

The changes are:
• Section 94 development contributions levies for residential properties under s94 are now capped at a maximum of $20,000 per dwelling or lot. This cap came into immediate effect on Monday, 7 June 2010 and overrides any previous approvals to exceed the $20,000 threshold.
• A restriction on the types of infrastructure that can be funded via s94 levies to ‘essential infrastructure’.

Council will be forced to fund any shortfalls in infrastructure funding from other revenue sources such as borrowings and/or increases in general rates; or through a ‘Special Variation’ to rates. We can only apply a ‘Special Variation’ to cover any shortfall if we receive permission from the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART).
The Government has not yet defined ‘essential infrastructure’. I share the concerns of the Local Government and Shires’ Associations that the Government could restrict levies to the funding of land acquisition (for open space and community facilities), roads, stormwater and transport facilities. If these changes go ahead, the City will be prevented from collecting local contributions to fund recreational, civic or community facilities, which will instead need to be funded from other revenue sources.....

State's planning 'seizures' attacked

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 10:55:58 +1000

SW comment - so the Minister is now justifying calling in development projects for retaining jobs in the Global Financial Crisis BUT Mr Madden the Former Port Phillip Woollen Mill Site is right next door to Shipyards of National Significance with huge naval contracts and 1,200 new jobs secured this year..... At a stroke of your ministerial pen in March, you decide to rezone the Former Port Phillip Woollen Mill Site “Residential 1” and not have an industrial buffer which would protect jobs and industry from residents expecting “quality of life” in their new apartments/town houses. The developer Evolve immediately made a windfall profit of about $40 million. It isn’t too late for the minister to change his mind and every concerned resident and stakeholder is encouraged to make submissions to the Former Port Phillip Woollen Mill Advisory Committee by 27th August 2010.
see Former Port Phillip Woollen Mill Site C75 Submission

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The Age
By Jason Dowling  August 11, 2010 - 3:00AM

“COMMUNITY and local government groups have attacked a big jump in the number of planning matters the state government has seized control of.
Planning Minister Justin Madden intervened in 44 per cent more planning matters in the 12 months to April this year compared with the previous year.
In a statement to Victoria's Parliament, Mr Madden has outlined 233 planning interventions over the 12 months - up from 161.
In justifying the planning takeovers, the government did not argue that the interventions were about better planning outcomes.
Instead, the government argued that the interventions helped ''secure jobs and investment during the global financial crisis''.
In a statement, Mr Madden said ''sustained investment in Victoria during the international economic downturn had been vital in ensuring Victoria survived the economic crisis''.
He said it was ''absolutely right to help secure jobs and investment during the global financial crisis''.
The minister made 220 planning scheme changes - many to aid development in Melbourne ''activity centres''.
Another 13 planning matters before Victoria's planning tribunal were taken over by Mr Madden to ''fast track'' a decision.
One particularly powerful planning scheme amendment VC56 - introduced exemptions from planning rules for non-government school building projects under the Building Education Revolution and made the Planning Minister the responsible authority for all stimulus-funded social housing initiatives.
Save Our Suburbs president Ian Wood was scathing of the dramatic increase in ministerial planning intervention.
''Planning is about planning cities, it is not about economic issues. It is about traffic management, urban consolidation and taking into account all the long-term effects,'' he said......”

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/states-planning-seizures-attacked-20100810-11y9a.html

Workshop on Submission Writing

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 09:54:42 +1000

BY Save Williamstown 9th August 2010

On Monday evening at Breizoz Creperie in the Chapel at the rear of the restaurant we held a workshop on writing “effective” submissions.

Our Workshop on Submission Writing was very well attended with a large number of people who do not have internet access able to get some advice on the formalities of submission writing. We had a number of mentors available to help attendees know what was required and printed out documents for those who needed them.

Dr Ken Marriott, a recreation and community planning consultant, outlined a framework for presenting submissions which can be downloaded
How to write submissions.pdf

Links to ALL the documents community members need regarding writing a submission to the Minister’s Advisory Committee can be viewed on our webpage C75 Submissions.
SUBMISSIONS INFORMATION

The closing date for submissions is 27th August.
Following that the committee will have a directions hearing in September and will hold hearings in mid October.

Climate change litigation to flood planning and development in coastal areas

Fri, 6 Aug 2010 11:26:44 +1000

From Freehills Website 12 February 2010

“Key points
✦ Developers are now on notice that a failure to consider climate change risks on (or arising from) their proposed coastal developments could result in rejected proposals or could leave approvals open to future challenge.
✦ Owners of businesses and properties with operations and facilities in coastal areas will increasingly need to consider adaptation strategies to ensure the preservation of their infrastructure and assets and balance restoration costs against new design or relocation costs.
✦ Local councils are likely to adopt a more conservative approach in approving development as they consider the risks of future negligence claims if landowners suffer loss or property damage.
This article examines recent developments in case law and policy in response to climate change and potential sea level rise, and discusses the implications for developers, owners and local councils in coastal areas........”

http://www.freehills.com.au/5789.aspx

See Save Williamstown Issues page “Infrastructure Issues”

Critics slam Williamstown tower plan

Thu, 5 Aug 2010 18:36:44 +1000

BY GOYA BENNETT
04 Aug, 2010 12:00 AM

“ONLY 2 per cent of residents support the Williamstown towers proposal, results from a door-to-door survey conducted by the Save Williamstown lobby group has revealed.
The survey sought residents' views on the Nelson Place Village proposal for the former Port Phillip Woollen Mill site, which includes four residential towers, ranging from seven to 16 storeys.
Of those surveyed, 98per cent (339 respondents) said they did not support the developer's proposal for a 46.5-metre tower including 412 dwellings.
Of those surveyed, 97per cent believed Planning Minister Justin Madden should be held to his comments made in a press release that existing height and heritage controls would remain.
Ninety per cent thought the public transport and road network would not be able to cope with extra peak-hour users, and 95per cent said the development would negatively impact on traffic and parking availability.
Save Williamstown spokesman Godfrey Moase said the survey results should send a clear message to the developer.
"We can say confidently that less than 4per cent of the whole population of the Williamstown-Newport peninsula, from North Road to the Riffle Range, support what the developer is trying to do in Williamstown.........”

http://www.themail.com.au/news/local/news/general/critics-slam-williamstown-tower-plan/1903858.aspx#

Fear of coastal swamping leads to unprecedented ruling on property

Thu, 5 Aug 2010 15:35:54 +1000

Stephen McMahon From: Herald Sun August 05, 2010

“FEARS Victoria's coastline will be swamped by rising sea levels have led to an unprecedented ruling that ended a family's dream beachside development.
The ruling, blocking plans for eight townhouses in Lakes Entrance, could undermine coastal development worth millions.
The VCAT decision is the first time a small-scale development has been blocked.
It means all new developments or subdivisions on land less than 80cm above sea level are threatened.
Areas designated as potential hot spots for flooding are Warrnambool, Port Fairy, Portland, Lakes Entrance, the Gippsland Lakes, Patterson Lakes and Werribee.
A federal government report last year warned that up to 44,600 homes along Victoria's coast could be destroyed or damaged by rising sea levels over the next century........”

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/fear-of-coastal-swamping-leads-to-unprecedented-ruling-on-property-dream/story-e6frf7kx-1225901323695

See Save Williamstown Issues page “Infrastructure Issues”

Towering rejection in Williamstown

Tue, 3 Aug 2010 11:55:31 +1000

The Hobsons Bay Leader
by James Twining

“A SURVEY shows just 2 per cent of Williamstown residents are happy with the tower height proposed for a new apartment village in their suburb.

Save Williamstown, a residents group campaigning for sustainable development of the former Port Phillip Woollen Mills site on Nelson Place, commissioned the survey, which involved 40 volunteers doorknocking more than 500 houses.

The group has been fighting developer Nelson Place Village’s preferred plans for the site, which would include 412 dwellings with four apartment towers up to 46.5m.

Save Williamstown fears the new village would increase Williamstown’s population by up to 10 per cent, adding to traffic congestion and threatening the suburb’s unique heritage character.

Survey respondents were given an option of answering yes, no or don’t know to 13 questions.

An overwhelming 98 per cent were not happy with the proposed 46.5m height.

A total of 162 people, or 44 per cent, offered extra comments beyond the questions.......”

http://hobsons-bay-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/towering-rejection-in-williamstown/

“PR in the fight for Williamstown village” Community responses

Mon, 2 Aug 2010 17:03:05 +1000

Comments on the article in
The Hobsons Bay Leader
by James Twining 27 JUL 10 @ 06:06AM

....
Rosco
writes:

Posted on
2 Aug 10 at 11:02am
Take a look around Williamstown we want our heritage to remain. it has been a great place to grow up and raise children, there are not many places left that are so heritage proud so leave us alone please

Mike Nicholls
writes:

Posted on
1 Aug 10 at 05:36pm
Most developers by nature seek to return maxim profits on their projects,this can only be achieved by overdevelopment , as can be seen in the case of the Port Phillip Woollen Mill site. They are not interested in sustainable development or the impact on our amenities only the bottom line monetary return to them and their investors.Thankfully we have dedicated residents that make up such groups as Save Williamstown,to represent the community and bringing into balance the of development in Williamstown.

http://hobsons-bay-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/comments/pr-in-the-fight-for-williamstown-village/’

Letters re PR.pdf

Meeting notes on Hotel Windsor plans withheld

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:03:00 +1000

The Age
by Jason Dowling July 29, 2010

“NOTES taken in a meeting between Planning Minister Justin Madden and the developer behind the controversial $260 million Hotel Windsor redevelopment are being withheld by the government - months after the minister appeared to indicate they would be released.
Mr Madden was asked in May to release the notes when he appeared before a state parliamentary committee. At the time he said he expected the notes to be ''fed into the system''.
When The Age subsequently asked the government for a copy of the notes, it was told to submit a freedom-of-information request.

The Department of Planning has now formally refused that request. Defending the refusal, a department spokesman said that ''given it [the meeting] was a general discussion around the intention to submit a formal application, no file notes were recorded.
''A personal note was made by one of the officers. However, this note only had personal meaning to that officer and was not used in any decision-making process. These kinds of personal notes do not meet the definition of a document of an agency under the FOI Act.''......”

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/meeting-notes-on-hotel-windsor-plans-withheld-20100728-10w6w.html

Green land cut back as Melbourne grows much bigger

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:28:16 +1000

The Age
by Jason Dowling July 29, 2010 - 12:02PM

“Melbourne has today become much, much bigger.
Already one of the world's largest cities by geographic footprint - stretching 100 kilometres from east to west - Victoria's Parliament today voted in favour of expanding Melbourne by another 43,600 hectares.
The land - roughly equal to four Phillip Islands - is on the city's western, northern and south-eastern fringes.
The expansion is the biggest change to the size of Melbourne in almost a decade and will destroy thousands of hectares of Melbourne's green-wedge land - once dubbed the city's "lungs" - as well as fertile food-growing areas to Melbourne's east.
Today's vote was opposed by the Greens but supported by the Liberal-Nationals coalition.
Developers argue the decision, and any subsequent residential development, will ease pressure on housing supply and affordability....
.....A spokeswoman for Planning Minister Justin Madden said the planning scheme amendment to expand the urban growth boundary was "fundamental to maintaining housing affordability".
"Expanding the boundary is a major component of the Brumby Labor Government's long-term plan to manage growth, keep house prices affordable and ensure our city remains one of the world's most welcoming and livable cities," she said.”

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/green-land-cut-back-as-melbourne-grows-much-bigger-20100729-10wvi.html

Does this mean more emphasis on preparing suitable land for population expansion and not putting pressure on inner suburbs which lack infrastructure to expand...? Is the Planning Minister becoming more rational?

“PR in the fight for Williamstown village” Sorry Mr Developer - WRONG- Only the developer is hiring a PR firm - Save Williamstown doesn’t need SPIN.. we are speaking up for the COMMUNITY

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:55:54 +1000

To portray Save Williamstown as an anti-development group is an absolute lie. Save Williamstown represents the community and the community favours development BUT that development must fit with the Heritage of the area, existing businesses. the nationally significant shipbuilding industry and allow for the impact on the infrastructure of Williamstown. Development similar to that on Nelson Place between Ann St and Thompson St, respect height limits, heritage buildings and the historic street scape but 46.5 metre towers with up to 17 storeys do not.

Williamstown’s community is adamantly against the Developer’s Proposal for up to 46.5 metre tower apartment buildings overshadowing back-to-back type terraces with no private open space - the “lower echelons ” of multi-million $$$ penthouses...

Why do Developers like to build high rise apartments? Mainly because they can pre-sell penthouses off the plan before building even begins and receive early buyer-commitment which enables them to raise loan funding for the development. This type of development is basically lazy planning. It lacks any research as to what is needed in a community and what fits in a community. The unoccupied Wool Mills are ugly and derelict and the whole community accepts that development will happen and it could be development which is exciting and makes a contribution to UNIQUE Williamstown. This is a community which accepts restraint in the name of sustainable appropriate development. Ask anyone who has sought planning permission and lives in the area of the original 1837 Hoddle Street Layout for Williamstown.

The eminent historian Geoffrey Blainey has stated:
“I think the strip of land close to Point Gellibrand is probably more central to Victorian history than any other strip of land I can think of. Its significance is perhaps second only to Sydney’s Circular Quay in terms of Australian history since white settlement”
Circular Quay has been “remodelled” by developers which makes Williamstown’s intact heritage all the more important.
Destructive developers are not welcome in Williamstown, those with imagination and a contribution to make are.

And so to the article in
The Hobsons Bay Leader
by James Twining 27 JUL 10 @ 06:06AM
which now has a long list of comments from the community

“A PUBLIC relations battle over the controversial 400-plus apartment village proposed for Williamstown’s foreshore is being stepped up.
Proponent Nelson Place Village Pty Ltd has hired a PR firm to arrange meetings with locals apprehensive about the plan.
This would include building four apartment towers, up to 46.5m, and several townhouses on the former Port Phillip Woollen Mills site at Nelson Place.
In a letter seen by the Leader, Nelson Place Village managing director Ashley Williams says the developers: “would appreciate the opportunity to arrange a meeting to discuss our vision for the site”.
“We are most interested in community feedback,” Mr Williams wrote.
The company also sent out community response forms to gauge public opinion.
Mr Williams told the Leader there was nothing sinister in the move, rather it would be used to get feedback.
“I think it is part of the process we have been involved with,” he said.
“There wasn’t an opportunity up until now to start that dialogue.”.......”

NO OPPORTUNITY UNTIL NOW?????????? We thought you had been planning this development for about 5 years and you told the Minister that Council was delaying things and asked him to call it in? Why didn’t you consult the community before you drew up plans - isn’t that a NORMAL Planning requirement?

Advisory Committee to the Minister publishes opening of Submissions today

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 09:56:47 +1000

Today - the timetable for submissions and hearings of the Minister’s Advisory Committee have been published.
Click here for an enlarged scan of the Advertisement.

It should be noted that the Advisory Committee is specifically excluding consideration of any other zoning of the Former Port Phillip Woollen Mill Site than Residential 1 which has been predetermined by Minister Madden. No public consultation was given to this determination and it was based solely on the application of the developer Nelson Place Village.

The committee will, however, also review planning and urban design matters relating to the land to the south of Nelson Place within Precinct 20, as identified under the Hobsons Bay Industrial Land Management Strategy 2008. Therefore it is Save Williamstown’s understanding that there must be zoning considerations in the area “South of the Former Port Phillip Woollen Mill Site” as designated in the Terms of Reference. This is based upon the fact that these other parcels of land are currently zoned Industrial 1 & 3 and these sites are occupied by existing businesses. Existing uses will conflict with the Residential 1 zone and it is therefore reasonable to make submissions on the zoning matters relating to existing Williamstown Businesses. Also included is the Prince of Wales Hotel, known as the Titanic which is currently zoned Industrial 1 and other heritage hotels which are some of the earliest buildings in Williamstown.

The only information today on the linked website below is the “Terms of Reference” and “Committee composition” but if the other advisory committees (ie Coastal Climate Change Advisory Committee) format is followed then there should be a link on this webpage to more information and documents about the Former Port Phillip Woollen Mill Site.

http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/DSE/nrenpl.nsf/LinkView/5A9FF0797A2A0F51CA25770B003DC56BE82B85B30B18B0A4CA2572FF00270933

Hobsons Bay child-care plans 'clash'

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 23:43:28 +1000

The Advertiser BY GOYA BENNETT
21 Jul, 2010 12:00 AM

“THE only community-run child-care centre in Hobsons Bay could fold if a church proceeds with plans to build a bigger centre next door.
Williamstown Child Care Centre Co-operative, which opened in 1986 with 22 children, has objected to a proposal for a 79-place centre behind StAndrew's Presbyterian Church.
The co-op has joined Cecil Street residents, the latter having major traffic concerns, in lodging an appeal with the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal......
.... "Obviously, we recognise there is significant demand for child care and kinder places in the Williamstown region, but it would be a great shame for this to be achieved at the expense of our well-established, community-owned and operated centre," she said.
"We believe both centres can co-exist and meet the requirements of the local community. We're at risk of actually having to relocate, ultimately, because we can't expand on our current site."
Ms Joske said new child-care regulations, including smaller child-staff ratios and bigger outdoor space requirements, meant the co-op either had to expand or lose four children.
She said the co-op had presented two expansion proposals to St Andrew's, but both had been rejected. "We're a community centre with just 42 places that caters to all socio-economic groups within Williamstown," she said."

http://www.themail.com.au/news/local/news/general/hobsons-bay-childcare-plans-clash/1890968.aspx

A vote for 'real' change

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 23:08:34 +1000

The Advertiser BY LINA MESITI
21 Jul, 2010 12:00 AM

“A WILLIAMSTOWN resident has thrown down the gauntlet to voters in the coming federal and state elections.
John Marks, who has been living in Williamstown for more than 60 years, believes the only way to highlight what he claims is "neglect" of voters in the safe seats is to "change" their vote.....
..... Mr Marks cited the proposed high-rise development in Nelson Place, Williamstown, as an example of the ALP ignoring the west.
"We don't want high-rise density developments, but the land is available. The money interest is there and people who represent us don't listen......."

http://www.themail.com.au/news/local/news/general/a-vote-for-real-change/1890969.aspx

Local productions boost Vic film industry

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 15:09:46 +1000

ABC report by Kirsten Veness July 15, 2010

“Victoria's film and television industry is booming and it is not Hollywood bringing the work, but home grown productions.
It is estimated that over the last financial year, more than $200 million was spent in Victoria, making it one of the strongest years on record.
It is hoped this traditionally volatile industry is proving to be more sustainable in the long-term.....
.....The chief executive officer of Film Victoria, Sandra Sdraulig says an estimated $230 million was spent in the state during that time.....
.....The situation also appears to be improving at the Docklands studios. A few years ago, there was talk the studios were empty because they were too expensive. Now they are operating at about 65 per cent capacity.
Film Victoria says the recent strength of local projects suggests film production is becoming more resilient and able to sustain the industry in the long term......”

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/07/14/2952853.htm

Traffic to increase

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 22:56:04 +1000

When several developments impact on a street, is it responsible for the traffic experts to show the impact of the combined development or is it deceptive to just report part of the picture and thus not alert the community to the real impact of several developments?

The Mail by Goya Bennett July 14, 2010 - 3:00AM

“CECIL Street residents are up in arms over a controversial child-care centre planned for St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church at Williamstown.
As reported by this newspaper last month, Hobsons Bay Council approved a 79-place centre operated by Kids by the Bay on land formerly occupied by the church manse.
It is understood residents have lodged an appeal at the Victorian Administrative and Appeals Tribunal.
Objector Duncan Steele said residents’ main concern was that the traffic assessment for the centre, conducted by GTA consultants, failed to consider increased traffic movement from another development proposed nearby.....”

http://williamstownadvertiser.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/viewer.aspx’

Madden diary a closed book

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 11:55:45 +1000

Something we didn’t know already!! Save Williamstown’s FOI requests have been delayed too.. So much for OPEN government. How does a public servant mix up their private business and public business in a diary paid for by Tax Payers?

The Age by Jason Dowling  July 12, 2010 - 3:00AM

“FORGET the price of the grand prix, cabinet documents or Brownlow votes - rocketing up the list of protected information in Victoria is a few months of entries in the diary of Planning Minister Justin Madden's chief of staff.......

........But Victorians will be denied the right to know if lobbyists or developers are meeting with the planning minister's chief adviser Justin Jarvis - or when, where and how often.

The Age has been refused an FOI request for a copy of Mr Jarvis' diary for the period January 1 to April 1, 2010.
Why shouldn't the public know who the planning minister's chief adviser is meeting with, in a time of increased ministerial planning intervention?

Because, according to Andrew Weston, FOI manager with the Department of Planning and Community Development, it is not practicable to produce an edited copy of the diary that distinguishes between personal and work-related entries and produces ''an accurate record''.

Mr Weston ruled ''the abbreviated nature of the entries'' also had the potential to be misleading. Across Bass Strait in the island state, freedom-of-information officers have no such problems.....”

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/madden-diary-a-closed-book-20100711-105m9.html

Planning behind government doors in Victoria...

Thu, 8 Jul 2010 22:02:14 +1000

Further evidence that closed committees are making planning decisions in Victoria as reported in The Age

The Age by Clay Lucas  July 6, 2010 - 3:00AM

Developers face off in South Yarra war of the high rises

“A BATTLE between two powerful developers over the height of a South Yarra skyscraper is to be settled behind government doors today, amid growing fears that planning in Victoria is increasingly out of control.
Toll Holdings managing director Paul Little - ranked by BRW as Australia's 38th richest man, with a fortune of $855 million - is also a property developer. His company, Little Project Developments, wants to knock down an old ANZ building on Toorak Road, near the corner of Chapel Street....

.......... In May, Mr Little convinced Planning Minister Justin Madden to step in and take the decision out of the hands of the planning tribunal - which last year rejected an application from developer Stockland for a similar apartment block just around the corner.
In a closed hearing today, the Department of Planning's Jane Monk will hear from both sides, before making a recommendation to Mr Madden.
APN spokesman Grant Muller said the project should be decided in a public hearing.
Victoria's Planning Institute yesterday agreed. ''Having things done behind closed doors like this is concerning,'' institute president David Vorchheimer said.
But Little Project Development's Mr Fox said APN was behaving badly. ''They are being a pain in the arse,'' he said. ''They think they are only people entitled to a tower in the whole of South Yarra.''
The opposition said Mr Madden should have let the state planning tribunal rule on the case. ''We can't continue to have a planning system where the minister just erratically calls in projects like this,'' planning spokesman Matthew Guy said.........”

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/developers-face-off-in-south-yarra-war-of-the-high-rises-20100705-zxnf.html

Minister’s Advisory Committee Dates announced

Fri, 2 Jul 2010 16:45:07 +1000

The CLOSING DATE for written submissions to the Advisory Committee on the Former Port Phillip Woollen Mill Site is 27th August 2010. Save Williamstown will be distributing a leaflet about how to make submissions and conducting workshops on submission writing to assist residents and other stakeholders in making submissions within the set out time frames. The committee hearings are likely to be a fortnight after the submissions close.

This is verbal information obtained from “Planning Panels Victoria” a link to the formal advertisement will be provided shortly.

Gillard rejects 'big Australia' Sustainability to be important...

Sun, 27 Jun 2010 11:45:53 +1000

The Age by Josh Gordon  June 27, 2010 - 3:00AM

“PRIME Minister Julia Gillard has declared she does not believe in a ''big Australia'', signalling a major shift in policy on the nation's burgeoning population growth.
In her first significant policy break from the Rudd-era, Ms Gillard said the nation should not ''hurtle down the track towards a big population''.
''I don't support the idea of a big Australia with arbitrary targets of, say, a 40 million-strong Australia or a 36 million-strong Australia. We need to stop, take a breath and develop policies for a sustainable Australia.
''I support a population that our environment, our water, our soil, our roads and freeways, our busses, our trains and our services can sustain.''......

......Australia's population has been growing faster than some developing countries, including the Philippines, Malaysia, India, Indonesia and Vietnam.
''It is a debate about planning affected by many factors, water supply, open space, infrastructure, ensuring the appropriate tax base to support our ageing population … the need for skills and the need to preserve a good quality of life,'' the new PM said........

........''Having a smart and sustainable population, coupled with the right skills strategy, will help improve this imbalance.''
Any move to cut significantly Australia's migration intake would anger business groups, which support strong population growth to keep the economy growing and fix skills shortages.....”

http://www.theage.com.au/national/gillard-rejects-big-australia-20100626-zb1g.html

Council to block new apartments Update on VCAT refusal - proximity to industry factor

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 09:05:05 +1000

This application was for:
“the construction of two, three-storey buildings for 66 dwellings at 200 Stephen Street, Yarraville” and it
went to VCAT on developer appeal 16 April 2010 - the determination (17 June 2010) is probably highly relevant to the proximity of the Former Port Phillip Woollen Mill Site to the Mobil Tanks at Point Gellibrand.

The development is described as medium density and involved buildings containing 66 apartments which is much smaller than the former Woollen Mill proposed development with 400+ dwellings. As the matter was considered by Maribyrnong Council (see The Age article below which we listed in our news in December 2009 and have now elevated in the SW NEWS blog) and was not called in by the minister, a number of organisations were able to go to VCAT to provide evidence as to why the development should not be allowed and VCAT agreed with them and refused the application.

Industry needs buffer zones which mean that the quality of life of residents are not impinged upon with poorly located heavy industry. If industry is there first then residential developers need to respect the rights of industry. This decision by VCAT is a message for the developers of the Former Port Phillip Woollen Mill Site and Minister Madden.

http://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/sinodisp/au/cases/vic/VCAT/2010/678.html?stem=0&synonyms=0&query=%5Esandbar

Reason for the determination (Summary)
“.....
1. This is an application in respect of a permit application for the construction of two, three-storey buildings for 66 dwellings at 200 Stephen Street, Yarraville. The debate in relation to the application is unusual, different to that which ordinarily surrounds a proposed medium density residential development. There is no real debate about design standards or in more conventional terms the site responsiveness of the proposed development. Rather, the issue to be decided is whether or not the land is suited to a medium density development having regard to its location proximate to Mobil’s[1] Yarraville Terminal, a bulk fuel storage and distribution facility[2].
2. This issue was debated before us on the basis of planning scheme provisions and more particularly the local planning policy framework, and on the basis of the orderly planning for the precinct[3].
3. We had regard to:
• Planning policy, in particular the Clause 22.02-3 Francis Street: Mixed Use Zone Policy 3;
• The EPA policy AQ2/86 Recommended Buffer Distances for Industrial Residual Air Emission and the concept of a reverse buffer, and;
• Approaches to orderly planning for risk.
We conclude that all of these considerations suggest that there should be a buffer between new or more intensive residential development and a Major Hazard Facility such as the Yarraville Terminal. On this basis we decide that no permit should be granted.
.........”

See also Article in The Age by Jason Dowling
23rd December 2009

“MARIBYRNONG council is opposing a large apartment block development in Yarraville because it is dangerously close to the Mobil fuel terminal.
The council's general manager of sustainable development, John Luppino, said the Mobil terminal was recognised as a ''major hazard facility''.
Developers are hoping to build the apartment development on a Stephen Street site adjacent to the terminal that stores millions of litres of petrol.
Mr Luppino said the development was too close to the terminal.
''The proposed residential development is within the recommended buffer distance from Mobil Yarraville Terminal, which is a registered major hazard facility,'' Mr Luppino said.......
..... Mr Bailey said the proposed development was within 300 metres of the terminal and 300 metres was the designated buffer zone for residential developments.
He said it did not matter that there was other housing close to the terminal.
''The terminal has been there for a long time and there has been residential areas close to the terminal, but what you are talking about is - is it appropriate to add to that residential density through a development like this,'' he said.
......Proponents have requested that Mobil release its ''safety case'' for the Yarraville site.

http://www.theage.com.au/national/council-to-block-new-apartments-20091222-lbqt.html

Developers gave Labor $1.2m in a decade & meet in August at $1000-a-head dinner

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 17:30:44 +1000

The Age by JASON DOWLING
June 19, 2010

“BUILDERS and property developers have bankrolled the Labor Party in Victoria with lavish donations running into the millions of dollars during its decade in office, with many benefiting from government planning decisions.
Individual companies have contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars and developers have confirmed a yearly phone call from the Labor Party seeking cash.
One large donor from the development industry, who did not wish to be identified, has called for an end to the cash grab and for the introduction of public funding for political parties.
Many developers will again be wooed for a Labor Party fund-raising dinner in August that will include most of the Brumby cabinet and federal Labor cabinet ministers including Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard. Invitations to the $1000-a-head dinner say it ''is the ideal platform for business and government leaders to interact and build dialogue''.
A snapshot of donations from just eight large developers to the Labor Party in Victoria over the past decade shows more than $1.2 million heading to the party's coffers. The total amount from developers is much higher - including hundreds of thousands of dollars donated to Progressive Business that flows to the Labor Party.......”

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/developers-gave-labor-12m-in-a-decade-20100618-ymx4.html

Developers accessing politicians whilst community consultation wanes

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 10:19:17 +1000

See Brisbane Times article about the DEC function 11 Nov 2009 organised by JUMP PR’s Suzanne Northey who is also PR for EVOLVE developers of the Former Port Phillip Woollen Mill Site. When the Indian billionaire property developers were meeting Justin Madden, one of them had to turn down an invitation to sit next to Kevin Rudd at the cricket. Of course the developer aspect of their work might co-incide with other reasons for the meetings with politicians, their company DEC are also sponsors of the Victorian Bushrangers Cricket team and New Zealand Cricket Team Black Caps.

Brisbane Times
by MARK HAWTHORNE
November 11, 2009

“High-flyers grounded
INDIA'S billionaire brothers Dheeraj Wadhawan and Kapil Wadhawan held a rather glitzy party at the Crown Palladium last night to launch their latest property development venture in Melbourne, including an $850 million apartment project at Southbank.
Among the VIPs were Victorian Planning Minister Justin Madden, cricket legend Steve Waugh and the entire Victorian Bushrangers cricket team, which is sponsored by the brothers' company, DEC.
Only problem was, the brothers didn't make it to their own party, as their private jet was grounded for six hours at Mumbai airport due to a problem with the tarmac.
When Collins & Spencer last heard from them, the brothers were not scheduled to touch down in Melbourne until after 8.30 last night.
The launch party, which started at 6pm, was to double as a birthday party for Dheeraj, but it was Kapil who was particularly aggrieved by the delay. He had turned down an invitation to sit next to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd at the cricket in India to catch the plane to Melbourne.
With the star guests absent, the crowd was entertained by comedian Dave Hughes, MC Tottie Goldsmith and a Cirque de Soleil aerialist.......”

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/business/thorney-battle-for-control-of-redflex-board-20091111-ia1b.html

Windsor scandal to be probed

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 09:23:40 +1000

The Age by PAUL AUSTIN June 18, 2010

“THE Ombudsman has been called in to investigate the Hotel Windsor planning scandal, including any involvement by Premier John Brumby and Planning Minister Justin Madden in a bid to corrupt Victoria's planning laws.
The opposition, Greens and Democratic Labor Party yesterday used their numbers to roll the ALP and order a Ombudsman's inquiry into the affair.
The non-Labor parties have asked the Ombudsman to report back to Parliament by August 31, only three months before the state election.
Sources told The Age that Ombudsman George Brouwer appeared to have the power to question anyone he liked about the planning process for a controversial $260 million redevelopment of the Windsor, including the senior government advisers who have so far refused to speak about their role.......

........Sources from all sides of politics said it now appeared the advisers would be required to give evidence to the Ombudsman......”

http://m.theage.com.au/victoria/windsor-scandal-to-be-probed-20100617-yjrs.html

Madden responds to critics in Letter to The Age

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 16:34:51 +1000

In the midst of letters to the Editor of The Age criticising planning issues being decided behind closed doors and “cash for chat”, the minister has decided finally to comment by way of his own letter to the editor and defend his position in having pre-application meetings with developers.

What is ironical in the case of the Former Port Phillip Woollen Mill Site in Williamstown is that Council told the developer his application was incomplete and needed to be resubmitted. Then the developer applies directly to the minister to change the zoning without reference to Hobsons Bay City Council. We are definitely subsumed in a developer-led planning environment where community consultation is either dead or ignored.

“The minister says

PRE-APPLICATION meetings with developers take place, but it is wrong to report that approval is sought or given at these meetings. No indication of whether an application will be approved is given.
All councils encourage pre-application meetings for significant developments because they avoid lodging of incomplete applications. They are good practice, whether the decision-maker is the council or the Victorian government.

Justin Madden, Victorian Planning Minister, Melbourne”

http://www.theage.com.au/national/letters/the-secrecy-and-the-spin-should-worry-us-all-20100616-ygab.html

Push for regional growth but what about Tourism in Williamstown

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 10:27:48 +1000

Queenscliff and Port Fairy are to receive “millions of dollars in grants to help them prevent losing their charm as ''sea-changers'' move in.” BUT places like Williamstown which are only a short journey for Melbourne residents to visit and accessible by public transport and ferries are being slowly destroyed by developer led planning....

See this article in The Age for information on regional support by the state government.

The Age
by Paul Austin  June 15, 2010 - 3:00AM

“VICTORIA'S main regional cities will grow faster but sensitive coastal areas will be better protected from over-development under a population plan to be unveiled by Premier John Brumby today.
Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat and the Latrobe Valley will be earmarked for population booms over the next 15 years in a bid to ease some of the ''growing pains'' evident on Melbourne's clogged roads and overcrowded trains.
But the heritage coastal towns of Queenscliff on the Bellarine Peninsula and Port Fairy on the south-west coast, as well as Ninety Mile Beach in Gippsland, will get millions of dollars in grants to help them prevent losing their charm as ''sea-changers'' move in........”

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/push-for-regional-growth-20100614-ya73.html

Gong for one who helps

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 13:17:09 +1000

The Advertiser
BY LINA MESITI
16 Jun, 2010 04:00 AM

“PATRICIA (Patsy) Toop, a Williamstown champion for a good cause, has had a triple celebration in recent days.
A partner in the successful law firm Clark, Toop and Taylor, Ms Toop received a Medal of the Order of Australia in the Queen's Birthday honours for services to heritage, maritime and social welfare organisations.
"It's a great honour and I'm totally humbled by it," she says.
"It was completely out of the blue. I had no idea at all, until the letter arrived.
"It was amazing, even more so to think that someone nominated me and that a number of people actually took the time to write something about me that must have influenced the decision. I think it's quite remarkable."
Ms Toop is president of the Williamstown Maritime Association, secretary of Seaworks Foundation, and a committee member of Preserve Old Williamstown.
She's also a member the Workers Occupational Health Centre board and in her spare time brews beer and sings with a band called Long & Short of It.

And last week, she had more good news.
Her new CD titled In the Middle was launched on Monday at Pirates Tavern in Williamstown.
As well, she received some long-awaited news about Seaworks.
"At long last, we've been presented with a lease for Seaworks from Parks Victoria. It's [the redevelopment] been a huge project just getting to that point, and we're just at the cusp on signing off on it and hope it will be finalised by June 30.
"It's ultimately a 21-year lease which effectively means the Seaworks Foundation will become the equivalent of a landlord who will direct development and management of the site [Nelson Place], so we are all very pleased.".......”

http://www.themail.com.au/news/local/news/general/gong-for-one-who-helps/1859116.aspx?storypage=0#

Schmoozing behind the scenes?

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 09:50:58 +1000

The Advertiser
BY GOYA BENNETT
16 Jun, 2010 04:00 AM

“PLANNING Minister Justin Madden has been asked to explain photos on social networking site facebook, showing him socialising with developers at a Crown Palladium event last November.
The photo shows him socialising with Jump Property Public Relations & Media head Suzanne Northey, who represents developers wanting to build a high-rise development on the Port Phillip Woollen Mill site in Williamstown.
Ms Northey has since strengthened the security settings on her facebook page.
Residents protesting against the Nelson Place Village proposal want to know why Mr Madden has not met them but was happy to "duck out of Parliament" to attend the Crown event hosted by Jump PR.
On the same night of November 11, Western Metropolitan Greens upper house MP Colleen Hartland raised an adjournment issue about Mr Madden listening to the community on alternative ideas for the mill site.
Save Williamstown spokeswoman Charmian Gaud lashed out at Mr Madden.
"He's supposed to respond to an adjournment motion within 30 days, but he's never done that. Yet at an event the same night, he's seen shaking hands and talking to the developer's PR lady. It just so happens she is also the Evolve Development PR. Suzanne Northey has the glittering opportunity to talk about development. Did she discuss the former Port Phillip Woollen Mill site?
"Madden would have known that it had been raised as an adjournment item in the upper house of Parliament that very night," Ms Gaud said.
Mr Madden's spokesman avoided all questions relating to the facebook photos taken of him with Suzanne Northey.
State Government spokesman Chris Owner said Mr Madden did not plan to meet Save Williamstown members.......”

http://www.themail.com.au/news/local/news/general/schmoozing-behind-the-scenes/1859121.aspx?storypage=0#

Secret meetings raise concerns

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 08:54:31 +1000

The Age
Jason Dowling  June 16, 2010 - 3:00AM

“DEVELOPERS are quietly seeking approval for massive and often contentious developments from the state government and heritage authorities months before applications are formally lodged and the public is notified.
The hidden meetings, that can include well-connected lobbyists, has led to calls for the secret meetings to be urgently regulated.
An email shows the head of Heritage Victoria met the developers behind the controversial $260 million redevelopment of the Windsor in December 2008, eight months before a heritage permit application was lodged. The email indicated that the project could ''have legs''.
The email was sent on December 19 2008 from the executive director of Heritage Victoria. It was obtained by The Age under Freedom of Information, with the recipient of the email deleted.
''They were looking for a view as to whether it would have legs from a heritage perspective. I think it could, but there is a significant history of opposition to redevelopment at the Windsor and a lot of very interested parties in the building over the road,'' the email said.
''Since the development is big enough to require the minister's approval of a planning permit, I thought it would be wise for them to make a presentation to him early in the new year.''
It goes on to ask that a meeting be organised with the Planning Minister, Justin Madden.......
......Mr Madden has refused to release the notes of that meeting or say who attended or where it was held.
Last month, Mr Madden told a parliamentary committee he often met developers and other groups prior to planning permit applications.......”

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/secret-meetings-raise-concerns-20100615-yd9o.html

Lights, camera, lots of action could be in Williamstown

Tue, 15 Jun 2010 14:50:35 +1000

Expansion of TV production studio facilities is much needed in Melbourne as Docklands fails to cope. The article in today’s Age and SMH below explains some of the issues facing this industry.

Maybe Williamstown really should be considered for TV Studios, to complement the large number of on-location filming activities in Williamstown.

The 3 hectares site at the Former Port Phillip Woollen Mill could provide an ideal location for TV Studios with land values a quarter of that at Docklands ie needing less subsidy for the state government.

By contrast, Docklands is an ideal location for high rise apartments which is modern and does not impact on heritage values or endanger jobs at the Williamstown Shipyards. Williamstown is an ideal location for TV film studios, as it is chosen by many TV producers for on-location sets - up to 50 per year including Stingers, Blue Heelers, Horace and Tina, Rush and Underbelly.

Unfortunately when Colleen Hartland MLC in an adjournment debate on 11 November 2009, asked that Minister Justin Madden meet with Save Williamstown to discuss alternative visions for the site, the minister was not even in parliament but was busy at the DEC function in Crown Casino. The huge event welcoming an indian developer to Victoria, was organised by Jump PR, which just so happens to be owned by Suzanne Northey. Suzanne is the JUMP Property PR and Media consultant for Ashley Williams’ development company Evolve and Nelson Place Village. She is pictured on Facebook with Justin Madden (aka BIG HARRY). Suzanne Northey and Ashley Williams are currently visiting clubs and organisations in Williamstown promoting the building of over 400 residential apartments/town houses at the Former Port Phillip Woollen Mill Site. Ashley Williams was highly critical of suggestions that the site could be used for film studios.

http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/movies/lights-camera-lots-of-action-20100614-ya7u.html

The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald
by Karl Quinn  June 15, 2010 - 10:13AM

“YOU can see it in the location trucks parked in clusters all around the city. You can see it, if you're lucky, in the famous faces around town. You can even see it in the ''coming soon'' posters at the cinema. Victoria is in the middle of a film and television boom.
"You know there's a boom on when you can't even hire a Portaloo,'' says Wayne Hope, director of the ABC sitcom The Librarians.........

....... the budget for an hour of drama made in the US is about five times that of an hour made in Australia.....

Producer John Edwards agrees. Already, he says, "we're spending more on our shows and as a consequence they're looking better and doing better, both here and overseas".
In Australia, an hour of drama costs about $800,000 to make, with some reality shows now costing more than $1 million an hour.
Add in the fact that drama qualifies for a 20 per cent federal rebate on production costs while reality television does not and you can see why, as Edwards puts it, "drama has become more sensible again".
If the TV sector can convince the federal government to increase the producer offset (a rebate on production costs paid through the tax system) to 40 per cent - the same level as applies to the film sector - it could even start to look like a no-brainer........

Victoria would be in with a shot for films of that size, but if they are much bigger, it becomes problematic because the Docklands studios are not big enough. "If we want to attract big international productions, we need more infrastructure,'' says Docklands boss Rod Allan. ''We're going to need bigger sound stages. *******The other option is to look at additional space for television productions. But that's ultimately a decision for the government.*******"
Having commissioned a $770,000 report on the future options for the studio complex, the state government is, in fact, expected to make a decision on that sometime soon. And having allocated $4.4 million in the last state budget to improvements aimed at making one of the soundstages more suitable for television production, it has shown it remains committed to the complex........”

Heritage Victoria under fire

Tue, 15 Jun 2010 09:20:33 +1000

The Age
by Jason Dowling  June 14, 2010 - 3:00AM

“VICTORIA'S heritage watchdog has come under attack for not doing enough to protect some of Melbourne's most valued buildings as a string of prominent central business district properties are targeted by developers.
The chief executive of the National Trust, Martin Purslow, has attacked Heritage Victoria's decision to grant the Halim Group a heritage permit for a 91-metre hotel tower to be built at the back of the Windsor Hotel.
''When you allow a building like this, 91 metres, on economic grounds, we don't feel you take due consideration of the heritage overlay applying to that whole precinct. You basically open the floodgates on economic grounds,'' he said.
Mr Purslow said Heritage Victoria registration now offered questionable protection for buildings given the Windsor permit in an area with a 23-metre height limit.
Some Melburnians are now considering forming a new community group to champion the heritage protection of significant CBD buildings.
In August, the Melbourne City Council will begin its first review in two decades of its heritage overlays and protection of significant buildings in the city.
It follows the destruction this year of the 1934 art deco Lonsdale House to make a laneway wider for delivery trucks.
Across the CBD, heritage buildings are attracting the attention of developers.........”

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/heritage-victoria-under-fire-20100613-y5ya.html

Willi’s keeper of the record is honoured - Congratulations to one of us, from Save Williamstown

Tue, 15 Jun 2010 09:04:37 +1000

The Hobsons Bay Leader

“PATSY Toop is a born and bred Williamstown local who has dedicated her adult life to preserving the suburbʼs historic treasures.
So it will be little surprise to many that she has received an Order of Australia Medal for that work.
A foundation president of Preserve Old Williamstown since 1998, president of the Williamstown Maritime Association and secretary of Seaworks Foundation, Ms Toop has become a spokeswoman for ʻʻold Williamstownʼʼ.
ʻʻ Itʼs our roots, you canʼt replace it,ʼʼ she said.
ʻʻWilliamstown is rich in history and has a vibrant heritage which ought to be protected and preserved as best we can.ʼʼ Ms Toop, a personal injury compensation lawyer, has also dedicated almost two decades to helping others.
This includes 17 yearsʼ unpaid service as a lawyer to WISE Employment, a disability jobs provider with 400 staff.
Ms Toop, 53, is a past board member and vice-president with the Western Hospital/ Maribyrnong Medical Centre (now Western Health).
Helping others was instilled in her by her parents at an early age. ʻʻ Iʼm very passionate about social justice, community service and volunteering,ʼʼ Ms Toop said.........”

ttp://leader.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/iphone/homepage.aspx#...a-a099-5ec994a92ce4/334901f6-e089-4b5a-a099-5ec994a92ce4//true

The Long and the Short of it - Patsy Toop and David Baird perform regularly at The Pirates Tavern, Seaworks, Nelson Place Williamstown

Critical shortages in inner-city schools as population swells

Sun, 13 Jun 2010 17:32:46 +1000

The Age
by Natalie Craig  June 13, 2010 - 3:00AM

“MELBOURNE'S population boom is causing a critical shortage of schools in the inner suburbs, with research showing an urgent need for as many as 14 new schools in the next five years.
Research commissioned by The Sunday Age reveals the state government's delay in building new schools in inner suburbs could lead to sudden overcrowding, with more than 4000 additional primary school-aged students expected to be jostling for desk space in 2016.
That's enough students to create 164 extra classes of 25 students each.
Docklands, Southbank, Port Melbourne, Coburg, Northcote, Brunswick and Preston are expected to be placed under the greatest pressure from the soaring student population.
''There's going to be a huge shortfall of schools in inner-suburbs,'' said Melbourne University planning professor Kevin O'Connor, who based his research on official government population projections.
''It's unlikely there is capacity for existing primary schools to grow much more … We've been closing schools and selling school sites, and urban growth has gone on unabated without consideration for social infrastructure.''
Education Department spokesman Nick Higgins said a report looking at school facilities and education needs in central Melbourne was under way, and the department ''had not ruled out building of additional schools in inner Melbourne suburbs''.
But Professor O'Connor said the government's own projections did not account for the trend for families to live in inner-city apartments, and so the number of extra students in 2016 could be even greater.
An early childhood industry source said maternal and child health figures for Docklands alone showed that the government's projections for inner-suburban growth were vastly underestimated.
''Apartments are supposed to suit child-free young professionals and older empty-nesters,'' Professor O'Connor said. ''But this is just not the case any more.''........”

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/critical-shortages-in-innercity-schools-as-population-swells-20100612-y4re.html

Developer Ashley Williams and his PR Consultant Suzanne Northey face uncomfortable questions.

Tue, 8 Jun 2010 22:44:02 +1000

Save Williamstown reports on how the developer is doing community consultation.

After failing to provide evidence of the required community/stakeholder consultation in the documents submitted to Hobsons Bay Council as part of their application in August 2009, Evolve developer, Ashley Williams and Public Relations consultant Suzanne Northey of JUMP Consulting are playing catch up and making presentations to a range of organisations and clubs in Williamstown. They are trying to sell the message that Williamstown is no different to any other growth suburb such as St Kilda and Richmond, and Williamstown has to pull its share and contribute to the Melbourne Metropolitan housing targets of Melbourne@5Million in a robust way. Apparently there are no other 3 hectare sites in Williamstown that could be used for High Rise High Density Dwellings. That is questionable!

The views of these outsiders from the Eastern Suburbs seem at huge variance with the realities of the inner West.

When asked about heritage, Williams didn’t seem to have any appreciation of the heritage values and tourism values of Williamstown. He seems to believe that high rise should be allowed because the heritage overlays do not really cover the Former Port Phillip Woollen Mill Site site and only the actual streetscape should have the height limits imposed. Ask that of any WIlliamstown resident in the Government Survey Heritage Precinct who has constructed any extensions or new building in their backyard (away from the street). In streets such as Cecil St adjacent to the site, street frontages are mostly required to be single storey and rising to 2 storeys in the backyard unless there is an existing two storey frontage. The two storey heritage overlay is over the whole area NOT just the front part of the building. Similarly the three storey limit on the whole of Nelson Place is strictly applied in the council planning scheme. Williams seems to think 46.5 metres or 17 storeys is okay just because it is a few metres away from the street.

Williams has also asked about the failure to provide Private Open Space within the development, as plans submitted to council appear to show no private open space for the townhouses within the development. Many of these townhouses and lower level apartments will be overshadowed and overlooked by the high rise towers. If houses in Cecil St which is 100 metres away from the development are overshadowed then the dwellings within the development will clearly be overshadowed. Overlooking is a far more serious issue than overshadowing as it applies 24/7 365 days a year and effects privacy. WIlliams seemed to contend that the modern way of housing was to go for greater density and have housing densities similar to those of terrace housing in the 19th century. However he seemed to fail to understand that in the 19th century, the houses did not have 17 storey high rise towers in their midst overlooking and overshadowing them. It would seem that this style of housing has little to do with the needs of those living in the ground level in townhouses and apartments and more to do with the multi million dollar penthouse apartments which would ride on top of the development and make the profit for the developer.

When questioned about whether the developer had considered other uses of the site, such as a much needed business area for Williamstown, it was dismissed as not making enough profit and that residential high rise was the only way the developer would consider developing the site. The recent increase in activity at the Shipyards did not seem to have altered the developer’s perspective, although earlier in his presentation he, himself, referred to the site having presented a buffer zone between heavy industry and the residential areas of Williamstown.

Save Williamstown has learned in the last month that local clubs and organisations have been asked to invite the developer to speak. At the conclusion of the meetings, forms are being handed out headed “Community Consultation”. These forms will no doubt form part of the developer’s presentation to the Advisory Committee to support a case that they have, although belatedly, consulted with the community. Unfortunately precise building proposals are still not detailed by the developer so the community still does not know what the developer will ask of the Advisory Committee and the Minister.

The Power that “Development Plan Overlays” give Developers

Mon, 7 Jun 2010 09:40:54 +1000

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

Read this article...
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