PARLIAMENT OF VICTORIA

PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD)

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

ADJOURNMENT SPEECH by Colleen Hartland MLC

Wednesday, 11 November 2009

“Ms HARTLAND (Western Metropolitan) — I raise a matter for the attention of the Minister for Planning, Mr Madden. My adjournment matter relates to the former Port Phillip Woollen Mills site in Nelson Place, Williamstown. The site is under consideration for a major residential development of 453 dwellings, which would accommodate roughly 1000 people. The development has a lot of the usual problems that are the result of poorly conceived ideas. There is not enough parking in the streets and the infrastructure cannot cope, let alone schools and child-care facilities. However, that is not the main aspect I want to raise today.

This residential development has the potential to destroy approximately 1500 jobs in Williamstown. The Williamstown shipyard, which is just across the road, employs about a thousand people and will soon employ another 500. The shipyard makes quite a bit of noise, which is okay because it has always had a bit of space around it, but the proposed development would overlook the shipyard and you can guarantee that as soon as people move in there will be complaints about industrial noise and the shipyard siren going off at 6 o’clock each morning. If this shipyard has to work around the clock to meet deadlines, you can guarantee there will be complaints about noise at night.

There is an alternative for that site which could not only save the shipyard but also create more local jobs for Williamstown. The Save Williamstown group has an alternative proposal for the site — a combination of film studios and low-rise residential development away from the shipyard and a mixed use community health and wellbeing centre as well as a business hub. Local jobs not only benefit the economy but also reduce the strain on the West Gate Freeway and public transport going into the city. The Save Williamstown members are not a pack of nimbys. They want industry in Williamstown. In fact their alternative proposal is to keep and develop industry in Williamstown, and jobs are the group’s key focus.

My request of the minister is that he meet with the Save Williamstown group representatives so they can explain their alternative proposals for the site and explain the problems with the residential proposal.”

http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/downloadhansard/pdf/Council/Jul-Dec%202009/Council%20Extract%2011%20November%20from%20Book%2015.pdf