Baillieu Government gives green light to a new high rise tower in Williamstown
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- Wednesday, 08 February 2012 06:11
The Baillieu Government has today used their majority in the Parliament to approve a planning scheme amendment that will pave the way for a new high rise residential development at the Woollen Mills site in Williamstown says Member for Williamstown, Wade Noonan MP.
This decision sets new planning controls for the site and paves the way for the developer to lodge a planning permit application with the Hobsons Bay City Council.
“Local people won’t ever forget that it was the Baillieu Government that removed mandatory height controls for this site and waived any requirement for the developer to pay for footpaths or a bus shelter,” Mr Noonan said.
“The Baillieu Government might say that they are handing back the decision making power to the Council but any decision will need to comply with Minister Guy's planning conditions."
“The developer can now quite legally pursue 15 storey towers for the site and argue their case all the way through to VCAT.”
Mr Noonan stated that the two Upper House Liberal Members in Andrew Elsbury and Bernie Finn helped deliver the Government the numbers on the floor of the Parliament to pass this planning amendment.
“During the course of this debate, the Liberal Members attacked a local journalist, the Save Williamstown Group, Opposition MPs and labelled the process a waste of the Parliament’s time,” Mr Noonan said.
“Having promised to stop high rise developments in Williamstown before the last State Election, the Baillieu Government must now explain why they ignored the key recommendations of the Planning Advisory Committee.”
“This is the greatest act of betrayal by the Baillieu Government and local people won’t ever forget what they’ve done.”
The Woollen Mills planning scheme amendment was passed in the Legislative Council of the Victorian Parliament after a division returned a 20 to 18 vote.
