By ALESHA CAPONE
HUNDREDS of residents attended a rally calling for an independent safety report into the proposed redevelopment of the former Port Phillip Woollen Mill site in Williamstown on Saturday.
The event was held by the Save Williamstown group, the same week VCAT began hearing the developer’s case to demolish existing buildings on the site alongNelson PlaceandAnn Stincluding heritage-listed structures.
In March, Hobsons Bay City Council rejected the application after receiving 30 objections.
Overall, developers of the former PPWM site have lodged 17 individual applications with Hobsons Bay City Council to develop the spot.
The entire proposal could see more than 810 residences, up to six storeys high and housing more than 2000 people, erected on the PPWM site.
At Saturday’s Save Williamstown meeting, residents resolved to call on the State Government for a new risk assessment on the potential development, which is located near Mobil’s Point Gellibrand’s operations.
Residents at the meeting heard the last safety report into the site was a 1993 study which said the PPWM site was only suitable for “car parking or open space”.
Also at the meeting, Save Williamstown members Charmain Gaud and Suzanne Orange said a recent expert report into the former PPWM had found residents of the development could possibly die if there was a vapour cloud explosion at Mobil’s operations.
Authors including GexConAustraliaand IF Thomas and Associates said although the risk of a vapour cloud explosion was small, residents living within 360 to 414 metres of the site would be at risk of “having windows broken, having occupants suffering flying glass injury and having damage sufficient to render premises unoccupiable”.
“Although of low occupancy, it should not be forgotten that pedestrians in Gellibrand Park within the distances specified would also be affected, with those closest potentially suffering death,” the report said.
“There are so many risks, no new assessment. Why?” Ms Orange said
Part of the PPWM location is located less than 300m from Mobil’s operations.
Save Williamstowm’s spokesman Godfrey Moase said the developers needed to put safety before profit.
“The safety of the people is the highest law of the land,” he said.
