By Hamish Heard
A NEW residential development beside Williamstown North railway station could be on the cards after the organisation managing Victoria’s rail assets announced a review of its property portfolio.
VicTrack has told Hobsons Bay City Council that it plans to make “more effective use of (its) land holdings” in the municipality.
Williamstown councillor Angela Altair told last week’s council meeting that she believed the review would lead to a sell-off of public land to developers.
She said VicTrack approached her several years ago with plans to subdivide land adjacent to Williamstown North railway station for a high-density residential development.
“Some years ago they approached me and (Williamstown North Ward councillor Peter Hemphill) and they showed us some plans where they wanted to carve up the section (of land) east (of the station) along Power St,” Cr Altair said.
The site has been used for car parking since a strip of historic commercial premises on the land was destroyed by fire.
“One of the items that is purportedly driving this review is to make more effective use of land holdings and to me that means developing surplus land, like the site on Power St,” Cr Altair said.
“Obviously the intent of VicTrack is to dispose of that particular site because we’ve already seen their plans that they were hoping to subdivide it and develop it for residential purposes.”
Cr Altair said she did not support the plans she had seen for the site.
“They were pretty inappropriate because they were high rise and incompatible with other buildings in that precinct,” she said.
But she feared any proposal for the site was out of the council’s control.
“The problem is we have limited control over how those types of blocks are developed because it’s owned by VicTrack and, from my understanding, it doesn’t come under the local planning scheme,” she said.
However, according to a report to councillors, VicTrack was seeking to second a senior council officer to represent the council during the review.
“In the past VicTrack went on their own sweet way with little regard to local urban planning so I was encouraged they have this panel and they co-opted one of our senior officers,” Cr Altair said.
The review would also lead to “improved visual amenity” of VicTrack land holdings and “safer rail corridors”, according to the report to council.
A VicTrack spokeswoman confirmed that the organisation had approached the council about the land in Power St.
“VicTrack has liaised closely with the Hobsons Bay City Council about potential future use of the land east of the Williamstown North train station,” the spokeswoman said.
However, the fate of the land would not be sealed until the completion of the review, she said.
“VicTrack has already had discussions with senior Hobsons Bay City Council staff and will develop a strategic plan with the council in 2008/09,” the spokeswoman said.
