By Hamish Heard
DEVELOPERS behind a rejected bid to build an “inland port” at Altona are preparing to take their fight to Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
Hobsons Bay City Council last month rejected two planning applications for a rail freight terminal, warehouses and an “inland port” in Kororoit Creek Rd.
The $56 million project was part of a State Government-backed scheme to facilitate expansion at Melbourne’s ports and ease heavy traffic congestion between the ports and industries in the western suburbs.
Salta Constructions, the company behind the $10 million inland port, has applied to VCAT to overrule the council’s decision to reject that component of the project.
It is unclear whether SCT, the proponent of the remainder of the project, will appeal against the decision rejecting its plans but the company has until the end of next month to do so.
The council’s director of planning and environment, Peter Hunt, said the council would fight the developers in VCAT.
“Council representatives will attend VCAT to defend (the council’s) position,” Mr Hunt said.
He said the council had rejected Salta Constructions application because it would cause “adverse amenity impacts” to nearby residential properties.
It would also result in the removal of important native vegetation and lead to an “unacceptable” increase in truck traffic, he said.
“The Salta application was also refused on the grounds that the container stack heights were excessive and would create a poor visual appearance to the industrial precinct,” Mr Hunt said.
Hobsons Bay Community First spokesman Tony Briffa said the organisation had already lodged objections, supporting the council’s decision with VCAT.
