• Williamstown, Altona, Laverton Star

By Alesha Capone

9th February 2010 11:05:28 AM

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HOBSONS Bay City Council has approved a proposal that could mean less community consultation on the development of a Newport heritage site.

At a council meeting last week, all councillors except Peter Hemphill and Angela Altair, voted in favour of amending the Hobsons Bay Planning Scheme to assist in developing the former Newport Flour Mill in McRobert St.

This means the council will ask the Minister for Planning to prepare and exhibit Amendment C76, which seeks to rezone the industrial-zoned land.

Also under the amendment’s Development Plan Overlay (DPO), the community would not have the opportunity to make submissions on planning permit applications, once the original plan was approved.

The plan for the Newport site includes an estimated 183 dwellings, 123 car parking spaces and buildings up to five storeys high.

“Because there has been a consultation process leading to adoption of an amendment, there would be no formal right for community members to object to or appeal against any planning permit issued,” Mayor Bill Tehan said.

However, Cr Hemphill and Cr Altair said this worried them, although they were not against re-developing the old mill address.

“It will come back to haunt this council if we haven’t looked after people’s interests,” Cr Hemphill said.

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