Williamstown | The Next Melbourne Suburb Targeted For Inappropriate Development ?

I missed out at an auction today as a beautiful little renovated house in Williamstown ( Melbourne ) sold at a reasonable price. I won't bore you as to why I was late and missed out, suffice to say that in the end I was glad I missed out on the bidding. Why? I hear you ask. Because shortly after the auction crowd began to disperse and as I walked to my car across Ann Street, I spied a small placard in the front garden of a beautifully maintained Williamstown period home. I can't remember the exact wording on the placard except that it read something along the lines of "Save Williamstown" and the URL http://savewilliamstown.net

Back home, I jumped on the internet and went to http://savewilliamstown.net and lo and behold what did I find? Some developer has put forward a proposal to build high-rise apartments at the Former Port Phillip Woolmill site on Nelson Place in Williamstown. My heart sank, yet I breathed a sigh of relief because had I purchased the little house in Ann Street Williamstown without the knowledge of the high density dwelling proposal for Nelson Place I would have been one very unhappy home-buyer.

Here I was concerned about the fate of the vacant land on the corner of Heriot Place and Aitken Street Williamstown as it was behind the Ann Street property (which I was looking to buy) and ready for medium density development, when all along I had missed the bigger picture of what was occurring virtually across the road. Despite communicating to the real estate agent (sales man) regarding my concerns about potential issues of overlooking and of noise emanating from any nearby medium density development on Aitken Street, the real estate agent did not once mention to me anything about the nearby Nelson Place proposal between Ann Street and Point Gellibrand. What else would one normally expect from a real estate agent anyway? [bring out the healthy cynicism]

The potential for issues of noise and overlooking from any medium density development which may occur in Aitken Street would pale into insignificance when compared with the potential for overshadowing, aesthetic issues, degradation of neighborhood character, strain on current infrasturcture and heritage issues this proposed Nelson Place monstrosity would create as argued by the Save Williamstown group. Yes, I use the term monstrosity because the Port Phillip Woolmill site on Nelson Place proposal is a proposal for a 13-Storey development. Now that's a big development next to or near anyones front or back yard. Not to mention the heritage issues it raises.  It would be situated close to and dwarf the blue-stone Time Ball Tower in Point Gellibrand, which is a historic Williamastown landmark.

This development isn't even in a Melbourne 2030 activity centre from what I hear. Who even needs Melbourne 2030 as a justification to build high density homes any more? Some time ago in Williamstown I seem to remember that there was an uproar about a proposed development for Stevedore Street on some vacant land there. As I remember this proposal was also for high density housing. According to the Save Williamstown group, the ability of BAE Systems (at the Williamstown Shipyards) to apply for defence contracts may be compromised by buildings if the 46.5 metres high residential towers overlook the shipyards. I wonder what would happen if the ship yards are closed; would we then see more monster high-rise proposals on former Williamstown ship yard land also?

The Save Williamstown Group is looking for volunteers with expertise in various areas including the areas of town planning and expertise from various legal fields. If you think you can help this worthy cause please visit http://savewilliamstown.net  The Save Williamstown Group  has also organised a petition of over 3000 signatures opposing the Nelson place development. The petition was presented to Wade Noonan MP on 24th July. Copies of the petition were also presented to Hobsons Bay City Council by Councillor Angela Altair. Support for the cause appears to be strong and fundraisers and a rally have already taken place. Guest speakers have included luminaries such as the Former Victorian Premiers Joan Kirner and Steve Bracks. I do applaud Ms Kirner for supporting the cause, however (I do welcome but ) I find it ironic that Steve Bracks would be supporting the protesters of this development, when he is one of the principle instigators of Melbourne 2030 Policy. Admittedly, this Williamstown/Nelson Place development is not in a designated Melbourne 2030 activity zone, but I can't help but wonder why Steve Bracks isn't in keeping within the spirit of Melbourne 2030 by being pro development in this case. Forgive me for displaying such a high level of cynicism and do correct me if I am wrong, but Bracks does still live in Williamstown doesn't he?

Anyway, getting back on topic, If you have a website, forum or blog relevant to the topic of Williamstown, Williamstown history, Williamstown business, Williamstown tourism, Williamstown property, or Town Planning please spread the word.  Incidental visitors to the Save Williamstown site may increase the groups's network of supporters. Web sites targeting to those searching remotely related keywords might bring in some unlikely supporters too. In any case, the more exposure the group gets, the more likely they are to receive support

Victoria is fast becoming the Shoe Box State. During my house hunting endeavors I have seen many a beautiful period home or Californian Bungalow going up for sale just before a neighboring home is due to demolished, or right before re-development takes place on a neighboring property. [hmmm, that cynicism is kicking in again] When this occurs, the new development usually takes form of medium density units, which can be bad enough if one ends up with overlooking problems, or noise problems from proximity to those dreaded balconies which these developers seem to regard as mandatory. The proposed developments at Nelson Place and Stevedore street in Williamstown are especially disturbing because if successful they will set new precedents for massive high-rise buildings in otherwise quiet suburbs, possibly rivaling the high rise developments we have already seen in Richmond or Prahran, Melbourne. It would seem that we haven't learnt from the planning mistakes of the sixties which resulted in the wholesale destruction of heritage buildings in Melbourne and the erection of ugly eysores, have we?