RESIDENTS opposed to plans for a 13-storey development at Williamstown have suggested the developer resubmit its data reports due to "embarrassing inaccuracies".
At the request of Hobsons Bay Council, Evolve Development provided further information concerning its plans for the former Port Phillip Woollen Mill site, including traffic, heritage and social impact studies.
Its Nelson Place Village proposal, opposite BAE Systems' military shipyard, includes four residential towers up to 13 storeys high.
Save Williamstown spokesman Godfrey Moase said a 13-storey tower opposite a yard that built war vessels would threaten jobs and the local economy.
"I'm not particularly a planning expert, I'm not a defence expert, I'm not a security expert, but you can't tell me that you're going to put in a high-rise tower over the road from a shipyard with national security significance and say that has no impact on its ongoing development."
Mr Moase said residents were calling for an independent traffic-impact study and an in-depth heritage study more than "a couple of paragraphs" long.
"We think someone commissioned by the council would be the most suitable way to do this given that we, the community, long after the developer has gone away will have to deal with the traffic consequences.
"There doesn't seem to be thorough analysis about the heritage impact of this development. Given that heritage is so key to our local economy, a number of the retail jobs, the film and television production that happens here which generates flow-on jobs, that's a real concern to us and, I think, further evidence of the fact that their community consultation is found wanting."
Mr Moase said Evolve managing director Ashley Williams had failed to engage in community consultation, which was a key requirement of the council.
"I don't know of any community consultation that the developer's engaged in in relation to this development, other than a couple of meetings here or there with two or three people at most.
"It is not up to us as a community to just roll over and let the developer do whatever is necessary so they can realise a profit if they've made a bad decision.
"We're not here to let the developer privatise their own profit and socialise their losses."
However, Mr Williams rejected the claim that there had been no community consultation.
"A series of workshops were held with council officers and BAE (then Tenix) representatives in 2008," he said.
"This was then followed by discussions with a number of the adjoining land owners who will be included within the rezoning application.
"Over the past four to six months, a range of meetings have been held with representatives of the various residents groups and other stakeholders, where the proposals have been discussed."
Mr Williams said the traffic and heritage reports were prepared by independent experts.
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