Dozens of residents embroiled in an ugly zoning dispute remain in limbo, even though the council paused mass evictions.
More than 100 residents of the Techno Park complex in Williamstown, in Melbourne’s inner west, were given six months to move out or be threatened with legal action in May last year.
The order came from Hobsons Bay Council after it suddenly decided to enforce industrial zoning rules that have been in place for more than 30 years.
The council claimed that residents of the industrial area were “at risk” due to its proximity to a Mobil fuel storage site, which ceased operating in 2021.
Affected residents faced the threat of homelessness amid a national housing crisis, before internal documents revealed that before evictions were issued, the council knew residents had been living at Techno Park for more than 15 years.
A change to Victoria’s planning laws implemented in February meant councils must now recognize residents’ “existing use” rights after 15 years.
Residents had until mid-May to move until the council announced last Friday that evictions had been suspended while it examines its legal options.
More than 100 residents call the Techno Park estate, which is located in the middle of an industrial area, home.
But with no deadlines set, residents’ desperate fight to stay continues.
“It’s a welcome first step and a big relief,” Techno Park resident Lara Week told WhatsNew2Day Australia.
“But we need to end the stress and distress caused by uncertainty.”
He has accused the city council of “deliberately” trying to extinguish residents’ rights through evictions.
“The harm it has caused people has been unbearable and it is time to put an end to it,” Ms Week added.
“The ball is in the council’s court.”
Thousands of residents have called the community home since 1969.
The Wiltona Migrant Hostel originally housed immigrants and refugees after World War II.
The shelter also housed Darwin residents displaced by the devastation of Cyclone Tracy at Christmas 1974.
The complex was sold to the private market in 1989 and is now home to residents from all walks of life, from owner-occupiers and renters to young families, immigrants and the elderly.
Techno Park residents (pictured) have spent the last 11 months fighting to stay in their homes
The complex built in the 1960s (pictured) initially housed recently arrived immigrants.
While a handful of residents complied with eviction notices, many have vowed to stay and fight, including Mike Rowan, who suffers from aggressive and advanced prostate cancer.
He described the council’s eviction letter as horrendous.
“He said he had to leave immediately,” Rowan told The Project this week.
‘It was horrible and really scary.
‘I would really love to know why the council is trying to do this.
I would love to have a private detective come to one of your meetings and find out. It’s very frustrating.’
Mrs Week added: “They have absolutely no reason to evict us and we are still in this strange and hostile relationship with the council whose role is to look after the community and the people who live here.”
Residents were five weeks away from being evicted when the council published an update admitting the ministerial amendment enacted in February “significantly changed” planning provisions.
The council added that it had “empathy for the current situation.”
“These changes could have legal implications for the Techno Park application and therefore the council immediately commenced an external legal review in February 2024,” Friday’s update states.
‘This review has not yet been completed.
“Consequently, the council will not take any further enforcement action at Techno Park until it has fully considered its obligations following the ministerial changes to the state planning rules and has determined its next steps.”
Semana Lara (in the photo) leads the fight for neighbors to stay in their homes
Community fight continues, even as Hobsons Bay Council pushes to stop mass evictions
Dozens of people braved the rain to join a community rally at the council chambers on Tuesday night.
Residents who managed to secure one of the 40 tickets to attend the council meeting were left with their questions unanswered to ensure “there is no detriment to the council or the current or future rights of any person”.
Week remains hopeful that people power will prevail.
“As long as we’re all united, I think we’ll win,” he told WhatsNew2Day Australia.
He bought a two-bedroom house advertised as a home office four years ago and has lived there ever since.
He also insisted that residents are safe, despite living in front of the fuel refinery tanks.
“It’s an amazing place to live,” he said.
Affected residents who have been issued eviction notices range from young families to the elderly
A large community rally was held outside Hobsons Bay Town Hall on Tuesday night.
Mobil is focused on operating its sites to deliver critical fuel supplies to Victoria.
“Mobil supplies around 40 per cent of the fuel Victorians need through our operations at the Melbourne terminal and we continue to play a vital role in Australia’s fuel security, including storage tanks used near Techno Park Drive,” a spokesperson said.
‘As a safe and responsible operator, Mobil remains focused on operating its sites, in accordance with state and federal regulations to deliver critical fuel supplies to Victoria.
“We appreciate this is a difficult situation for residents and whilst this is a planning matter for the council, we are keen to engage with the community, the council and regulators and help where we can.”
WhatsNew2Day Australia has contacted Hobsons Bay Council for further comment.
The fight to save the development of the Techno Park continues
The residential complex in the middle of an industrial estate is located opposite a Mobil fuel warehouse, which stopped operating in 2021 but could be used again in the future.