There are fears the rezoning of contaminated land in Deer Park could allow a primary or secondary school to be built on the site.
The State Development, Business and Innovation Department says it is worried a planning panel’s decision could eventually lead to a school being built just 200 metres from a plant involved in “significant chemical production”.
Manufacturing giant Orica wants to sell the 72-hectare site, which is believed to be contaminated with lead.
The Weekly reported last year that Orica hoped to raise $100 million from the sale.
But any remediation of the land would be a multimillion-dollar operation and would take years to complete.
A two-member planning panel forum has approved the rezoning of half of the eastern end of the site, which has undergone heavy chemical use.
The decision could permit commercial, office, retail and warehouse uses but not residential development.
Brimbank council will vote on the plans on February 11.
Western Metropolitan Greens MP Colleen Hartland said the department was right to be concerned.
“It’s really alarming; it doesn’t appear to be a sensible decision,” Ms Hartland said.
The panel received 11 submissions, with some opposing the plan or calling for further amendments amid fears about emissions and incompatible land use near a major hazard facility. In a letter to council, the State Development, Business and Innovation Department said previous discussions took place prior to the inclusion of a new commercial zone in Victoria’s planning laws. This zone allows education centres, including schools, to be built with a permit.
A submission from the Environment and Primary Industries Department also said the rezoning was inappropriate.
“The Crown land proposed for rezoning is in a sensitive environmental location due to its proximity to Kororoit Creek and is unlikely to be developed for business-related uses,” the submission said.
Neighbouring chemicals manufacturer Momentive said it feared the amendment would jeopardise its long-term future and expansion towards the site.
But the panel said it was satisfied the land was a strategic development site and that the amendment should proceed.
The site is on the eastern edge of the Deer Park major activity centre, which includes a shopping centre and railway station.
An environmental audit is still to be completed.
Orica held two community information sessions on June 24 last year.
