Residents of Techno Park Drive in Williamstown, Australia, celebrated a significant victory as they secured the permanent legal right to remain in their homes. This decision, confirmed by the Hobsons Bay City Council, ended a lengthy battle against eviction that had loomed over the community for two and a half years.
On March 4, 2024, the council officially approved “existing use rights” for two residential blocks, a resolution that followed intense grassroots campaigning and public outcry. The community, which includes working families, refugees, and elderly residents, had been facing the threat of displacement due to the enforcement of a 37-year-old industrial zoning rule initiated in May 2023.
Lara Week, a resident organiser, expressed her relief at the outcome, describing it as “gobsmacking” and a “huge relief.” She noted, “It’s taken an enormous toll on people’s lives. But actually working together in this way has been such a gift. We have these incredible, deep, trusting relationships between people … I couldn’t imagine anywhere better to live now.”
Community Campaign Spurs Legislative Change
The struggle to remain in their homes escalated when the Allan government introduced a new state planning law in February 2024. This law explicitly granted “existing use rights” to properties functioning as homes for a continuous 15-year period, effectively undermining the council’s initial plans to evict residents.
Despite this legislative change, residents were still required to provide proof of continuous occupancy to receive their compliance certificates. After a rigorous process, the final approvals were granted on March 4, marking a turning point for the community.
Documents obtained through Freedom of Information (FOI) requests revealed that the council had developed a secret enforcement operation, dubbed “Operation Pegasus.” This initiative aimed to “effectively extinguish” the residents’ legal claims, which would have resulted in displacing at least 50 individuals, including children.
Council’s Justifications and Community Resilience
In response to inquiries regarding the decision to proceed with eviction enforcement, a spokesperson for the council stated it was acting on “planning requirements as they existed at the time.” They added that the administrative costs were “accommodated for within its annual budget.”
Week highlighted that the safety concerns originally cited by the council, particularly regarding fuel tanks at the nearby ExxonMobil site, were largely unfounded. “Right now, they’ve been demolishing them … and have said that they’re never using that land for fuel storage again,” she noted.
ExxonMobil acknowledged the situation, stating it would “work with the relevant regulators to update our Safety Case and management processes” to reflect the current usage of the land.
Councillor Daria Kellander, a long-time supporter of the residents, celebrated the announcement on social media, expressing pride in the community’s resilience. “After being made to feel like a criminal just for standing up for these guys … this moment means the world to me,” she wrote.
In a show of solidarity, Techno Park residents plan to hold a celebration and extend their support to residents of two nearby public housing towers in Williamstown, which are also facing demolition.
Week concluded with a powerful message about community activism. “What is possible when people stand up for one another … and say, ‘No, we won’t accept decisions from our governments that harm people,’” she stated. This victory not only secures homes for the residents but also serves as a testament to the power of collective action in the face of adversity.
