Soil risks mar yards plan
THE future of the Geelong Saleyards site is in question with the council facing significant soil management in order to manage biosecurity risks from years of livestock trading and dipping.
An environmental assessment completed as part of the Geelong Saleyards Precinct Plan has revealed redevelopment of some parts of the decayed historic site may be avoided entirely due to health concerns.
The city came under fire from the Australian Services Union in July 2017 when it was revealed 25 Geelong Saleyards workers showed positive results for the presence of Q fever antibodies out of 42 tested, although none were officially diagnosed.
The particular remediation action taken will depend on the future land use options set out in the draft plan for the site expected to be finalised this month.
The 6ha site is a combination of council-owned land, zoned industrial on the north- ern end, and Crown land on the southern 20 per cent, zoned for public recreation.
City of Greater Geelong acting director of planning and development Joanne Van Slageren said remediation included: DESIGNING a future site layout to avoid development over impacted soils; EXCAVATING and reusing impacted soils in parts of the precinct for less sensitive uses (ie. inaccessible to public, under a structure); EXCAVATING and on site retention in landscape areas; EXCAVATION and off site treatment and disposal at a licenced facility.
Ms Van Slageren said the cost of remediation works would be dependent on the future use, with options to be presented in the draft plan and opened to community consultation in “late 2018”.
City of Greater Geelong director of city services Guy Wilson-Browne said the draft plan included aims to keep in mind the heritage of the saleyards.
He said the precinct plan would take into consideration surrounding land uses and site constraints.
“The draft precinct plan will consider issues such as traffic, drainage, built form and heritage. The community can make submissions about all aspects of the plan,” he said.
Poultry sales on Monday brought to an end 149 years of history at the saleyards, which have ultimately been consumed by encroaching industrial and housing developments.
Ratepayers Geelong secretary Jim Collins said North Geelong was in need of a community hub to accommodate the requirements of a growing residential area as an extension of surrounding bowls and golf club developments.
“Council needs to provide something to give a better community focus for people in the area,” he said. “The purpose of the land has changed and now the saleyards are just left there, so it is time it is put to better community use.”