Council divided over centre development

GOLDEN Plains Shire is set to further consider a multimillion dollar redevelopment of Bannockburn Plaza Shopping Centre, after councillors were split on the application at a recent meeting.

A planning permit application lodged last year estimated the cost of the redevelopment at $26 million, and plans included a proposed Aldi supermarket.

But amended plans submitted to council in May did not feature the German supermarket giant.

The current amended proposal, which split the council, “fundamentally differs from the originally submitted proposal with the inclusion and retention of only one large anchor retail supermarket tenancy, being the 3600m2 Woolworths”, the town planning submission says.

Plans include an “impressive two-level commercial centre” featuring office and retail space.

The application also proposes space for a gym and a total of 484 carparking spaces, the council officers’ report says.

The existing single-storey shopping centre features a Woolworths supermarket and 12 retail outlets.

A redevelopment of the plaza has been in the pipeline for years.

A planning permit was approved in 2011, but the redevelopment never eventuated.

Bannockburn’s population is forecast to almost double between 2016 and 2036, from 5134 to 10,018, figures by population experts .id say.

At the meeting on September 25, Cr Owen Sharkey declared a conflict of interest relating to the redevelopment application and abstained from voting, unconfirmed meeting minutes show.

Three objectors, and a representative of the applicant, addressed the council.

Golden Plains Shire officers had recommended in a report that council grant the application for the redevelopment.

When it came to voting on the application, councillors were split, with Mayor Helena Kirby, Cr Des Phelan and Cr Les Rowe in favour of granting approval, and Cr David Evans, Cr Joanne Gilbert and Cr Nathan Hansford against.

Cr Kirby told the Geelong Advertiser that, at its September council meeting, “council resolved to defer making a determination in relation to the consideration of the planning application for a period of 28 days”.

“As it was a split vote, I felt it was better not to use my casting vote as Mayor to support the officer recommendation and that a one-month deferment would allow additional information to be provided by the applicant to clarify a number of concerns raised, such as access to an updated overshadowing plan,” Cr Kirby said.

“Council officers have worked tirelessly with the developer and community to meet the community’s needs and address planning considerations raised, and the recommendation included a number of conditions to meet these,” she said.

“The application will be tabled for further consideration at the October council meeting on Tuesday, 23 October, in Linton, and a resolution is expected.”