Planning process anger
Residents given only a week to review development master plan
WAURN PONDS residents flocked to the City of Greater Geelong meeting to voice concerns about plans to rezone land and build a mega development in the suburb.
Plans to develop the site were abandoned several years ago after community opposition.
The masterplan for the site, which is bounded by Hams Rd to the north and Ghazeepore Rd to the east, submitted to council, includes:
A TOTAL of 258 residential lots;
21 LARGER interface lots on Hams Rd with an average of about 850 square metres;
TWO medium density “superlot sites”;
A LOCAL park and a creek reserve; and
A SEWER pump station for the development
While councillors voted to exhibit the planning permits for the land, they stressed that the process would allow residents to have their say on the proposed development.
In their report, council offi- cers wrote a previous proposal for the land was exhibited in 2014 but abandoned by council the following year due to community opposition.
Residents in the adjoining Grange Park Estate were “concerned at potential car movements” and had opposed the density of proposed housing.
“The current proposal includes more detailed masterplans and responds to the previous concerns with large lots along Hams Road, to reflect the density on the north side of the road,” they wrote.
A show of hands showed about 40 members of the public had attended the meeting due to the issue.
There will still be opportunity for public consultation in the next stage of planning.
The site, which is abut 23.86 hectares, is currently vacant except for a Powercor-owned substation.
One Waurn Ponds resident raised concerns about a lack of consultation, saying “we’ve had one week to review the master plan which has been presented to us by developers”.
“It’s clear from the feedback we’ve received from many members of our community that they’re not happy with the proposed redevelopment,” he said.
Cr Pat Murnane said “after much internal discussion we’ve decided to support this recommendation to proceed to exhibition … in doing so we understand it’s very disappointing the application appears to have minimal public consultation before tonight”.
“We would have thought that community consultation would have been … front and centre,” he said.
“Tonight councillors are unable to express their personal views regarding some of the aspects of the proposal … because they will not want to disqualify themselves from voting on … on this matter at some time in the future.”
“By moving this proposal forward into the community arena through the exhibition process, s it will give the local community time and the opportunity to express their views.
“We can assure all those present that we’re hearing your concerns.”