Project under cloud

Submissions go against Anglesea apartments

THE Surf Coast Shire is set to make a decision on a planning application for five shops and eight apartments along the Great Ocean Road at Anglesea this week.

The development will be up to 10.47m high and include five two-bedroom dwellings as well as three four-bedroom dwellings.

At a hearing of submissions committee meeting last week, the council heard 41 submissions had been lodged, including 39 objections and only two in support of the development.

About 20 people attended the meeting to voice their concerns.

Last October the application was publicly exhibited and received but the council then requested the applicant submit an amended planning application. Residents concerns included: OUT of character Anglesea; INAPPROPRIATE height; INADEQUATE car parking; LACK of landscaping; POOR design; and, OVER DEVELOPMENT of the site.

Initially, applicant Aaron Worrel proposed nine apartfor ments for the site, which is currently a hardware store.

The site abuts existing tourist shops including surf shops, cafes and beauticians as well as a number of other apartments ranging from two-storey to three-storey developments.

A February planning application said that “due to the issues raised by council, the applicant has modified the design response to, firstly, reduce the apartments numbers down from nine to eight”.

“Subsequently, this has provided a large degree of flexibility to alter the design overall, to further reduce the upper level setbacks, provide for greater space in the apartments to meet clause 58 and to reduce the overall height.”

The council will now consider the application at its ordinary meeting tomorrow.