Pako height fight
A PETITION calling on the council to vote down a plan to allow high-rise buildings on Pakington St has attracted hundreds of signatures.
The push – organised by the group Help Save Pako St – said the changes proposed in the Interim Final Pakington St and Gordon Ave Urban Design Framework (UDF) could increase noise, cause traffic congestion and take away from Geelong West’s heritage feel.
Dr Jane Mooney and Angela Mangan, who are both part of the campaign, called on the council to reduce the height of the buildings by at least 50 per cent.
“Geelong West has a lot of heritage buildings and residences, these new buildings would be totally out of character and not consistent with the height of surrounding homes and businesses,” Dr Mooney said.
Under the plan, proposed heights would range between four to 10 storeys, depending on the area of the street.
A map of the precinct put out by the council flags the potential for 10-storey developments at the intersections of Gordon Ave, Autumn St and La Trobe Tce, as well as sections of the Geelong West rail yards opposite Brittania St.
Buildings up to eight storeys are proposed along other adjoining sections of the rail yards at Pakington Strand.
Ms Mangan flagged potential issues with gridlocked traffic along Pakington St and its many side streets with more cars on the street.
“The increased density of population would result in a dramatic increase of the amount of traffic flowing through the area,” she said.
“Pakington St is already experiencing traffic gridlock.”
Concerns about increased noise, lack of parking and increased traffic on surrounding streets were also flagged as potential issues.
COGG Planning and Economy director Gareth Smith said the council conducted community consultation over 24 weeks from March to August 2020.
Following this consultation, the UDF was refined to respond to key concerns around building heights, amenity and traffic impacts,” he said.
“Parts of the final adopted UDF will be delivered through a separate planning scheme amendment process, which will involve further community consultation.”
While feedback on the proposal will close on Friday, the council committed to taking late feedback until September 24.
Calls from petitioners for a detailed traffic and parking assessment to be carried out as part of the project were also heard.
“While Traffic Impact Assessments and Parking Plans do not typically form part of a UDF, a Traffic Network Assessment is under way and will be considered along with the outcomes of the community consultation as part of the final UDF,” Mr Smith said.
“Furthermore, the city has also commenced preparation of a parking plan, which is proposed as an action in the interim final UDF.”
Find out more about the petition: bit.ly/pakington-st
THESE NEW BUILDINGS WOULD BE TOTALLY OUT OF CHARACTER AND NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE HEIGHT OF SURROUNDING HOMES AND BUSINESSES.