Mega over-50s village

195-house project on Waurn Ponds lot

DEVELOPERS have unveiled plans to build a 195-house residential village for over-50s in Waurn Ponds on the site of a controversial City of Greater Geelong rezoning process that prompted 159 objections.

The proposed development would add to 111 planned lots on the divisive Hams Rd land package, which is limited to housing 214 lots.

Developers said the extra 195-home residential village would be classed as a single lot.

A planning application lodged with the CoGG revealed the details of the $11m over-50s development, which is bordered by Hams Rd, Baanip Blvd and the Geelong Ring Road.

Plans for the residential village show it is in addition to 111 residential lots already earmarked for the land package.

“With median house pricing at $820,000 … for Waurn Ponds, there is a clear and recognised housing affordability issue in Waurn Ponds and the City of Greater Geelong more broadly,” planning documents note.

“The proposal will deliver an alternative housing typology that will cater for the over-50s market, for those seeking to downsize without compromising on amenity of quality of life.”

The application comes after the CoGG approved a planning scheme amendment in 2020 to rezone the land at 35 and 69-93 Hams Rd from “farming” to “general residential” to allow for development – including slashing the number of allowable lots from 400 to 214.

The decision came after community backlash to the rezoning, including 159 objections

Key issues raised in the objections included fears a highdensity development would create socio-economic problems in the area, along with concerns around traffic, crime and safety, and environmental impacts.

“Submitters raise concerns that a ‘ghetto’ will be created, others describe potential for an isolated, congested enclave,” council officers wrote in 2019.

The current application for a residential village notes the “parameters for the maximum number of residential lots, largely in response to mitigating traffic volumes and neighbourhood character at the Hams Rd interface”.

It also says “the proposal for a residential village comprises a single lot”.

A traffic impact assessment lodged with the application claims the residential village would create “approximately 30 per cent less traffic movements per day” than an existing residential proposal for the site.

The planning application will remain open for public comment until November 10.