‘Higher’ Pako St vision backed

THE Geelong West Business Association is calling for an easing of heritage guidelines and building height restrictions in Pakington St’s central retail strip to ensure businesses can keep up with demand under a plan for more high-rise residential developments in the area.

The association has welcomed the City of Greater Geelong’s plan to invest in the precinct and endorsed the need to create a space that thrives into the future.

Business association president Cameron Brown said the key for ‘Pako 3218’ was to have a unified and clear vision from residents, businesses and property owners about how the space functioned and how to optimise it as the city’s population grew.

He said allowing high-rise residential properties around Gordon Ave and the northern precinct were a welcome development that would bring more people and investment into the area.

“The challenge is that additional residents means additional demand, so unless we also invest in more supply from a business and services perspective, we’ll leave the community frustrated and this is when things feel ‘crowded’,” Mr Brown said.

“That is why we’re advocating for additional height allowances in the retail precinct as well and the easing of some heritage guidelines.

“You can imagine the buzzing village atmosphere of restaurants and shops on the ground floors and level 1 while also allowing for additional residential dwellings above.”

He said finding the balance between heritage guidelines and allowing fresh initiatives presented a challenge.

“The further development of an evening economy is something we’d all love to see but as long as property developers are restricted by traditional standards we’ll struggle to make this happen,” Mr Brown said.

“It can also be a challenge from a sustainability perspective as the properties can be expensive to maintain and make them functional for occupants.”

He said the proposed “smart” streetscape upgrades contradicted the heritage overlays that applied to others.

“To me, it’s a double standard between the public and private space and makes the area less attractive for new development,” he said.