Pako twin towers D-Day
THE fate of a pair of hotel towers planned for Pakington St is set to be decided next week, with developers and the City of Greater Geelong heading to the state’s planning umpire.
The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) will hold a four-day hearing next week to consider the Gordon Ave Property Trust’s appeal of a city refusal to grant a planning permit for two 41m high, 13-storey towers to be built at the corner of Pakington St and Gordon Ave.
The developers in November last year revealed a proposal to build the $70m project, featuring two 41m-high towers containing 260 hotel rooms, rooftop terraces, almost 4000sq m of office and hospitality space, a “health hub” and function-room spaces. But, the city rejected the proposal shortly after it was publicly released, prompting the developers to lodge an appeal at VCAT.
“The original application for a 12+ storey development at 39-45 Gordon Ave, Geelong West, was refused by council in February 2021,” a city response to a public question noted last month. “The proponent appealed the decision to VCAT, and a hearing has been scheduled for 25-29 October 2021.”
“The proponent recently lodged amended plans with VCAT, showing a reduced building height of 8+ and 9+ storeys.
“City planning officers are now preparing for this hearing, factoring in principles from the Pakington St and Gordon Ave Interim Final UDF. The final outcome for this planning matter will be decided by VCAT, not the city or the council.”
Planning documents lodged by the developers last year claimed the proposal “generally aligns” with the city’s Pakington St and Gordon Ave Interim Final UDF – a city plan to guide the future development of the two key city strips and help them realise their “development potential”.
“This proposal represents a tangible step toward transforming the Gordon Ave into an urban village in line with the vision set out in the UDF,” the documents noted.
“It is considered that the proposed mixed-commercial building primarily consisting of residential hotel and offices will stimulate the development of the Gordon Ave Precinct with the proposal representing a tangible first step towards achieving a high-quality urban renewal outcome.”
The city’s interim final UDF report prompted a surge of community feedback last month, prior to the closure of the community-engagement period and the city’s move to finalise the plans.
The strategic document outlines a city plan to guide the future development of Pakington
St and Gordon Ave, including a push to encourage residential developments of up to 10 storeys, improve cycling and pedestrian infrastructure, build new parks and reduce the speed limit through the heritage core of Pakington St.
“The proposed heights are predominantly mid-scale and intend to deliver a medium scale of built form between four and 10 storeys, in order to be responsive to the context and sensitive to the adjacent lowscale residential areas while increasing development potential,” a city report noted.