PARKING, DRAINAGE KEY ISSUES

CONCERNS about parking losses caused by council plans to sell off a series of city-owned land packages, and calls to bring forward a $1.3m suburban drainage project, are the key topics raised in more than 130 submissions in relation to the City of Greater Geelong’s budget.

The CoGG held a submissions review panel hearing earlier this month to hear community responses to its proposed budget, revenue and rating plan and proposed sale of council land key strategic documents.

Of the 137 submissions received, 129 referred to one of three projects – the Kyema Drive drainage project in Lara (63 submissions); sale of 1.561ha of land at 17 Reynolds Rd, Belmont (52 submissions) that is currently home to the private Oz Tenpin Bowling, a council-operated maternal health centre and carparks; or the Civic Car Park in the CBD (14 submissions).

Shortly after the release of the CoGG’s proposed budget in April, residents surrounding the low-lying Kyema Drive area of Lara hit out at the council’s “galling” lack of action to solve flooding and drainage issues – despite claiming to have first appealed for help 40 years ago.

The budget’s inclusion of $1.3m for drainage works at the site – including a pair of new pumps and rising mains pressurised pipeline systems – would see the bulk of the funding delivered in 2025-26.

The 63 submissions to the city requested “the budget funding of $1.3m allocated in 2024- 25 and 2025-26 be brought forward and design and construction be undertaken in the 2022-23 financial year”. They also requested “no special rates and charges scheme is applied to the works”.

The CoGG’s proposed sale of council-owned land also received dozens of responses, with the move to sell off the Reynolds Rd land the subject of 52 submissions.

All but six of the submissions referred to parking concerns, particularly over the loss of public parking spaces used by “healthcare for staff and patients parking and education, for school and daycare access and immunisation clinics”.

Three submissions also raised concerns with the loss of the ten-pin bowling centre.

The CoGG’s move to sell off the Belmont land included noting its intention to include a condition of purchase guaranteeing a

20-year lease for the maternal health centre.

Tony Hill (with other fed-up residents of Kyema Drive) has created his own pump system to try to tackle flooding issues. City Hall is being urged to move drainage works at the site forward. Picture: Alan Barber