Advisory committee brings new hope for residents

AMENDED plans have now been submitted for a proposed Portarlington development following the Victorian Planning Minister’s decision to call it in.

Last week, Planning Minister Richard Wynne called in the Newcombe Street development following the request of a Portarlington Community Association representative.

The decision was quickly met by joy from some members of the community and local politicians, however new plans have since been submitted.

The proposed development to be located on Portarlington’s main shopping precinct originally included 13 apartments, two shops and a basement car park.

The design was set to stand above 14 metres and include five storeys with only three levels visible from the main street as a result of the site’s natural slope.

Under the amended plans, the building will feature four storeys with only 2.5 levels visible from Newcombe Street and a height of about 11 metres.

The changes come as more than 120 formal objections were made in the initial application, with references to the height and position of the development as well as its impact on the town’s characteristics.

The original development on 49 Newcombe Street had been long criticised by Corangamite federal mamber Libby Coker, who said the state government had “done the right thing” by calling it in.

“I was proud to stand with the community in opposition to the development. As a local representative I have spent a lot of time in Portarlington and know the community overwhelmingly opposes this proposal.

“I urge the minister and the advisory panel to listen to the community and reject the application.”

The City of Greater Geelong rejected the original proposal in May, with developers electing to have the matter heard by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).

The case hearing was set to take place between August 30 and September 3 before last week’s decision by Mr Wynne.

In a statement, the Portarlington Community Association (PCA) called it a “positive move, and one which demonstrates the importance of an active community”.

“In light of the forthcoming implementation of the Bellarine Distinctive Areas and Landscapes declaration, which promises to protect our townships from inappropriate development, the PCA subsequently called on the state government to call the matter in.

A parliamentary petition along those lines collected over 2,000 signatures in a couple of weeks.”

The next step will involve the appointment of an advisory committee, which will consider past submissions as well as conducting hearings.

At this stage, the government has not provided a timeframe for its determination.