Community group wants land “mis-step” in Portarlington reversed

A COMMUNITY GROUP in Portarlington says the land partly occupied by the town’s former post office should have never been sold and there was a “moral imperative” for the federal government to buy the land back.

The Portarlington Community Association (PCA) is opposed to the land at 49 Newcombe Street being used for a four-storey development containing 10 apartments and retail space.

Then-state planning minister Richard Wynne called in and ultimately rejected the original planning application for a five-storey building on the site in December 2021, following 124 objections and opposition from the City of Greater Geelong.

The city received the present application for a slightly smaller building late last year, and a spokesperson for the development syndicate said in January there was “enormous support this time around”.

According to the PCA, the land at 49 Newcombe Street was occupied by a public park later known as the Post Office Gardens with a clear view between Newcombe Street and the foreshore until the 1960s, when the single-storey post office was built there.

The Australia Post building and surrounding land was sold in 1998 when Portarlington’s postal service was privatised.

The PCA argues 49 Newcombe Street is Crown land and should not be owned privately, and that attempts at developments of a similar nature will keep repeating if the site is not bought back.

“There is a strong moral imperative for the Commonwealth to make good the mis-steps by Australia Post and its predecessor administrations when public land was sold into private hands without proper consultation with the affected Portarlington community,” PCA president John Fary said.

“This has resulted in a degradation of public spaces and amenities.”

The PCA is asking new Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny to also refuse to grant a permit for the new application and also work with Corangamite federal member Libby Coker and the federal government to fund a buyback of the site “so the heritage values and tourism potential of the town can be preserved”.

“We would like Libby to investigate ways this past mis-step can be redressed, and funds found to bring the site back to the public to maintain and enhance the town’s unique northern bay views and traditional connection between the land and water,” Mr Fary said.

A spokesperson for Ms Coker said the federal MP had met with the PCA on January 31 and had requested to speak at a coming City of Greater Geelong council meeting on the issue.

“Her meeting with the PCA was positive and built on her commitment to work closely with the community to get the best outcomes in line with their expectations.

“Ms Coker has also sought advice from the federal Communications Minister about the PCA’s request for compensation under the Scheme for Compensation for Detriment caused by Defective Administration, and is awaiting a response.”

A spokesperson for Australia Post declined to comment.