City wants boundary change

A CITY of Greater Geelong submission to the state government will recommend land around the Collendina Hotel be included within Ocean Grove’s settlement boundary.

The council’s submission to the draft Statement of Planning Policy, which sets out a 50-year vision for the Bellarine, is generally supportive of the draft’s strategies and objectives.

The peninsula was declared a Distinctive Area and Landscape by the state government in 2019 to permanently protect the area from over-development and preserve its unique environment and lifestyle.

Last night, the council endorsed a submission that was generally supportive of the SPP to achieve the long-term vision.

The statement provides permanent settlement boundaries for all townships to protect their character, and preserves environmental features, green breaks and landscapes between towns.

These boundaries are generally the same as the council’s settlement strategy, however the submission recommends that a farming zoned parcel of land on Bonnyvale Road at the eastern edge of Ocean Grove, around the Collendina Hotel, should be within the settlement boundary for Ocean Grove.

Council’s submission also requests clarification on how the SPP will be implemented into the planning scheme and how the policy could be strengthened around achieving zero carbon development in the region.

The city recommends that the impacts of rising sea levels on ground water should be included as an environmental risk and requests a clear definition of nature-based tourism.

Greater Geelong mayor Stephanie Asher said council had “heard clearly and consistently from the community that they are concerned about over-development on the Bellarine and want to see the area’s coastal and rural character protected”.

“Council’s Settlement Strategy took an important step forward in confirming that the share of Greater Geelong’s growth being directed towards the Bellarine will decline, and that future housing should be within existing town boundaries,” Cr Asher said.

“Through the DAL process there is now an opportunity to lock in permanent settlement boundaries, and it is encouraging to see the draft Statement of Planning Policy reflecting the community’s desire to see that happen.”