Councils back fight against Coles

THE Geelong and Queenscliffe councils have thrown their weight behind community opposition to a proposed Coles supermarket in Point Lonsdale, warning it could threaten local businesses and the town’s character.

The site earmarked for the $20 million development, on the Bellarine Highway, was sold to the Coles Group in March.

While a formal planning permit application has not yet been lodged, it is understood Coles has initiated a pre-application process with the Department of Transport and Planning.

When an application is made and accepted by the state’s development facilitation program, the minister will become the responsible authority for the project and will determine the outcome of that application.

On Friday, Geelong mayor Stretch Kontelj wrote to the minister to outline the community’s concerns and request a “genuine assessment” of alternative locations for the development.

“Through direct contact with residents and feedback received at a recent community meeting attended by over 400 concerned residents, there is strong concern about the proposal’s location and scale,” Cr Kontelj said in a statement.

“The community fears it will undermine the character of Point Lonsdale and Queenscliffe, impact local businesses, and compromise the sensitive environmental setting.

“We urge the state government to give serious consideration to the concerns raised by both the city and the community during this pre-application period to ensure that planning outcomes reflect the values and aspirations of our region.”

The Borough of Queenscliffe backed the move on Monday and voted to formally request the City of Greater Geelong initiate a planning scheme amendment process with the Department of Transport and Planning to block the proposed supermarket.

Speaking at the borough’s meeting, mayor Di Rule referenced the Point Lonsdale Structure Plan, which was adopted by both councils in 2009 and now informs part of the planning scheme.

“[The plan] identifies the threat and the inappropriateness of the commercial development and what effect it would have on our established shopping precincts,” she said.

“Decisions on zoning must be informed by policy. The policy settings in this case are strongly opposed to a supermarket development.”

Under the site’s current land use zoning, a supermarket is permitted, however Cr Rule said this zoning does not reflect the strategic intent for the land that was articulated in the structure plan.

She said councils across Victoria frequently initiate “tidy-up amendments” when “zoning no longer matches strategic intent”.

“That’s what we’re seeking.

“This tidy-up would correct and acknowledge [the] anomaly, remove uncertainly for investment decision in the Queenscliff and Point Lonsdale retail centres and implement a long-standing, jointly adopted strategic direction.

“It’s unfortunate successive councils over the years since 2011 have not tidied up this anomaly before.”

A Coles spokesperson confirmed the organisation was still in the early stages of preparing a development application for Point Lonsdale.

This application, the spokesperson said, will include comprehensive environmental, economic and social assessments.

“We appreciate the time these community members have taken to share their concerns with us — and want to reassure them that these are all important considerations that Coles takes seriously for any development.”