Drysdale continues to fight developers

DRYSDALE locals are fighting off yet another development as residents become increasingly frustrated by proposals which “destroy the ambience of the town.”

Last week a residents’ meeting was held to discuss the impending development of 5-17 Oakden Road which would see the area transformed into a total of 34 allotments.

Local woman Catherine Coghlan said fellow residents are becoming fearful that developments will soon take over the town.

“Developers are becoming greedier as approvals continue to be given to them,” she said.

“We feel we are not being listened to by council, who are tending to favour developers over us.”

Residents have voiced their disapproval over the size of the allotments impeding on the semi-rural feel of the community, as well as traffic concerns and lack of privacy that will come from the tree removal.

Drysdale, Clifton Springs, Curlewis Association president Mercedes Drummond said parking was already an issue in the proposed area with narrow roads and the cemetery neighbouring the development site.

“When there is a big funeral, they park all along Oakden Road and so if you are going to put 34 allotments in there with two cars per each house we are again creating an issue and so close to a primary school,” she said.

A survey was conducted among residents believed to be directly or indirectly impacted on surrounding streets which received 35 out of 90 responses.

Of those who took part, 20 per cent were against any development in the area while 52 per cent called for less houses and bigger blocks of land.

“An issue that was raised is that we don’t know where these developers are coming from,” she said.

“They would have no idea what our community is like.”

A unanimous decision was passed during the meeting in which residents objected to the development and put forward a request for council to consider a maximum of 10 allotments to be developed in keeping with the town’s characteristics.

“It is the same scenario again in which the community is willing to understand the need for housing, but it has to be in keeping with the character of the township,” Ms Drummond said.

“Developers seem to have moved in and are trying to do as much as they can before the distinctive landscape legislation comes through.”

Residents of Oakden will meet with council over zoom with a large screen being set up in the Springdale Neighbourhood Centre for a community viewing. A face-to-face meeting was declined by the city who cited COVID-19 concerns.

“Why is Portarlington given the courtesy of arranging that meeting, yet the Oakden Road community have been trying to arrange a face-to-face meeting and they claim they can’t,” Ms Drummond said.

“They are hiding behind COVID-19 clearly because of the amendment c363 and everything that has been going on.

“It is the general issue of overdevelopment.”

City of Greater Geelong director planning, design and development, Gareth Smith, said he acknowledges the concerns of the community regarding the proposed application.

“All feedback from the community will be considered when the proposal is presented at the upcoming Planning Committee Meeting, which is made up of councillors, on Thursday, 28 January,” he said.