Exchange protects important land in Indented Head

INGRID Novosel says she is delighted that an appeal to protect an ecologically significant parcel of land in Indented Head has finally received council approval.

During the past 20 years, the secretary of the Indented Head Community Association has championed a campaign to have the 13.63 hectares of land under the control of the City of Greater Geelong and no longer as part of the Seabreeze Estate development.

Mira Ira Pty Ltd, developers of the Seabreeze Estate, will part with the land in return for a vacant council-owned reserve at 690 Batman Road.

The developer will also pay council $110,000 to bridge the difference in valuation between the two pieces of land.

The land being acquired by council is 13.63 hectares in size and has been valued at $2.83 million.

The reserve being transferred to the developer is 3.92 hectares and is valued at $2.94 million.

“We feel that gaining 13 hectares of land with high ecological value for 3.91 hectares on Batman Road of undeveloped council land, is a win not only for the Indented Head community, but also for the Northern Bellarine, as the area contains a diversity of remnant vegetation with Plains Grassy Woodland, Grassy Woodland and Plains Freshwater Sedge Wetland,” Ms Novosel said.

“Support from Cr John Doull in allocating $10,000 for an Ecological Assessment completed in 2014, was also a major factor in having this swap of land succeed.”

Ms Novosel said the Geelong Field Naturalists Club had also been strong supporters, along with the Geelong Environment Council, Trust for Nature and Bellarine Catchment Network, who wrote letters to council in support of the swap of land as they recognised the significance of the flora and fauna.

“The area also has a wide variety of bird life that includes habitat for the orange-bellied parrot,” she said. “We look forward to working with the council in the near future to assist with the management and preservation of the 13 hectares of land with community volunteers.”

Councillor Jim Mason said there had been broad community support for the land exchange, with 37 favourable submissions during public consultation in 2016. The city will now consider developing a master plan for the acquired land as part of next year’s budget discussions.

This would include input from important local stakeholders including the Wathaurung Aboriginal Corporation