Approval for Leopold greenfield rezone

The state government has ticked off a plan to rezone a housing growth corridor at Leopold in a change that would fill one of the town’s last remaining greenfield sites.

A planning department website indicated last week an amendment to change a parcel of five farming blocks to residential land had been approved on August 30.

The amendment is awaiting gazettal from state planners, at which point it will become law.

The decision relates to the Ash Road East development zone – a 29-hectare area from 73-155 Ash Road.

The City of Greater Geelong’s amendment also concurrently grants approval for subdivision of the two largest blocks, 87-101 and 103-127 Ash Road, into around 190 housing lots.

The city approved its amendment for a ministerial decision in April, following a referral to the state government and submissions hearing process late last year.

There were 29 submissions about the plan last year, primarily concerned with stormwater management given the site’s proximity to Lake Connewarre and its Ramsar wetlands.

But the state planning panel and city were satisfied the risks were appropriately mitigated as the amendment was approved for a ministerial decision.

“The amendment and permit are consistent with the Leopold Structure Plan and for the future urban growth for the south-eastern area of Leopold,” Bellarine Ward councillor Jim Mason said at April’s meeting.

Fellow Bellarine Ward councillor Trent Sullivan also pointed to the development’s social housing provision – with five per cent of dwellings to be offered at a 25-per-cent discount to providers – mandated community infrastructure contributions and the need to provide more housing stock to address affordability across the city.

Ash Road East is one of the last major development opportunities identified in the 2011 Leopold Structure Plan, with greenfield sites such as Ash Road West and Mollers Lane also receiving rezoning approval in recent years.

It comes as the Bellarine Distinctive Area Landscape process is likely to lock in the town boundaries identified in the 2011 plan in an impending 50-year planning policy.