Fix for city planning mistake

State planners have ticked off a minor planning scheme amendment to the Northern Geelong Growth Area to include a previously missed farming block in the development zone.

The state government earlier this month released its decision to approve a rezone of a 35-hectare block at Staceys Road, Lovely Banks, after an application from the City of Greater Geelong.

An error in a COGG settlement strategy, adopted in 2020 and approved last year, had mistakenly overlooked the block as part of the growth zone.

The new amendment has corrected the omission to zone the land for urban growth.

COGG had voted to send the amendment to the state planning department in June.

The Stacey Road property is at the northern fringe of the 2,300-hectare Northern Gelong Growth Area.

Combined with the Western Geelong Growth Area to the south, the region will create 5,331 hectares worth of new Geelong communities that are anticipated to contain 40,000 properties housing 110,000 people once fully developed.

The north-west growth parcel is set to accommodate the bulk of greater Geelong’s mid-term growth, as Bellarine towns are set to have their development boundaries locked in by the Distinctive Area Landscape process and the Armstrong Creek growth corridor moves closer to its capacity.

Precinct Structure Plans (PSPs) for the first two development areas – Elcho Road East and Creamery Road – are currently under development before inclusion in the planning scheme, which is expected to happen during next year.

Meanwhile, COGG is currently considering which PSPs will be next in line for development and expects to present a recommendation for a councillor vote in November.