Leopold rezone to go before planning panel

A state planning panel will review submissions on a plan to rezone two proposed residential blocks at the edge of Leopold.

The City of Greater Geelong is proposing to rezone farming land at the corner of Portarlington Road and Melaluka Road for housing development, to bring the area in line with neighbouring blocks just south of the highway site.

An independent panel will review submissions that the city received earlier this year on the idea, with a recommendation report expected within four to eight weeks later.

Panel members will visit the sites in the week before the hearing before proponents, the city and objectors make their case.

The city received seven submissions on the planned amendments during public exhibition in July and August.

One objection came from planning consultants on behalf of the owners of 692-700 Portarlington Road, which is currently used as a residence and automotive equipment supplier.

The report stated that the owners preferred for their land to remain in the farming zone and were investigating the extent of potential contamination of the property due to historical uses.

A city report indicated an Environmental Site Assessment had found no “evidence of contamination or historical contamination activities that would prevent development of the existing site for the proposed use”, though the amendment proposes to add an environmental overlay to safeguard against future contamination impacts.

Another objection raised concern with drainage maintenance concerns and impacts on the downstream network.

Remaining submissions were from government agencies and the proponent, which were in support.

Last month, the state government approved a rezone of a greenfield site just south at 31-49 Melaluka Road, leaving the Portarlington Road blocks as some of the last remaining greenfield sites in northern Leopold.