PORTARLINGTON residents are concerned about the number of residential developments being constructed on the edge of the Portarlington Recreation Reserve.<\/p>\n
Celia Adams, who lives in Welfare Street across the road from where the development is taking place, believed the houses were being constructed on landfill, which included an old VW (Volkswagen car), pieces of concrete, fridges and the like.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we objected to a planning permit application to subdivide one of the blocks, part of our objection was based on the concern that the land was possibly unsound to build on, along with concern about losing our view of the reserve,\u201d Ms Adams said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere were also objections regarding the degradation of the natural environment, as the land backs on to the Portarlington Recreation Reserve, which is adjacent to the Point Richard\u2019s nature reserve where the habitat to the endangered growling grass frog is protected.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Adams said the City of Greater Geelong assured her that the engineer\u2019s report regarding the land proved that it was sound to build on, but she and other local residents had their doubts.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe wonder whether the owners of the land know its history of land filling, and if they did would they have bought it in the first place?\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cDid council sell it to them with full disclosure of the nature of the land?\u201d<\/p>\n
However, the city\u2019s director of planning and development Kelvin Walsh said the proposed development at 31 Welfare Street had been assessed against the Planning Scheme and was found to meet the relevant provisions and policies.<\/p>\n
\u201cObjections received were considered during the planning application\u2019s assessment, and objectors were given an opportunity to appeal the City\u2019s decision to support the proposal to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT),\u201d Mr Walsh said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith no appeals lodged with VCAT, a Planning Permit was issued.<\/p>\n
\u201cBoth the city and the property owners were aware that some of the land contains fill, and there is a requirement for this to be addressed at the Building Permit stage in the form of a geotechnical investigation.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
PORTARLINGTON residents are concerned about the number of residential developments being constructed on the edge of the Portarlington Recreation Reserve. Celia Adams, who lives in Welfare Street across the road from where the development is taking place, believed the houses were being constructed on landfill, which included an old VW (Volkswagen car), pieces of concrete, […]<\/p>\n