600 homes, business park proposed for Lara farmland

TWO amendments to the Geelong planning scheme aiming to rezone farming land in Lara to allow for new developments have been referred to the Planning Minister for authorisation for public exhibition.

The 114-hectare section of land is located 1.5km south of Lara’s town centre and is boarded by Canterbury Road East to the north, Princes Highway to the east and south and the Melbourne to Geelong rail corridor to the west.

Put forward by consultancy group Tract on behalf of Lara Farms, the amendments seek to facilitate the development of 600 dwellings and an industrial and commercial business park at the site, with the potential for a sporting facility that includes three soccer fields, a lacrosse field and six netball courts overlayed with AFL/cricket ovals to be established.

Geelong mayor Stretch Kontelj said both sites had been identified in the Settlement Strategy, Lara Structure Plan, Social Infrastructure Plan and G21 Regional Growth Plan as suitable for development.

“The documents give the community an idea of proposed lot zones, open space, drainage, built form outcomes and infrastructure services,” he said.

“The sites are conveniently located close to Lara Village Shopping Centre, Lara Train Station, education centres and health facilities and are near the Geelong Ring Road Employment Precinct, Avalon Airport, rail and freeway corridors, and Hovells Creek.”

Once authorisation to exhibit the amendments is received from the Planning Minister, a community consultation process, expected to begin in July, will take place.

Cr Chris Burson said council officers would assist the community during this process in understanding the amendments and what the rezoning of the land would mean for the local community.

“In addition to alerting the broader community through notices in local media and on our websites, the city will directly notify nearby landowners, occupiers and other relevant agencies during the exhibition period,” he said.

“Feedback from the public and other stakeholders will come back to council at a future meeting.”

Cr Anthony Aitken said the city had already received some correspondence from the community in relation to the proposed planning scheme amendments,

“It is important to acknowledge that the council is not seen in a trusted light in the Lara community and this proposed multi-amendment has actually, once again, raised concerns in the community.”

He encouraged the community to engage with the consultation process and to put forward any objections once the amendments are made public.