COGG land sales

THE City of Greater Geelong (COGG) is moving ahead with plans to sell two properties it owns, one in Lara and another in Bell Post Hill.

At its most recent meeting councillors agreed to proceed with the sale of 7063 square metres at 275 Forest Road South, Lara, almost a hectare, that once hosted a rail track that connected to the nearby Geelong-Melbourne rail line.

The land is within the Geelong Ring Road Employment Precinct (GREP) and is encumbered by an easement to the State Transport Authority (or successor) for rail purposes that will remain on the property to protect any potential future opportunity for a rail siding to enter the GREP.

An easement over drainage infrastructure at the site will be registered with COGG and council will seek to recoup the cost of constructing a drain there, and other preparations of the land for sale, from the proceeds of the final land sale.

The second and smaller Bell Post Hill site on Rosemont Crescent of around 120 square metres that COGG has agreed to offload is part of a historic road reserve which was discontinued by the Shire of Corio.

At the time of discontinuance most parts of the road reserve were sold and transferred to adjoining property owners, however this parcel of land was not sold and now hosts a shed, driveway and garden constructed on the land by a previous owner of the adjacent home.

COGG has obtained a current market valuation of the land that will be offered without a competitive market sale to the proposed purchaser.

Neither properties slated for sale received any public submissions when posted in local newspapers and the councils Have Your Say website over the new year.

The land sales are part of a series council owned properties identified as surplus to its needs, including three other sites that have been earmarked for social housing, in Bell Post Hill, Corio and Belmont.

Public feedback on these properties is open via the City of Greater Geelong’s Have Your say page until April 6, 2022.