Council blocks controversial development amendment

CITY of Greater Geelong councillors have rejected an independent panel’s recommendation to approve a planning permit amendment for the Balmoral Quay development, backing strong community opposition to the change.

The developer’s proposal would have expanded stage five of the Rippleside development to 84 apartments across seven storeys, up from 40 apartments split over four storeys.

The development would have almost doubled in height if the proposal was approved.

An independent planning panel considered the application in late April and ultimately found the proposal was strategically supported by the city’s planning policy.

The panel recommended that it be adopted by the council at its meeting on Tuesday night.

The Balmoral Quay development has consistently drawn strong opposition from local residents.

A public exhibition of the developer’s proposal attracted 173 submissions, along with a petition with 419 signatures.

A total of 167 submissions opposed the amendment with concerns centred around the height and scale of the development, the strategic justification for the amendment, traffic and car parking concerns, and overshadowing of Rippleside Park.

The panel’s recommendation was rejected quickly by Geelong councillors at Tuesday’s meeting, with Cr Peter Murrihy moving an alternate motion to abandon the amendment and planning permit.

“I think it’s all about representing the interests of the residents and the ratepayers,” Cr Murrihy said.

“Neighbourhood character is what is important and it’s what is important to the residents of Balmoral Quay and the Rippleside area.”

Cr Murrihy said the “height, scale and sheer bulk” of the proposed multi-use building was “totally out of character” with the surrounding area.

Mayor Trent Sullivan said while the independent panel had supported the amendment, the level of community unease was concerning.

“We’ve heard loud and clear from the community that the size of the residential development, which was larger than initially contemplated, wasn’t appropriate for this area,” Cr Sullivan said.

Cr Murrihy said the council would now tell Planning Minister Sonja Kilkenny in writing that the amendment had been abandoned.

“When you have been on council long enough you get a feel for what the people of Geelong want and I don’t think a 27-metre block of apartments is one of those,” he said.

“A notice will be published on the Geelong Australia website that the amendment is abandoned and include reasons for our decision.

“We appreciate the work of the independent panel which has ensured that we continue to have an open and accountable process.”