Council ticks off land rezone ahead of sale

GEELONG council has completed a rezone of a Corio KFC site that will allow it to sell the land.

Councillors adopted a planning amendment that changes the zoning of the site at public recreation space Stead Park to better reflect its current use, and facilitate a private sale.

The change carves the restaurant out of the public park and recreation zone and removes a road overlay.

The Stead Park site is part of a sell-off of council property the city announced last year to fund an increase in its asset renewal program.

A Reynolds Road bowling alley and maternal health site, and the Civic Car Park in Gheringhap Street have already sold, while the Busport Car Park at Brougham Street will also be put on the market.

Windermere Ward councillor Kylie Gryzbek said the change was a sensible one for the council, but worried the northern suburbs would not directly benefit from the decision.

“It’s a pity we don’t have a policy that invests those funds straight back into the region that it came,” Cr Gryzbek said.

“Cr [Anthony] Aitken and I, and fellow councillors will work with CEO to ensure open space continues to be invested in considering the opportunity that’s coming with the Commonwealth Games with the hockey to be played there (Stead Park).”

The planning amendment will require sign-off by the Victorian Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny before it becomes law.