Geelong City Council set to sell off Corio land

Geelong Council is set to sell off a piece of public land in a bid to budget for the future despite residents refuting the sale.

The council-owned land located at 11 McHarry Court in Corio will be up for sale with developers expected to swoop in.

Residents had previously submitted their disapproval for the project however Windermere Ward Cr Kylie Gryzbek has moved the amendment to ensure the Corio community would benefit from the proceeds.

The land, formerly known as Connections Park East, is a large open space that has been earmarked for potential sale since 2014. Earlier this year, Cr Anthony Aitken said the selling of the land would “help balance future budgets” while Mayor Stephanie Asher said the sale would ensure the land “could be put to better use”.

The process to sell off the land began in May 2020 and allowed for submissions from the community for consideration.

While the six submissions from the community cited the space as “irreplaceable” the City considered their own concerns regarding the safety and a lack of passive surveillance.

Since May, the City of Greater Geelong has entered into an operating deficit of $33.4 million but in spite of this they are saying they will reinvest the money into creating better public spaces in the region.

The western part of Connections Park will remain an open space with Council set to consider a Master Plan for the land in the 2021-2022 budget.

“It could include a communal garden, a skate park, or other elements depending on what the community suggest,” Cr Gryzbek said.

Residents will have the opportunity to submit their suggestions for the remaining park upgrades.

“We want the community in this area to know that while we are selling the 11 McHarry Court land, we are committed to the proceeds being put towards improved public open space,” she said.

Mayor Asher has continued to support the sale saying the money will better support the community in the future.

“This particular land is not well situated for public space, so the sale will create a positive outcome for the community when the funds are directed into other worthy open space projects,” she said.