Lara Flood Study to undergo further review

CITY of Greater Geelong councillors have hit the brakes on implementation of a new flood overlay that would affect thousands of Lara properties to allow for greater understanding of the changes.

The council voted to defer a decision on actions from a Lara Flood Study, heeding community calls for more information on the justification and impacts of the complex planning rules.

They ordered officers to review criteria for flood overlays following the study, to determine “reasonable opportunities” for removal of properties from the new controls and to allocate “appropriate resources” for a further review, which is estimated to cost the council about $30,000.

The city will also review more than 500 submissions to the proposed changes individually, after scrutinising about 10 per cent of the objections in preparing its latest report.

Lara Care Group president Barry White said the latest council decision was vindication of a local community campaign for answers, and he looked forward to greater engagement from the city.

“As we’ve said along, there seems to be an overreach here,” Mr White said.

“There’s more of a focus on modelling, rather than evidence.

“Particularly the people who have been in Lara a long time, are asking ‘Why now?’

“Despite the suggestions that it’s not going to have major implications, I think there are considerable doubts about that.”

More than 8,000 properties were recommended to be applied with Special Building Overlays following the 2020 flood study, which residents feared would make their homes subject to higher insurance premiums and stricter regulatory controls around building and alterations.

Residents have also queried reasoning for the broad-brush application of the new overlay, which will affect properties with no history of flooding for decades.

Cr Bruce Harwood said the city should pay greater attention to the outpouring of community opposition to the proposed changes.

“The point is to take on the overwhelming comments, views, opinions that have been received over some time. It’s to flesh out all the opinions and views of the Avalon-Lara-Fyansford community… as councillors, that’s our role.

“I’m not sure anyone feels comfortable right now with where we’re sitting, for good or bad.”

More than 500 residents had submitted their objections to a consultation process late last year, but the city’s report last month indicated it had only reviewed 50 submissions at random as part of its nine-month review.

Windermere Ward councillor Anthony Aitken agreed with objectors that the city’s consultation on the issue had been inadequate.

“There is enough uncertainty for the council group… that there deserves to be greater scrutiny of individual submissions made,” he said.

“The community is confused. It deserves far better public education and communication from this council.”