Pakington St and Gordon Ave UDF partly approved

THE City of Greater Geelong council has approved part of the plan to make buildings along two major Geelong West streets significantly taller, but will consult further about the northern end of Pakington Street.

At their meeting last week, a majority of councillors adopted the Gordon Avenue and Heritage Core Precincts in the Final Pakington Street (Geelong West) and Gordon Avenue Urban Design Framework (UDF) to allow the start of a planning scheme amendment.

Height limits have proven to be the most controversial element of the Final UDF.

The Heritage Core will have heights locked at no more than two storeys, while buildings will be between four to eight storeys in the Gordon Avenue Precinct plus two sections up to 10 storeys high, which will likely be occupied by a pair of towers knocked back by the city but approved by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal last month.

In Pakington Street North, buildings will be between four and six storeys high, with a cluster of eight-storey buildings on the east side next to the railway line.

The city received 379 submissions during the last six-week consultation on the UDF.

Of these, two-thirds were negative, with concerns including that 8-10 storeys in Pakington Street North is excessive, the potential loss of the “village” character and lifestyle, a general concern for increased traffic movements and parking demand, and that increased development would result in overshadowing and overlooking of existing low-rise residential areas in Pakington Street North.

In their report to councillors, officers noted that a local campaign opposed the interim Final UDF, and a summary of the community consultation found “the influence of the campaign has swamped constructive feedback about the strategic intent of the UDF … (and) … distorted the reality of what is proposed”

As a result, councillors also resolved to approve further community consultation about the Pakington Street North Precinct in early 2022.

The motion passed, eight votes (Peter Murrihy, Sarah Mansfield, Jim Mason, Trent Sullivan, Stephanie Asher, Bruce Harwood, Kylie Grzybek and Belinda Moloney) to three (Anthony Aitken, Ron Nelson, and Eddy Kontelj).

Speaking at the meeting, Cr Murrihy said the Geelong West Traders Association not only supported the existing Final UDF but also suggested more expansive height limits.

“The ironic fact about all this is that if this UDF had been supported earlier, the two towers in Gordon Avenue may never been granted (by VCAT), and if we don’t act on this now for Pako, there is a chance a proposal for a much higher development could be lodged.”

Cr Anthony Aitken said he was “nervous” about the Final UDF process and could not vote for it, given the public “animosity and anxiety” it had generated.

“What’s happened is that our engagement has come from a planning perspective.

“People love Pakington Street and they are concerned that this process and this plan may destroy it. Now it may not, but we have to respect that’s the level of concern that there is in the community about this proposal.”

For more information on the final UDF, head to yoursay.geelongaustralia.com.au/mypako.