Push to preserve block slated for social housing

BELMONT residents have tabled a petition to preserve an open space block for community use, as the City of Greater Geelong plans to convert the area into social housing.

COGG councillor Belinda Moloney tabled a 770-strong petition at last week’s council meeting, which objects to COGG’s proposal to sell the Dean Street Plantation Reserve to developers.

Locals started their campaign in March during a public consultation process on the council idea, which they said would remove valuable green space for Belmont families.

“We, in Belmont, have very limited public open space for the community in this part of Belmont and any development on this site will impact poorly on available space for current and future generations,” the petition said.

“We want to keep this as public open space. Further analysis is required of community needs for this site with an aim to determine what is best for the local community both now and for the future.”

The petition also said the site’s location was also inappropriate, due to being on a narrow suburban street that already had significant traffic due to its proximity to a primary school and aged care centre.

Objectors to the plan spoke during question time at COGG’s latest general meeting last Tuesday (May 24) and raised concern with consultation on site plans including demolition and lack of documentation available, such as surveyor reports condemning existing buildings.

COGG had previously leased the site to Scouts Australia and for a community hall, both of which have vacated the site with their leases due to expire this year.

The reserve is currently closed for demolition of the existing buildings following the groups’ departure, which COGG said was a condition of their lease agreements.

COGG argued the land was suitable for social housing development due to its proximity to Belmont’s High Street shopping centre and key bus routes.

It said the 4383-square-metre site could also help address an urgent need for more social housing across the city, which is currently about 7000 properties short of demand.