Quick fix for zoning error

GEELONG councillors have moved to fix an oversight in a northern growth zone and will apply to rezone 35 hectares of farming land for future housing development.

The City of Greater Geelong will seek to amend its planning scheme to rezone 135 Staceys Road, Lovely Banks to its urban growth zone.

A framework for the expansion area adopted in 2020 had intended to include the land parcel but accidentally omitted it. The proposed amendment, which will now go before the ztate Planning Minister for approval, will fix the mistake.

Windermere Ward councillor Kylie Gryzbek said the rezoning was “well founded and strategically justified” as councillors unanimously voted to amend the error.

“This is just fixing an accidental omission from the rezoning,” Cr Gryzbek said.

The Northern and Western Growth Areas are expected to cater for a significant portion of the city’s medium to long-term growth, as the Armstrong Creek growth corridor reaches capacity and Bellarine towns are set for locked-in town boundaries through the Distinctive Area and Landscape process.

The two areas have a combined area of 5,331 hectares and are anticipated to eventually contain about 40,000 homes for more than 110,000 people.

The city is presently considering precinct structure plans to guide more detailed scheming for growth in the areas. Councillors are due to vote on recommendations by November this year.

Meanwhile, councillors also voted in favour of a 2.5-hectare rezone and subdivision plan at Lelaluka Road, Leopold last week, following a state government public hearings process that endorsed the proposal.