Village plan for controversial Waurn Ponds block

DEVELOPERS have submitted plans to create a 195-lot retirement village at the south-west edge of Geelong.

The City of Greater Geelong is advertising plans to develop part of a greenfield site at 69-93 Hams Road, Waurn Ponds into housing, which would primarily cater for residents aged over 50 and claims it would provide affordable housing options for downsizers within the city.

Existing plans would build predominantly two-bedroom dwellings with a smattering of one and three-bed residences, south of a creek reserve identified in a masterplan for the area.

Land to the north is slated to be part of future residential land releases.

The village would also have communal amenities including clubhouses, sports facilities and green space areas.

Planners argue the site’s proximity to Waurn Ponds Station and surging house prices for the southern Geelong suburb were reasons to approve the project.

“In recent years there has been significant demand for new and diverse housing within the City of Greater Geelong, particularly in areas well serviced by public transport and [with] good access to amenities,” planning documents stated.

“With median house pricing at $820,000 for Waurn Ponds, there is a clear and recognised housing affordability issue in Waurn Ponds and the City of Greater Geelong more broadly.

“The proposal will deliver an alternative housing typology that will cater for the over 50s market, for those seeking to downsize without compromising on amenity or quality of life.”

The proposed village is the second half of a plan from developer Birchmore, which is already planning housing for an adjacent Hams Road block next to Ghazeepore Road, just north of the rail line.

The rezoning of the Waurn Ponds land wedge received council and state government approval in 2020.

It had previously drawn community opposition including 159 objections during its exhibition in 2019, with residents citing concerns of over development and traffic impacts.

The plans now being advertised are slightly scaled down from the plans that drew a passionate community response earlier in the planning process.