VILLAGE SAVED: Highton celebrates key safeguards included in development plan

HIGHTON Village’s much-loved charm will be protected in future development plans after Geelong councillors voted to change a controversial city-recommended growth framework.

The final Highton Urban Design Framework (UDF) will cap building heights at nine metres – the same height as the present tallest building – retain the precinct’s Belle Vue Avenue informal roundabout, clock tower and service road access, and ensure no net loss of car parking because of upgrades.

Highton Library would also remain in its existing location for at least five years before the council reviews long-term options.

Other improvements such as a right-turn lane onto Barrabool Road, parking and laneway upgrades, and improved pedestrian connections remain in the adopted UDF.

Dozens of Highton residents, traders and village users were at City Hall for Tuesday night’s meeting for a last-ditch effort to protect the shopping centre after six years of planning, and welcomed the decision with raucous applause.

Kardinia Ward councillor Ron Nelson moved an alternate motion on Tuesday that included the additional protections.

“It’s clear that residents love the look and feel of the village, and that’s why we live there,” he said.

“It’s quirky, the roundabout’s a bit funky, but it just works.

“We want an upgrade and a spruce-up, what we don’t want is overdevelopment in and around the village.”

The motion also retained a $606,000 city allocation for Highton Village that would be used for “overdue” minor upgrades to the streetscape.

Retired lawyer Graham Hobbs, who had a business in the area for more than 30 years, led a community campaign to protect Highton Village that attracted 4,700 supporters of a petition.

“It’s been a long saga, but I think reality hit and now we can use the money to things that are much more needed,” he said.

“I’m just delighted – a lot of people have put a lot of time and effort into it.

“The community spoke, and the council listened.”

Mr Hobbs thanked state election candidates Darren Cheeseman (Labor) and Andrew Katos (Liberal) for their bipartisan support of the community push.

Mr Cheeseman has campaigned extensively on the issue during his present term as South Barwon MP.

“Following a long campaign by the community, council last night voted to reject the officers’ plans to redevelop Highton Village. This is a massive win for the community against the greed of developers,” he said.

“Over the past 12 months, local activists have collected over 4,000 signatures and had thousands of conversations with locals in campaigning against the redevelopment of Highton Village.”

Mr Katos spoke at Tuesday night’s meeting in support of the changes.

“What I’ve wanted to do all along is to try and work constructively with council to get a good outcome for the community,” he said.

“There’s a lot of good things in the UDF, but there were issues with building heights, traffic movements, car parking, unnecessary pedestrian crossings.

“I urged [the council] to amend that because that’s what the majority of people in Highton want.”An artist’s impression of the future Highton Village under the UDF. Photo: SUPPLIED