Housing planned for

A PLAN to rezone a former water storage basin in Anglesea has attracted some objections from nearby residents.
Surf Coast Shire councillors have resolved to seek authorisation from the Planning Minister to put the application from Barwon Water on public exhibition for one month.
Under the plan, the land at 69B Harvey Street will be rezoned from Public Use Zone 1 to General Residential Zone and would be re-subdivided from seven lots to 10 lots.
During public question time at last week’s council meeting, Simone Shaw asked if the increased number of lots – which would become an average of 614 square metres – could be reversed, water basin with the town character of Anglesea, especially as the surrounding houses were at least 800 square metres.
In response, Surf Coast Shire environment and development general manager Kate Sullivan said Barwon Water felt it could get a better outcome with street frontages on both sides of the block.
“In the end, Barwon Water has made that decision and it’s a commercial decision.
“The council have to consider what is on the table in front of them.”
Another resident who lived near the land objected to the closure of Sparrow Avenue between Parker Street and Harvey Street to create a small park, saying the road would be a “crucial escape Ms Sullivan said from an emergency management point of view, the shire would be encouraging people to leave early.
Anglesea Ward councillor Margot Smith said the council recognised there had been storage basin.
“Council has an application before it that has attracted considerable public interest, and by moving forward to seek ministerial authorisation to put the application on public exhibition we are allowing the community to have a say.
“This move by council does not approve anything, but rather allows people to have input into the proposal that Barwon Water has put forward and allows council to retain planning control as an independent authority.”