Waurn Ponds development sent to planning panel

THE City of Greater Geelong has referred a proposed development in Waurn Ponds to an independent planning panel, following 159 public objections.

At their meeting last week, councillors resolved to ask the Planning Minister to appoint a panel to consider submissions about Amendment C37, which is a combined rezoning and planning permit application for land at 35 and 69-93 Hams Road.

The amendment proposes to rezone the land north of the train line, west of Ghazeepore Road, east of Anglesea Road and south of Hams Road from farming to general residential, to create 258 residential lots, 21 larger interface lots, two medium density sites and a creek reserve.

During the public exhibition process, the city received 164 submissions from the public, 159 of which were objections.

Community members raised concerns about issues such as traffic (which was raised in most of the submissions), housing density, environmental impacts, flooding and drainage.

In response to the issues raised in submissions, the proponents of the rezoning and development have offered several changes, including removing two medium density sites (which would have housed 40 dwellings) and all lots less than 300 square metres, replaced by lots of at least 400 square metres.

The proponents would also add a minimum 30 lots of at least 800 square metres in size and make a $500,000 contribution to the city to improve Ghazeepore Road, in addition to other required upgrades to the intersection of Hams and Ghazeepore Roads.

Community members who put in a submission will get the chance to appear at the independent panel hearing, which will further review the proposal.

“There are clear community concerns surrounding this amendment and that’s why this matter is going to an independent panel for further review,” Kardinia Ward councillor Ron Nelson said.

“I encourage concerned community members to have their say and go before the independent panel.”