By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
A STRUCTURE plan for Lara could revive a controversial proposal for a freight hub, residents fear.
Lara Little River Rural Action Group’s Paul O’Halloran called on council to remove the intermodal freight hub from the structure plan.
Mr O’Halloran said anyone could propose a similar development if the facility remained in the document.
Planning Minister Matthew Guy last year scotched developer Buildev’s plan for a large freight hub on Old Melbourne Rd between Lara and Little River while State Government conducted a feasibility study into a proposed Avalon Airport rail link.
Mr O’Halloran said the group wanted the structure plan to identify the site as farming land, not for industrial use.
“The Lara structure plan is not due for review for four or five years but we want the change to happen a lot more quickly.”
Mr O’Halloran said the group supported development of the freight hub at Avalon Airport.
“It just needs to be in the right location and we continue to strongly oppose the use of the Old Melbourne Rd site.”
Ward councillor Tony Ansett tabled at last week’s council meeting a petition for the removal of the freight facility from the plan.
The meeting heard council planned a “nationally significant freight and logistics hub” between Geelong Ring Road Employment Precinct, Avalon Airport and Geelong’s port.
A report to the meeting said council had begun a feasibility study into the potential reinstatement of an existing rail spur to the employment precinct.
Port channel depths were a major barrier to establishing a National Transport and Logistics Precinct in northern Geelong, the report said.
