State ‘threat’ over heritage

John Van Klaveren
A HISTORIC vicarage in Geelong West could make way for a supermarket after state Planning Minister Justin Madden refused to protect it with heritage controls.
The St John’s vicarage is on a site that budget supermarket chain ALDI has bought and earmarked for redevelopment.
Without heritage controls on the site ALDI would only have to apply for a standard demolition permit, leaving City of Greater Geelong with 15 days to consider the application.
Council voted in January to adopt strict heritage overlays on the site in a bid to force ALDI to retain the vicarage as part of the redevelopment.
But Aldi said inclusion of the vicarage would be “terminal” to the supermarket proposal.
Council wrote to Mr Madden in March requesting ministerial authorisation for interim protection while permanent measures were developed based on a heritage study of Geelong West’s Ashby precinct.
Mr Madden this month approved preparation of a permanent heritage overlay but excluded the Aldi site.
Mr Madden told council that an advisory committee considering the ALDI proposal would assess the heritage value of the site.
Council’s request for interim protection would not be considered until the permanent overlay was exhibited, Mr Madden told council.
Former ALDI property director Nigel Uren told council earlier this year that adoption of heritage overlays could lead to a “potentially protracted and costly legal battle”.
National Trust Geelong region branch president Jennifer Bantow said other sites included in the heritage overlay were similarly unprotected.
A spokesperson for Mr Madden said interim heritage protection was unnecessary because no buildings were at immediate threat.