Port residents ‘back’ housing development

Alex de Vos
Portarlington residents want authorities to approve plans for a housing development near the town’s centre, according to the company behind the project.
Urban Pacific state manager David Parsons said more than 120 residents attended an information session for the company’s Arlington Rise project at Portarlington on Saturday.
Mr Parson said the majority were in favour of the development.
The were “impressed with the vision outlined by Urban Pacific”, he said.
The Independent revealed Urban Pacific’s plans to carve up 24-hectares for residential development earlier this year.
The project site is bordered by Sproat Street, Tower Road, Smythe Street and Portarlington-Queenscliff Road.
The project requires rezoning but the site is within town boundaries.
The site does not include Portarlington Holiday Resort, which remains under separate ownership.
A separate proposal for a residential project on a hillside at the entrance to Portarlington as angered residents. More than 500 residents have signed a petition against the hillside proposal.
But Mr Parson said residents gave the Urban Pacific proposal a tick during a survey at the information session.
However, traffic was a concern, he said.
“Of those who returned surveys, 72 per cent answered positively and believed Portarlington would benefit from a high-quality residential development,” he said.
“While most people we spoke to and who completed surveys were positive about the plans, we did hear concerns about traffic flows on Tower Road.”
Mr Parson said Urban Pacific had assured residents it would carry out an independent traffic study. Traffic issues and concerns would be dealt with at the planning permit stage, he said.
Portarlington Community Assoc-iation member Gwenda Wilkinson said most residents seemed happy for the project to go ahead.
“It doesn’t seem to be a problem,” Ms Wilkinson said.
“The site is within town boundaries.
“Our concern was with drainage but they explained that to us at the meeting.”