Land set to house 8000

Alex de Vos
Developers want to carve up 310 hectares of farmland near Clifton Springs for 3300 housing allotments.
A report to City of Greater Geelong council said the site would provide enough space for 3300 dwellings and a population of more than 8000.
The report said the land was “generally” between Jetty, Geelong-Portarlington and McDermott roads and Port Phillip Bay, just west of Drysdale and Clifton Springs.
The development would include a collector road system with a new access to Geelong-Portarlington Road, “extensive” parklands along the bayfront, a new activity centre and a supermarket, the report said.
A council meeting this week voted to seek public feedback on the proposal.
Drysdale and Clifton Springs Association president Wayne Elliott backed the development as long as council acted on community concerns and suggestions.
“It’s very important for people to get involved and it’s important to have the consultation stage where people can have their say but I hope council does listen to what they say,” Mr Elliott said.
“People are concerned that if you are going to have some growth then that area needs to be further developed in terms of roads and drainage.”
Councillor Rod Macdonald, who holds council’s planning portfolio, gave the proposal a thumbs up.
He said the consultation process would be “very much part of the project”.
“This will be a great opportunity to create a foreshore and increase the public access to the foreshore,” Cr Macdonald said.
“It’s a good proposal. There will be a new road network, an area set aside for parkland and linkages between services and shops.
“People’s comments will be taken on board.”
Nevan Wadeson, from the developer’s project consultant, said the development would have a “positive impact” on the community and fit into the “town structure”.
“The area has been identified as a planned provision for the extension of the town,” he said.
“The development will be integrated into the town to minimise the impact on the community.”