Council to seek rezoning, sell land, despite ‘concern’

JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
A STRIP of council and privately owned land sandwiched against Geelong’s ring road will be rezoned despite the concerns of utility providers and government departments.
VicRoads, Environment Protection Authority, Corangamite Catchment Management Authority and SPI Ausnet raised concerns at the plan.
But none objected, a report to council said.
Council this week voted to rezone two hectares of a 5.5Ha site off Rollins Rd, Bell Post Hill.
All the land would be sold for residential development.
“The submissions raised concerns regarding (road) access, sound attenuation measures and construction over easements,” the report said.
The land was part of a former reserve now surplus for development of the ring road.
Both properties were “encumbered with various easements” affecting any development, the report said.
A powerline easement “entirely encumbered” the privately owned part of the site.
Barwon Water’s Montpellier Lovely Banks water main and easement ran through the southern part of the council land, while a fibre optic cable ran along the eastern boundary, the report said.
A condition of the rezoning included retaining 1317 square metres for public open space.
VicRoads’ submission said the organisaiton had no intention of building new road access to the site.
VicRoads told council installation of any noise barriers would be at the cost of the developers.
The EPA said any residential development would be “subject to some degree of noise” from the ring road.
Council might need to construct access roads and recommended that houses be “sound-proofed” instead of building a noise barrier, the report said.
Preston Rowe Patterson property valuation consultant Stuart McDonald said the area had limited land suitable for development.
“Areas similar to that have been developed. There’s a demand for residential land but the end product will be priced according to the noise and visual aspects of the site.”
A 428sqm lot in Molloy Crt, Bell Post Hill, sold in December for $197,000.