City stops Lara plan

Hamish Heard
Geelong’s council has staved off a bid for a controversial Lara subdivision after years of community opposition to the project.
Councillors voted unanimously this week to implement a plan guiding the release of residential land and the development of commercial precincts and services at Lara.
But the adoption of the plan dashed Lara identity Lino Bisinella’s plans to turn land neighbouring Serendip Sanctuary into a 280-home subdivision.
Lara councillor Tony Ansett hailed the council move as a “major victory” for the town’s resideants.
He said they had fought against the proposed Sanctuary Views subdivision since it emerged three years ago.
“When residents were preparing their case to fight the Sanctuary Views development they surveyed 300 households in Lara and 299 were fiercely opposed to what Bisinella was proposing,” Cr Ansett said.
“When you see that sort of opposition it’s pleasing to see the right thing was done in terms of representing the interests of the wider community.”
Cr Ansett said the group feared Mr Bisinella’s subdivision would create a “dangerous precedent” of inappropriate urban sprawl and destroy the town’s rural character.
But Cr Ansett praised the structure plan for paving the way for another of Mr Bisinella’s residential developments, Grand Lakes Estate.
Mr Bisinella will release 700 to 800 residential blocks on the town’s western boundary over the next eight years.
“The (Grand Lakes) development itself is a good one because it has bridges, walking tracks, playgrounds and a space set aside for a future school and a community centre at the cost of the developer,” Cr Ansett said.
Richard Bisinella, of L Bisinella Developments, welcomed council’s support for Grand Lakes but said the structure plan would lead to a shortfall of residential land in the township.
“We do not agree that the current structure plan provides sufficient land for 10 years’ growth,” Mr Bisinella said.
Council will review its decision on Sanctuary Views in two years.