Developers squeezed for more space

A push to squeeze more out of developers for ratepayers has turned Geelong’s town planning clock back 150 years, according to a councillor.
Rod Macdonald said council was now seeking up to twice as much in open space contributions along with infrastructure such as walking paths and playgrounds as developers cashed in on the region.
Council had previously demanded five per cent open space with no further commitment to social infrastructure, he said.
“We’re going back to what councils used to do 150 years ago when they allowed for shopping centres and parks all through suburbs,” Cr Macdonald said.
“It’s back to the future we’re getting away from suburban sprawl with endless houses.”
Cr Macdonald said squeezing more from developers would save ratepayers the pain of user pays schemes further down the track to provide infrastructure left out of initial development plans.
Under council user pays schemes, property owners pay for works such as construction of footpaths and road sealing, sometimes 10 years after completion of residential estates.
“The developers used to come in and sell all their blocks then just walk away,” Cr Macdonald said.
“Later council and the ratepayers would have to pick up the tab for all the things that weren’t provided in the first place. What we’re trying to get is the amenities and facilities in place right from the start.”
Cr Macdonald said the push for larger contributions extended beyond residential developers to commercial projects.
An example was a council plan to upgrade a large, empty reserve at St Albans Park with a cash contribution from the developer of a shopping centre nearby at Newcomb, he said.
The developer had agreed to build a new kindergarten and pay $130,000 for council to green light the company’s Centro Newcomb project.
Cr Macdonald said the $130,000 would help pay to upgrade Aldershot Reserve, with a potential council contribution for a “first class” recreational facility.
Council had not copped flak from developers over the push for larger contributions, Cr Macdonald said.
“There’s a benefit for the developers, too, because if the facilities are there people will walk right in,” he said.
“From a developer’s marketing point of view, it’s a real selling point.”
Labor candidate for Corio Richard Marles, who discovered community demand to upgrade Aldershot Reserve while door knocking the area, applauded council for its open space push.
“The more open space there is in our suburbs the better,” he said.