Names on Heads list not consulted

Andrew Mathieson
A developer has failed to consult community groups on his own contact list for controversial plans to expand Barwon Heads, according to a new resident.
Cath Pope alleged the consultation failure during a fiery public meeting on Wednesday night, saying she had contacted 12 of 37 organisations on the list but none said the developer had consulted them.
Bob Macafee had sent correspondence to residents stating he had “consulted” the organisations over his plans for residential development west of Barwon Heads for 250 homes.
The proposal would require Mr Macafee to swap land with Barwon Heads Golf Club and an extension of the town boundaries under an amended structure plan.
Ms Pope revealed the consultation shortfall at the Barwon Heads Association meeting of nearly 300 residents.
Ms Pope said Geelong Environmental Council, one of the groups on the contact list, “denies having ever been consulted or in consultation” on the proposal. Ms Pope said Friends of the Bluff president John Duffy told her he had visited the property as a “private citizen” but his group had not been in consultation with Mr Macafee.
Barwon Heads Community Arts Garden spokesperson Fay Conners had told Ms Pope that Mr Macafee had contacted the organisation about supplying land for a garden but the group had told him it was not necessary, Ms Pope said.
She said Barwon Heads Community Arts Garden has told her it “resents being used for political purposes”.
Parks Victoria was on the list but told her it never consulted directly with developers, Ms Pope said.
“If this is an indication at how these things are done, what can we think about this larger proposal?” she said.
Mr Macafee attended the meeting but did not respond to Ms Pope’s claims.
Association members voted overwhelmingly last month to fight the development plans last month.