Rippleside permit to expire, developer seeks extension $67m project under cloud

Jessica Benton
A proposed $67 million bayside development at Rippleside is under a cloud with its planning permit set to expire before work starts.
Developer Jim Ramsay has applied for an extension before the permit for Rippleside Martime Village runs out on February 28.
The permit gave his company, Trendcorp, three years to start work on the project, featuring 176 dwellings, a marina and recreational facilities.
Rippleside Action Group chairperson Peter Jager said the project was struggling to get off the ground.
“Apparently other developers were interested in the site but not the plans – that says something,” Mr Jager said.
“Maybe you need to ask the question: are the plans the problem?”
Mr Jager said residents and op-ponents to the development were fed up with the “waiting game”.
“It’s been going on since 1996 and there’s been a lot of opportunity to do something but nothing has happened,” he said.
“Given the residents have put up with this for 10 years, there needs to be strict parameters around it now so we don’t end up with another extension in a few years.
“The council isn’t going to let it swing forever. One assumes the extension will be approved but one would hope there are provisions so something does happen.”
Mr Jager said objectors could understand why Trendcorp wanted to develop the waterfront site but the plans were “packed into a small area”.
Ward councillor Barbara Abley said she sympathised with the objectors.
“The redevelopment of Rippleside seems to have taken an inordinate amount of time to get under way,” she said.
“Almost a decade, in fact, from the purchase of the site to the current time and the project has spanned three terms of council already and looks very much like not even commencing until well into the fourth term.”
Cr Abley said the “long-term anguish” and “continuous delays” were unfair on residents.
“The residents have put up with a lot of grief during the past 10 years and certainly don’t need the added stress of an extension.”
A City of Greater Geelong spokesperson said Trendcorp was initially given an extra year to commence work because of the large scale of the project.
“Developer Jim Ramsay’s permit gave him three years to make a start on the project and six years to complete it,” he said.
“The time frame for a start is normally two years but it was varied on this occasion because of the significant scale of the project.”
A spokesperson for Trendcorp declined to comment.