They’ll pay for this, says spurned owner

Jessica Benton
Residents opposing expansion of Barwon Heads’ boundaries risk pricing themselves out of town, a developer has warned.
Bob Macafee said stopping his family’s proposed 240-home residential development west of Barwon Heads could turn the town into a playground for the rich.
“We’re talking about a modest 240 lots over a period of six years with no sales until 2011 in a lot supply situation where no land will be available for sale in Barwon Heads after Easter, 2009,” he said.
“If this isn’t allowed the town might turn into something like Lorne where nobody can afford to live and infrastructure breaks down. Businesses also start to go broke and it becomes a bit of a rich domain.”
Mr Macafee said his proposed development would allow for affordable housing options in a fairly “exclusive” market.
Mr Macafee has vowed to challenge a new structure plan for Barwon Heads leaving his land at 1920 Geelong Road outside town boundaries.
“We now enter the formal and potentially lengthy process associated with an amendment to the state planning scheme,” he said.
Councillors voted this week in favour of recommendations against changing the town boundaries and sent the plan to an independent panel.
Almost 880 submissions on a draft of the structure plan included 771 objections to the proposed Macafee development and expanding the town boundaries, with 82 in support for the project.
Ward councillor Peter McMullin said the number of submissions opposing a boundary expansion demonstrated the “passion” of residents for keeping Barwon Heads unchanged.
“This is a strong and cohesive local community and they have made their feelings very clear,” he said.