Group fights aged bid

Jessica Benton
A community group is fighting plans for a retirement village at Portarlington despite statistics revealing an ageing population in the town and across the Bellarine Peninsula.
Friends of the Bellarine Hills’ Jenny Wills said the group wanted councillors to reject a plan for 95 retirement units and a community centre on a 5.2-hectare site between Mercer and Oxley streets.
The retirement village requires rezoning under Portarlington’s structure plan, which City of Greater Geelong’s previous council adopted in 2007. The structure plan included the site within town boundaries and stamped it appropriate for a retirement village or an aged-care facility.
But Ms Wills said the community preferred services to help elderly residents stay in their own homes rather than development of a retirement facility.
“Why did the previous council assume a retirement village is the preferred and appropriate response to the needs of Portarlington’s older residents?” Ms Wills said.
“The community strongly supports the concept of ageing in place – people living independently in their own homes with support to maintain their wellbeing and quality and enjoyment of life.”
Ms Wills said council should reconsider rezoning or granting planning permit approvals.
She said the friends group wanted councillors to vote against the “developer-driven” retirement village plan at next month’s council meeting.
Ward councillor John Doull expected council to pass the proposal to an independent panel.
“Councillors will decide whether to abandon it or whether to send it to a panel or modify the plan,” Cr Doull said.
“There are a couple of options but I suggest it’ll probably go to a panel but anything could happen when it comes to council.
A City of Greater Geelong strategic study for the peninsula reported significant increases in the proportion of elderly residents in towns on the peninsula.
“Some towns have experienced an ageing of the population, with over one third of all households aged 65-plus years,” a report on the strategy said.
A separate municipal strategic statement noted Portarlington had become a “popular” retirement destination.