Ocean Grove plan goes on view

Jessica Benton
OCEAN GROVE’S north-eastern pocket is set for residential expansion after government approval for plans to be released for public exhibition.
Minister for Planning Justin Madden authorised City of Greater Geelong to exhibit an amendment to the Greater Geelong Planning Scheme for residential development in the Ocean Grove growth area.
The plan covers about 228-hectares of farming land between Grubb and Banks roads.
The amendment proposes to rezone the land from farming use to residential and business uses.
Under the Ocean Grove Structure Plan, adopted by council in February 2007, the area is earmarked as a growth corridor to include residential, industrial and retail development, a primary school, supermarket and shops, neighbourhood activity centre and open space and sports facilities.
COGG city development manager Joanne Van Slageren said the amendment applied to stages one and two of the Ocean Grove growth area.
“The rezoning will provide much needed residential allotments in a recognised growth area as well as enabling the expansion of the Ocean Grove industrial estate to the east and, in the longer term, the creation of a new activity centre, comprising a shopping centre, primary school and public open space,” Ms Van Slageren said.
“The new residential zone will provide more than 2000 dwelling sites which equates to some 15 years lot supply to the town.”
Ocean Grove Community Association president Michael Harbour said he supported the land rezoning as part of the town structure plan.
He suspected there would be little objection to the plan as long as proposed infrastructures such as recycled water systems and energy conservation measures were included.
“There were a number of infrastructures for the area that were promised as part of the Ocean Grove Structure Plan so as long as these are still included, I can’t see why there’d be objection.”
The amendment is on public exhibition and submissions to COGG close on May 4. Submissions will be referred to a government independent panel.