By NOEL MUPRHY
GEELONG’S most troubled CBD development – Harding Park – appears set for completion after almost 15 years of controversy.
Plans have been lodged for a seven-storey apartment complex on the final section of a former Crown land site bequeathed to the public but sold for a song in a controversial tender process.
The final project comprises 70 apartments and five townhouses in a striking building by ML Design.
Developer Denis More told the Independent he had no dateline for the building and was taking the project “one stage at a time’’.
“I just want to try to facilitate a bit of action in the city,” he said.
“I won’t be developing it myself, I might get some other people involved, but you’ve got to do one thing at a time. You’ve got to get the permit then you can start talking with people.”
Mr More is removed from the original development plans, which immersed City Hall, former Geelong Cats skipper Damien Bourke and Cats board member Greg Giles, a Maori tribe and others in controversy after the prime 0.8-hectare Harding Park was sold for $1.6 million at a time when house blocks at nearby Eastern Beach were fetching $1.8 million.
City Hall was slammed for a “secret and underhand’’ rezoning and sale to Northern Rivers Development Corporation and drew harsh criticism in State Auditor-General and Ombudsman inquiries for clearly favouring Northern Rivers Development Corporation ahead of others and for an “abysmal’’ lack of paperwork.
The Auditor-General’s report raised conflict of interest questions about then City CEO Geoff Whitbread, a friend of Mr Giles, who sat on an internal council committee considering NRDC’s plans.
It also found senior officer Neil Savery attempted to influence Department of Treasury and Finance handling of the tender process after tenders were called.
Unsuccessful tenderers complained loudly about the brief two-week sale process and NDRC’s lengthy negotiations with City Hall long before the sale. When the Waikato tribe experienced problems getting its $3 million stake back, it reportedly issued a revenge curse, or utu, against Mr Giles.
Harding Park’s ownership has changed in recent years, with the site now divided into five titles.
“I bought my land off the people Northern Rivers sold it to,” said Mr More, who owns two parcels of the site.
Harding Park was bequeathed to the City by the family of Geelong pioneer Silas Harding, who were critical of the “disgraceful decisions” leading to the rezoning and sale of the property, bounded by Corio, Bellerine and Brougham streets.
Harding is remembered for ploughing up his Argyle Paddock in Geelong West where the Geelong Football Club played its first matches but fell short in rental payments.
Developer Denis More drew widespread attention some years ago when he excavated his own harbour at Leopold without a council permit.
