Developers rushing in with building projects

Jessica Benton
DEVELOPERS are pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into high-rise residential and commercial projects in central Geelong as more permit applications land at City Hall.
PSG Architects has lodged an application for a building permit to construct a nine-storey building at 2 Bellarine Street.
The permit application proposes 29 dwellings and licensed cafes and restaurants.
Geelong’s TGM Group has applied to develop a six-storey office building at 71 Gheringhap Street.
The proposal for new Harwood Andrews Lawyers offices includes food and drink premises and car parking facilities.
The two developments follow a report in the Independent earlier this month that developers want to build Geelong’s tallest building at 65 Mercer Street. Quay Development Corporation’s Water Marque apartment building would stand 15 storeys – almost double the height of Geelong’s eight-storey Mercure Hotel.
Another developer plans an 11-storey building nearby at the bay end of Gheringhap Street.
Geelong Mayor Bruce Harwood, who also holds council’s economic development portfolio, said the rush of developments was a “positive sign” for the city.
“These projects demonstrate that Geelong is moving into the future,” he said.
“It demonstrates the confidence in Geelong. Without doubt, we struggled through the ’90s but we’ve now seen strong interest from developers.
“We’re now seeing positive outcomes as a result of that.”
Other city leaders have also welcomed the new applications.
Committee for Geelong executive director Peter Dorling urged residents to embrace the proposals rather than risk losing such significant investment.
“Its sensational that so many people are looking at Geelong,” he said.
“It’s been a long time since the city has been able to attract that sort of investment, so we’ve got to be careful not to scare them off.”
Spokespeople for both PSG Architects and TGM Group had not returned the Independent’s calls for comment before the paper went to press yesterday.