Barwon Heads residents’ fear of ‘paradise lost’

By Michelle Herbison
BARWON Heads residents fear a 35-lot development will ruin a “pocket of paradise” in the town.
They will fight the proposal, including removal of trees and road sealing, at Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
Barwon Tce’s Margaret Pocock said the objectors wanted the development for the corner of her street and Sheepwash Rd to “be more considerate of the area”.
City of Greater Geelong approved plans a year ago for a “multi-lot staged subdivision of land and removal of native vegetation”.
Native remnant vegetation lined the unsealed Barwon Tce, providing a habitat for birds and animals, Ms Pocock said.
“It’s almost like a bush track – that’s why we moved here.”
Residents wanted the entrance to the development built on a track south of the estate instead of Barwon Tce, she said.
Sheepwash Road Nominee development director Matt Hogg said his company would bear the expense of road construction and retain “98 per cent” of trees.