By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
THE SEA change blown in by the ABC TV series of the same name has finally reached one of its quaint settings, with the character of St Leonards to transform under a new growth plan.
The township was one of the two main locations for the late-1990s series, with locals happily giving up their main street on filming days.
But City Hall’s major amendment to St Leonards’ structure plan will change the seaside village’s character as population growth spreads out over the Bellarine Peninsula.
It’s part of the changing character of Geelong’s coastal communities, with Surf Coast Shire approving another major housing development at north Torquay this week.
A independent panel reviewing the St Leonards plan accepted that the character of the town would change as it grew and activity increased.
The panel’s report said new subdivisions and contemporary housing contrast the existing character of the long-established seaside town.
The new plan gives approval for the development of two residential housing estates.
The sea change swamped the other local setting for the ABC show years ago, with Barwon Heads’ property prices mirroring the population boom.
Regional councils alliance body G21 identified the new St Leonards growth area in 2013 as part of an overall plan to cope with the region’s population rising from 228,000 to 298,000 by 2031.
Phil Walters of the St Leonards Progress Association said residents were reluctantly accepting the changes to their town.
“I’m sorry to see it happen,” Mr Walters said.
“One of the reasons I moved here was the seaside village feel of the place but there’s little we can do to stop progress.
“We see the housing pressures in other areas. You look along the coast and see exactly what’s going to happen.
“We understand that it’s progress and you can’t stop it.”
Mr Walters said he recently returned from holidays with his wife to see new flashing pedestrian crossing lights.
“When we saw it we said, ‘Oh my God, here we go’. We’ve gone from a seaside town to become seaside suburb of Geelong.”
Mr Walters said the progress association now focussed on retaining the town’s sense of community.
“We try to focus on community values.”
Mr Walters stressed that infrastructure provision had to match the growth of the town.
“The planners need to make sure that things like the Drysdale bypass are supported to make it easier to get through Drysdale.”
