State turns developer in $50m Moorabool St project Council in the dark

Jessica Benton
STATE Government has left Geelong councillors in the dark over plans for a $50 million residential development on Moorabool Street.
Councillor Andrew Katos, who holds council’s planning portfolio, said the Government had never briefed councillors on the public-funded project.
The Government had sought input from City Hall officers but did not inform councillors or seek their approval on behalf of residents.
“This bypassed all of the normal processes and went straight to State Government,” Cr Katos.
“Council had no opportunity to have any involvement in the process, the decision was made, like it or lump it.”
“I’m disappointed with that sort of process. I can understand it’s gone to the minister to speed up planning but we had no involvement in our own backyard and that’s not acceptable.”
The proposal earmarks a former Gordon TAFE site on the corner of Moorabool and Kilgour streets for 90 dwellings including 45 townhouses and 30 units for elderly residents and ground-level retail shops.
A heritage-listed building on the site could hold up to 16 apartments or offices.
State Government development agency VicUrban is behind the project.
VicUrban’s Dominic Arcaro confirmed the agency had briefed City of Greater Geelong officers on the project.
“This sort of project goes through a different process to secure a planning permit,” he said.
The City officers’ input was on “standard issues” including car parking, access, waste and drainage.
Mr Arcaro said the development would provide “housing diversity and choice” in central Geelong.
“We’re using a defunct TAFE site to provide an opportunity to use the benefits of the location in terms of city jobs, transport and leisure facilities.”
Mr Arcaro said the project was in the “final stages” of securing federal funding.
The plan had “conditional” approval but would require the final nod of Planning Minister Justin Madden, he said.
A VicUrban spokesperson said the units and apartments would be “affordable”.
Buyers would have to satisfy a selection criteria to apply for the retirement units, while VicUrban would sell the townhouses privately.