Residents backed in fight for ex-golf club land

Kim Waters
FURIOUS North Geelong residents have sent Planning Minister Justin Madden 100 letters objecting to plans for a WoolwoRths big-box retail complex in their neighbourhood, according to councillors.
The councillors backed residents fight this week when they voted to write to Mr Madden about their concerns for the former Geelong Golf Club course.
Councillors also agreed to demand that course owner Links Investco either develop a nine-hole course on the site or hand over 22-hecatres for public use in line with the company’s 2006 planning scheme amendment for the land.
Council would seek support from Labor Member for Geelong Ian Trezise.
Ward councillor Stretch Kontelj expected Mr Madden would disregard council’s letter.
“But it does send a strong message,” he said.
Cr Kontelj labelled the former Geelong Golf Club land an “eyesore”.
Residents were unanimous in their objection to the Woolworths proposal, he said, while Links Investco had offered little or no consultation with them about its bid to change plans for the site.
Cr Rod Macdonald voted against the motion.
“As landowners (Links Investco) should still have the opportunity to put up an argument to say it should be done differently,” he said.
Mr Madden has called in the Woolworths application and appointed an advisory committee to hear submissions on the plan.