By Luke Voogt
More than 80 people responded to plans for Geelong Osborne House’s future this month, after critics labelled the concepts “vague”.
Council received 81 responses to its survey on its Osborne Park Precinct Draft Concept Plan.
But Osborne Park Community Association president Cheryl Scott described the window for comment as unsatisfactory.
“They selected only a three-week period for responses to the survey which included school holidays, Easter and Anzac Day,” she said.
“They’ve had things up on their Your Say website for a lot longer than that. The building’s future has been an issue since Geelong’s council amalgamation in 1993!”
The iconic building had a “very important national and Geelong history” and deserved more public input into its future, Ms Scott said.
“Half of Geelong still doesn’t even know where it is.
“We are all trying to get a great outcome for what is an iconic Geelong building. It could be an amazing tourism drawcard if it’s given the right treatment.”
Council received a further seven submissions responding to the plans from groups like Corio Bay Camera Club, Geelong Museum Association and Geelong and District Vietnam Veterans Association
Ms Scott expected the majority to be negative. “I think there were several elements of the plan people were unhappy with,” she said.
Council in June 2018 moved to complete a master plan for Osborne Park by December with consultation from groups.
The intent of the original motion had been to examine specific uses for Osborne House, Ms Scott said.
But council officers instructed consultants to devise plans for an entire precinct larger than Osborne Park instead, she said.
“There was absolutely nothing in the draft concept plan as to what would happen with the buildings, which was what everyone in the community groups wanted to know about.”
City Hall’s corporate services director Michael Dugina assured ratepayers they would get another say when council reviews the precinct master plan in June.
“The engagement for this project commenced in December 2018 and will continue through to July 2019 and beyond.”
The submissions and survey would assist in developing the masterplan, Mr Dugina said.
“The draft concept plan is intended to provide high level ambitions for the precinct,” he said, in response to criticisms of vagueness.
