Nearly 150 hectares of farmland at Curlewis could be rezoned for residential development.
The proposed planning scheme amendment, which is made up of 20 individual titles, will go on public display for feedback with consultants acting for several of the landowners lodging applications for rezoning.
The City of Greater Geelong’s 2020 Settlement Strategy and the Victorian government’s Bellarine Peninsula Distinctive Areas and Landscape program recognise the land as appropriate for urban growth.
The land, in the Jetty Road Urban Growth Area Stage 2, is split into two precincts north and south of the Bellarine Rail Trail within the Drysdale Clifton Springs settlement boundary (which includes Curlewis).
Stage 2 is intended to deliver a similar, or greater, number of homes as Jetty Road Stage 1, which saw more than 1700 house lots developed.
It is proposed to feature a mix of housing types, developer contributions to deliver social and/or affordable housing, parks and shared paths, council said.
Bus links, restoration of the designated waterway and a continuation of the foreshore reserve established in Jetty Road Stage 1 would also feature.
Drysdale Clifton Springs Curlewis Community Association president Lynne Sutton said it expects to work closely with council on the matter.
“The DCSCA looks forward to working closely with the Geelong City Council, developers and the community in the planning of this next phase of Jetty Road,” Ms Sutton said.
“With close consultation by all parties, we can ensure that this phase is harmonious, respectful, and sustainable. Together we can safeguard our towns rural history and coastal attributes preserving them for future generations.
“As was clearly demonstrated in the recent election, the community feels strongly about upholding our environment that we love and live within.
“We at DCSCA highly encourage the community to view these plans and actively join us in providing a strong voice at the table.”
Bellarine ward councillor Jim Mason said the City has asked the minister for planning to authorise the preparation and exhibition of Amendment C387ggee.
“Affected residents will be notified when the proposed amendment goes public,” he said.
“I encourage community members to take the time to read over the proposed amendment in the second half of the year and have their say.”
The City is investigating whether Stage 2 should include any new shared infrastructure that wasn’t identified in the Stage 1 Developer Contributions Plan.
Council said it is intended that developers will deliver the duplication of Tivoli Drive and Greenvale Drive to a boulevard-style road by 2025/26 as planned in the 2008 Jetty Road Urban Growth Plan.
Landholders who may be affected by the proposed rezoning have been engaged on the proposed Amendment C387ggee.
The public exhibition process will involve a mail out to affected and nearby landowners and residents, and notices in local media, council said.
