Townhouses, apartments and shops proposed for Point Lonsdale waterfront

A $3.5m proposal for townhouses, apartments and shops with a rock pool view has been lodged with the Borough of Queenscliffe.

An artist's rendering of the plans for 105-107 Point Lonsdale Rd and 1 Simpson St, Point Lonsdale. Picture: planning documents.

Two Point Lonsdale houses could be bulldozed to make way for townhouses, apartments and shops in $3.5m plans lodged with the Borough of Queenscliffe.

The proposal for 105-107 Point Lonsdale Rd and 1 Simpson St would include two townhouses and a commercial building comprising two retail units and two apartments.

The shopfronts would be located just metres from Point Lonsdale Post Office and a real estate office and would enjoy a panoramic view over the water and Point Lonsdale’s rock pools.

According to the Borough, the proposal has received eight objections and three submissions of support.

An artist's rendering of the plans for 105-107 Point Lonsdale Rd and 1 Simpson St, Point Lonsdale. Picture: planning documents.

Planning documents said while the proposal aimed to “maximise the density … in the commercial heart of the town” it was “respectful of the low rise character of the township” and designed with zoning in mind.

“The development is broken up into two distinct buildings of different scales, the larger building facing Point Lonsdale Rd where it will sit appropriately in a higher density streetscape,” the documents said.

“Whilst a smaller townhouse development is located at the western end of the property where it is sited opposite the general residential zone.”

The 692.7sqm site would be subdivided into six, with the two retail spaces measuring 63sqm and 70sqm, respectively.

The planning documents note that the paved area at the front of the store could be used for outdoor dining.

Developers said that providing a combination of both townhouses and apartments, the plan would accommodate a broad variety of people.

According to planning documents, not retail access would be provided from Simpson St, and vehicle access on Point Lonsdale Rd would be kept to a minimum to lessen the impact of traffic and the “intrusion of vehicles into the main shopping precinct”.

Carparks at the site would be reserved for staff members and residents, with developers also applying to partially waive parking requirements for retail units.

The proposal is among the latest of Bellarine developments, as more mixed-use developments spring up.

Last week, the Geelong Advertiser reported on plans for a three-storey, 32-apartment complex in Portarlington, that would feature six retail outlets if given the green light.

In September, a bid to build a multistorey development on Portarlington’s waterfront was knocked back by the state’s planning umpire.

Originally published as Townhouses, apartments and shops proposed for Point Lonsdale waterfront