Mega building set for Portarlington’s main street knocked back

The state’s Planning Minister has made a decision on whether a controversial development proposed for Portarlington’s main street can go ahead.

A controversial planning application set for Portarlington’s main street has been rejected over concerns the mega-development would not be in keeping with the town’s characteristics.

The multi-storey development at 49 Newcombe Street was refused on Thursday, with the state’s Planning Minister Richard Wynne accepting the findings and recommendations of an independent advisory committee.

The City of Greater Geelong received 124 objecting submissions before the proposal was called before the Victorian Civil Administrative Tribunal and referred to the committee.

The initial $7m proposal included a five-storey building with 13 apartments, two retail stores and basement carparking, but was slightly scaled back after the application was called in.

The urban design was said to be insufficient in protecting and enhancing the valued attributes of the area in line with the declaration of the Bellarine Peninsula as a Distinctive Area and Landscape, and would be unable to proceed.

Portarlington planning application plans for 49 Newcombe St.

Bellarine MP Lisa Neville, who supported community members in their objections, called the news a “positive outcome” for Portarlington.

“It was very clear to me from the outset that this was the wrong location for a proposal of this scale and design,” she said.

“The local community were loud and clear in their opposition to this proposal, and following an independent committee process, they were proven correct.”

Portarlington Community Association President, Geoff Fary said he appreciated the support that council officers and local MPs had provided.

“The association believes that the Commonwealth now has a strong moral obligation — to the community and the developer — to provide fair and reasonable compensation for the return of the land to public ownership and use,” he said.

“We now call upon it to do so.”

Originally published as Mega building set for Portarlington’s main street knocked back