Buyers in Birchmore’s Waurn Ponds residential estate hoping for fast year to long wait

A years-long wait for titles to be issued at a $30m Waurn Ponds residential estate could end this month but buyers remain wary.

A Waurn Ponds development is one step closer to seeing houses built after a resolution was found between Birchmore and Powercor. Picture: Brad Fleet.

                                   

A standoff between the developer of a $30m Waurn Ponds estate and Powercor has ended, with the land now one step closer to being titled.

Years-long delays stemmed from a disagreement over an acoustic report regarding the Hams Rd estate that is located next to a critical substation.

A four-metre-high acoustic wall was completed on-site at the end of June after the parties found a resolution.

Birchmore is the developer and managing director Andrew Peters said the estate was now in the final stage of council approval.

“With support from Powercor and City of Greater Geelong, the project has gained momentum over the past six weeks, bringing Birchmore closer to settling lots for individual purchasers,” he said.

“We know that many of the delays on this project have been incredibly frustrating and hurtful to purchasers.

“That’s why we will continue to press hard to achieve titles as soon as possible.

“Getting this matter resolved as soon as possible is in the best interests of both our purchasers and Birchmore.”

A Powercor spokesman said the project was now with Geelong council and Birchmore to progress.

“We’ve resolved the issue around the need for an acoustic barrier between the proposed residential lots and our zone substation,” he said.

Andrew French has been waiting more than two years for his Waurn Ponds block to get titled because of continued delays. Picture: Alison Wynd

Andrew French and his partner purchased a lot at Birchmore almost three years ago.

The couple have a builder locked in, but still don’t feel any closer to building their “dream home”.

He said while buyers had received apologies due to the delays, they were promised fortnightly communication but had only received four updates since March.

“The latest update is the land will be titled about July 19, that update was sent two weeks ago,” he said.

“But I have no hope in that.”

Mr French said there would be facade design requirements to meet, however he had not been given the parameters.

He said once designed, it would take six weeks for facades to be approved before building could commence.

“If it’s not approved first time it’s another six weeks again, so it could be another three months,” he said.

Mr Peters said Birchmore was now working on timelines subject to council processes.

It is aiming towards title registration occurring in the week commencing July 22.

Settlements are scheduled to commence 14 days after the registration of titles.

All civil constriction work, plus tree planting and turfing of nature strips is now complete, and several engineering administrative items are currently being finalised with council.

The content summaries were created with the assistance of AI technology, then edited and approved for publication by an editor.

Originally published as Buyers in Birchmore’s Waurn Ponds residential estate hoping for fast year to long wait