Deputy mayor Anthony Aitken lashes colleagues, recommends developer go to VCAT

Geelong’s deputy mayor has hit out at fellow councillors over the rejection of a controversial Bellarine chocolaterie bid, accusing them of failing to be “open-minded”.

Artist's impressions of the proposed chocolaterie

Geelong’s deputy mayor has accused other councillors of not being “open-minded” after City Hall refused a planning permit for a controversial chocolaterie.

Councillor Anthony Aitken spoke out during a meeting of the city’s planning committee on Thursday and recommended the developer head to VCAT to contest the decision.

At the meeting, councillors heard submissions from council officers, objectors and the project developer.

Plans for a chocolaterie on the Bellarine were unveiled in August 2022.

The proposal included a chocolaterie, restaurant/cafe, 12 farm stay cabins, children’s farm, berry gardens and an apple orchard on a 234,000sq metres at the Point Richards Rd property on the western outskirts of Portarlington.

Geelong deputy mayor Anthony Aitken. Picture supplied.

The controversial plan received ringing endorsement from business leaders, who argued the factory could give the area a $59m boost, however it received backlash from many locals.

The vote came down to the wire with the planning committee chair, councillor Jim Mason, twice using his extra vote to sway proceedings.

Both the initial motion to grant the permit, recommended by council officers, and an alternative motion to deny it, were locked at three votes apiece.

Councillors Elise Wilkinson, Mr Mason and Sarah Hathway voted against the plan, with mayor Trent Sullivan, Mr Aitken and Ron Nelson voting for it.

Mr Aitken moved the motion to grant the chocolate factory a planning permit, arguing the developers had addressed concerns raised by objectors, including traffic, heritage and environmental factors.

“Reading the application, we’ve actually probably have got a developer that’s a bit more sympathetic than a lot of the developers that come before us,” he said.

However, Ms Wilkinson, who moved an alternative motion to deny the plan a permit, said there was “one very clear objection that cannot be addressed”.

Ms Wilkinson noted the city’s environmental team is “still objected to this” and argued the plan did not address environmental or heritage overlays.

Artist's impressions of the proposed chocolaterie

Mr Aitken accused “individual councillors” of coming into the meeting with “pre-determined positions” in a “breach of planning regulation” and their responsibilities.

“To my council colleagues. I wish you to understand that we’re actually supposed to come into this process with an open mind,” Mr Aitken said.

Mr Aitken said the applicant had a “very good case” to go to VCAT to contest council’s decision.

“Councillors need to understand, when we make statements at planning meetings, that they are recorded and they can be used as evidence some before the tribunal,” he said.

Mr Aitken said the report compiled by council officers regarding the chocolate factory was “extensive” and had not “been a tick a flick process”.

Originally published as Deputy mayor Anthony Aitken lashes colleagues, recommends developer go to VCAT