Planning committee to make decision on city director’s controversial investment property subdivision

A recommendation to approve a senior city director’s controversial bid to subdivide his St Albans Park investment property will be considered by a planning committee.

Guy Wilson-Browne will soon learn the fate of his controversial subdivision plans

A recommendation to approve a senior city director’s controversial bid to subdivide his St Albans Park investment property will be considered by a planning committee this week.

The City of Greater Geelong planning committee will meet on Thursday to deliberate director of city services Guy Wilson-Browne’s application to subdivide a 3500sqm Oakwood Ridge property into two lots.

The move comes after Mr Wilson-Browne abandoned a 2019 plan to subdivide the land following community backlash, with the latest subdivision bid attracting 45 objections and a 1136-signature petition.

City director Guy Wilson-Browne. Photo Janine Eastgate

It also comes shortly after the city refused to reveal details of an internal Ombudsman’s report understood to be investigating allegations the key city director ‘misused city resources’ while pursuing matters relating to his St Albans Park investment property.

Mr Wilson-Browne has previously declared he had always acted with “absolute integrity”.

The planning committee will this week consider a recommendation for Mr Wilson-Browne’s application to be approved, as it created developable land “in accordance with the city’s urban growth and housing policy objectives”.

“The proposal is considered to assist in consolidating the existing urban fabric and makes use of existing urban infrastructure,” the report said.

“Also, it is considered that the proposal will also provide a diversity of lot sizes to accommodate the varying housing needs of the community.”

The subdivision plans this year prompted a large tree on the site – a former historic horse stud with links to Phar Lap – to be included in the Victorian Heritage Inventory, acknowledging significant thoroughbreds buried beneath the tree.

Plans for the subdivision were revised following the heritage recognition, removing any need for works near the tree.

The city report said community objections to the subdivision included concerns relating to the impact to the tree and horses buried on-site, the proposed lot size and neighbourhood character.

In response to objections around the detrimental impact of the subdivision on the areas “low density character”, the city report noted the site was not within a Low Density Residential Zone.

“The general direction of planning policy relevant to this application encourages infill development in exiting urban areas to better utilise serviced areas and to reduce the reliance on green field growth to meet the diverse housing demands for the City of Greater Geelong and to reduce urban sprawl,” the report noted.

St Albans Park resident Kevin Neville said community members were concerned by a city decision not to release details of an ombudsman report appearing to relate to allegations Mr Wilson-Browne ‘misused city resources’ in pursuing the subdivision.

“With council having a Planning Committee meeting regarding this subdivision, involving Councillors and the Objectors, the contents of this Report are crucial allowing transparency of the matter and the history involved in this subdivision proposal,” Mr Neville said.

When questioned about the report in July Mr Wilson-Browne stated “I have always acted with absolute integrity and in good faith and I strongly object to any suggestion to the contrary.”

Originally published as Planning committee to make decision on city director’s controversial investment property subdivision