St Albans residents launch fight against City of Greater Geelong director’s property plan

St Albans Park residents worry a historic tree could be caught up in a controversial planning application submitted by a City of Greater Geelong director.

St Albans Park residents have launched a petition to save a historic tree with links to Phar Lap from a City of Greater Geelong Director hoping to develop the land, despite his assurance the tree wouldn’t be touched.

Geelong’s Director of City Services Guy Wilson-Browne recently reintroduced a controversial planning application to subdivide a 3500sqm Oakwood Ridge property into two lots, after abandoning initial efforts in 2019 following community backlash.

Community concerns centred around the likelihood of future further subdivision of the site, and a significant tree on the property believed to be the burial site of stablemates of Phar Lap, including Freeman.

The fresh planning proposal for the site came with Mr Wilson-Browne’s assurance he had no plans for future subdivision, and that the significant tree “will remain”.

But, concerned residents claim a proposed drainage and sewerage easement in planning documents – which runs through the significant tree – prove it is still in danger of being damaged or destroyed.

Guy Wilson-Browne, director of Infrastructure Services.

Residents this week launched a Change.org petition to drum up support for protecting the tree, which had attracted more than 200 signatures in its first few days.

“The Heritage and History aspects of the significant tree are priceless and should be protected,” the petition noted. “It shouldn’t be allowed to be destroyed so a developer can subdivide his investment property.”

“Phar Lap’s stablemates from his 1930 secret trip to the area before winning the famous 1930 Melbourne Cup, along with descendants of “Carbine” (winner of the 1890 Melbourne Cup) and other famous racehorses bred at the famous St Albans Park stud are all buried under this Beautiful Tree in the Developer’s path.”

Earlier this week Mr Wilson-Browne said he had no plans to remove the significant tree nor to further slice up the land.

“I have no plans for future subdivision,” Mr Wilson-Browne said in a short statement. “I intend to build a single, single-storey family home. The large tree will remain.”

The current planning application will remain open for public comment until April 23.

The view the petition, visit change.org/p/stop-developers-from-destroying-this-historic-tree-with-links-to-phar-lap

Backlash over council bigwig’s property plan

A City of Greater Geelong director has reintroduced a controversial planning application to subdivide his St Albans Park property, after abandoning initial efforts in 2019 following community backlash.

A new proposal aims to subdivide a 3500sq m Oakwood Ridge property into lots of 1013sq m and 2487sq m, with the city’s Director of City Services Guy Wilson-Browne listed as the landowner.

Mr Wilson-Browne in 2019 withdrew an application to subdivide the land into three lots – with legal documents revealing he had previously hoped to slice up the land into four lots – following backlash from neighbours opposing the move.

Guy Wilson-Browne.

Nearby resident Kevin Neville said the community was once again preparing to fight the subdivision plans, citing concerns it would lead to further subdivision of the property and fears for the future of a significant tree with connections to racing royalty Phar Lap.

“I’ve resided here for nearly 30 years, and the reason why myself and other neighbours purchased the land was for low density living,” Mr Neville said.

“We believe if the Geelong city council approve this first subdivision, which is for a lot approximately one third the size of neighbouring properties, then the developer will continue to subdivide the remaining land as suggested in his lawyers report for four lots.

“There’s also a significant tree, which, when I purchased land it was indicated to myself, that stablemates of Phar Lap are buried under that tree – one of the horses is Freeman.

“I also found out Carbine, the 1890 Melbourne Cup winner, her mother is buried in that area and with St Albans Park having nine Melbourne Cup winners in its history, it would be easy to assume that other Cup winners are buried within the area of that tree.

“We have grave concerns about this tree and its history and heritage being lost, and we’re seeking support to save it from the developers.”

But, Mr Wilson-Browne this week said he had no plans to remove the significant tree nor to further slice up the land.

“I have no plans for future subdivision,” Mr Wilson-Browne said. “I intend to build a single, single-storey family home. The large tree will remain.”

The current planning application will remain open for public comment until April 23.

Originally published as St Albans residents launch fight against City of Greater Geelong director’s property plan