Port operator fires warning on North Geelong power station plan

One of Australia’s biggest exporters says plans to transform the North Geelong power station into an industry innovation hub are substantially the same as a proposal blocked in 2020.

Artist's renders of the proposed redevelopment of Power Station B to create a seven-storey building at 50 Mackey St, North Geelong.

New plans for an industry innovation hub at the old North Geelong power station may not have changed enough to allay concerns it will impact operations at the Port of Geelong.

Agricultural exports giant GrainCorp revealed it was assessing Hamilton Group’s planning application for the $30m mixed use redevelopment, comprising office, industrial and warehouse uses and associated car parking.

But it appears likely the company will shape up against the project.

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Head of corporate affairs Jess Simons said GrainCorp is a key stakeholder at the Port of Geelong, opposite the proposed development site at 50 Mackey St, which is in the port precinct and is industrially zoned.

“We do have serious concerns about the current proposal, which in our view is substantially the same to the application that was rejected in 2020,” Ms Simons said.

The GrainCorp Geelong Terminal entrance on Mackey St, North Geelong is directly opposite the old power station.

“We’re assessing our position and we will make a formal submission to the committee in the coming weeks.”

GrainCorp, Barrett Burston Malting and Victorian Regional Channels Authority (now Ports Victoria) opposed Hamilton Group’s previous plans to convert the building into an office complex.

Heavy vehicles such as B-doubles are key to delivering bulk grain to the Geelong terminal before it’s stored and loaded on to ships.

The GrainCorp Geelong Terminal entrance is from Mackey St, North Geelong.

A Ports Victoria spokesperson said the government agency in charge of the state’s major ports was aware of the plans.

“We are engaging with Freight Victoria, part of the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP), in relation to any submission that may be made about the request,” the spokesperson said.

Ports Victoria is an agency of DTP and works closely with Freight Victoria, she said.

The Advertiser has also sought comment from Barrett Burston Malting, which also operates in Mackay St.

North Geelong power station in Mackey St North Geelong. Picture: Alison Wynd

Former planning minister Richard Wynne called in the previous project after it was approved by the City of Greater Geelong in 2018, and formally blocked it in 2020.

Past objections maintained the site, which separates Osborne Park from the bulk grain port precinct, should be retained for port-related uses and that any significant change could cause conflict in particular with heavy vehicle traffic, but also dust, odour and noise pollution as a result of around-the-clock port activities.

The Minister for Planning is considering the request to approve a draft planning scheme amendment and a separate draft planning permit.

Artist's renders of the proposed redevelopment of Power Station B to create a seven-storey building at 50 Mackey St, North Geelong.

The planning scheme amendment is designed to limit further expansion beyond the existing building, providing certainty for GrainCorp operations to continued unhindered.

The permit proposal seeks to restrict certain types of office use from establishing on the land unless they have a close, continuous, and functional relationship with port related activities, industrial activities, agriculture, defence, logistics or infrastructure.

“Community consultation is now open on the amendment and permit that proposes a seven-storey mixed-use building in Geelong,” a Victorian Government spokesperson said.

Artist's renders show the proposed redevelopment of Power Station B at 50 Mackey St, North Geelong, which is directly opposite GrainCorp’s Geelong bulk grain terminal.

Before making a decision about whether to proceed with the draft amendment and draft permit, the Minister for Planning is consulting with the community to understand the views of affected parties.

Public consultation closes July 24. Submissions can be made to email [e-mail].

Hamilton Group managing director Cam Hamilton said the firm had worked with key state government and industry stakeholders for two years to completely overhaul the 2018 proposal and was confident significant changes answer the historical concerns.

Originally published as Port operator fires warning on North Geelong power station plan