Geelong council reveals list of six sites its looking to sell

Soon after Geelong council called for feedback on the sale of the former saleyards site, a further six addresses have been added to a list of properties City Hall is looking to offload. SEE THE LIST.

The sale of Geelong council’s former Meals on Wheels site in Corio is back on the agenda. Picture: Google Maps.

Sites once earmarked for social housing are contained within the latest list of properties that Geelong council is looking to offload.

City Hall has launched a community consultation phase for six addresses after they were identified as surplus to requirements as part of an asset rationalisation program that mayor Stretch Kontelj has pushed.

Included on the list are 5A Dean St in Belmont and 2-14 Rollins Rd in Bell Post Hill, both of which were identified by council more than three years ago as suitable for social housing.

Local residents fought strongly against the proposals and no development ever eventuated.

Save the Dean Street Plantation Reserve founding member Katherine Talbot, right, with fellow members in 2022. The group opposed plans for social housing in the area. Picture: Alison Wynd.

Another address listed is 59 Bacchus Marsh Rd, Corio - previously home to council’s Meals on Wheels program that it opted against putting up for sale little more than a year ago.

At the time, Anthony Aitken introduced an ultimately successful alternative motion that tasked city officers with exploring options in which the site could be retained for community benefit, including social housing.

“This site has far greater value than just the financial return than can be made if it’s sold,” Mr Aitken said at the time.

Council has included revenue of $400,000 from the Bacchus Marsh Rd sale in its 2025/26 draft budget.

It has also included $1m from the sale of 21-25 Oakden Rd in Drysdale.

The remaining two properties are 48-58 Barton St in Bell Park and 36 Dudley Pde in St Leonards.

The latter, expected to generate $900,000, was home to the local CFA brigade prior to a new purpose-built facility opening on Murradoc Rd,

The 1ha Barton St site is located on the corner of Anakie Rd and was previously the focus of a $2m-plus application for a childcare centre.

Mr Kontelj said in many cases the land identified for sale was under-utilised or vacant, and continued council ownership incurred costs to ratepayers without delivering community benefit.

“We want to ensure the community has a voice in how council-managed land is used or repurposed,” he said.

“By reviewing under-utilised sites, we can better focus resources on maintaining and improving the spaces that are actively used and valued by the community.”

Mayor Stretch Kontelj is keen to sell council-owned assets deemed surplus to requirements as part of drive to bring down debt. Picture: Alison Wynd.

Consultation closes July 20 and if council proceeds, any sale would be offered through a public process.

The release of the potential sale list comes soon after a similar consultation process was launched in regard to the former Geelong saleyards site on Weddell Rd in North Geelong.

The sale of that land is expected to reap council more than $7m.

“This is a key opportunity to transform a dormant site into a vibrant, liveable precinct that meets the needs of our growing community,” Mr Kontelj said.

Originally published as Geelong council reveals list of six sites its looking to sell