Planning umpire backs Geelong council and rules against controversial proposal from former City Hall executive

Five years after plans were put forward by a former City Hall executive to develop a 3500sq metre site at St Albans Park, it appears the long-running saga has been laid to rest. For the time being, at least.

VCAT has knocked back an application by former Geelong council executive Guy Wilson-Browne to subdivide land in St Albans Park. Photo shows local resident Kevin Neville and Renay McIntyre a real estate advocate at the rear of Kevin’s property adjacent to the development site. Picture: Mark Wilson

The state planning umpire’s decision to block a controversial St Albans Park development proposal put forward by a former Geelong council executive is a win for the “little guys”, opponents say.

Guy Wilson-Browne, who finished up as City of Greater Geelong’s city services director in late 2022, took the matter to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) after his former employer ignored a council officer’s advice and knocked back his plans.

In a written judgement published on Friday that followed a two-day hearing in September, VCAT senior member Rachel Naylor said the tribunal backed council’s original decision.

Guy Wilson-Browne now works in a senior role at Wodonga-based North East Water.

“The key issues in this case that have led me to decide that no permit shall issue relate to the existing neighbourhood character and the drainage and stormwater management,” she said.

The proposal became known as the “Phar Lap tree subdivision” as the site is home to a tree believed to be the burial site of some of Phar Lap’s stablemates.

Mr Wilson-Browne wanted to subdivide the 3500sq metre parcel of land that makes up 7-8 Oakwood Ridge into two lots, which opponents argued would ultimately lead to medium-density housing that infrastructure in the area wasn’t equipped for.

Local resident Kevin Neville was front and centre in the almost five-year fight over the proposal.

While pleased with the outcome, Mr Neville said the saga had taken a significant toll on many residents.

“It’s affected people’s health, it’s affected people financially,” he said.

“We’re so relieved that this matter has been finalised and hopefully we can all move on with our lives.

“It’s a win for the little guys.”

Despite the ruling, Ms Naylor said the Oakwood Ridge site could be developed in the future.

“What my findings do say is that this proposal is not an acceptable design response,” she said.

“There is insufficient detail to reach the conclusion that various aspects of the subdivision and its possible future development are acceptable.”

Mr Neville had also opposed the subdivision of a 3200sq metre site in nearby Woods Rd.

In late December, VCAT ruled that development could go ahead, in line with Geelong council’s earlier decision to issue a permit.

“Even though they are in close proximity, the concerns about the properties were different,” he said.

“We always felt the Oakwood Ridge property had concerns that couldn’t be satisfied in the planning process.”

Mr Wilson-Browne and his representative, Spiire Consulting’s Brendan O’Loan, were contacted for comment.

Mr Wilson-Browne’s resignation from City Hall followed revelations of a 2019 Internal Ombudsman’s report investigating allegations he misused city resources while pursuing matters relating to his property.

It is not suggested Mr Wilson-Browne acted inappropriately, nor that he resigned from his position due to the Ombudsman report.

Originally published as Planning umpire backs Geelong council and rules against controversial proposal from former City Hall executive