WTF: Woolies’ home truths, disaster at Dog Rocks, and funding fails (again)

Supermarket giant Woolworths is holding onto some houses near a competitor’s store, but why? Plus more in this week’s WTF.

WTF: 12/12/24

They’re the little – and sometimes not so little – things that can really irk us. We’ve asked the people of Geelong to point out the problems that irritate and exasperate and have us all saying, woah, that’s frustrating!

WOOLIES’ HOME TRUTHS

Woolies own these houses in Geelong West.

They say home is where the heart is.

But one curious neighbour says there’s not a lot of love for three houses in Geelong West.

Resident David Potter said the buildings at 118 and 120 Albert St, and 123 Clarence St have been boarded up and abandoned for as long as he can remember.

And he’s pointing his finger directly at Woolworths.

The addresses are directly behind Coles in Geelong West, which was previously a Safeway supermarket.

The three houses are positioned behind Coles in Geelong West.

Mr Potter said it’s all part of a dirty game.

“It’s just a stalling tactic to exert pressure on their rival,” he said.

“They are making it harder for the other company to operate, which is detrimental to the community.”

It is a missed opportunity for potential buyers and disappointing to the community, Mr Potter said.

“It’s prime real estate and there is a housing crisis. It lets the community down,” he said.

The grocery giant owned up to its ownership of the properties this week.

“Woolworths owns three residential zoned sites on Albert and Clarence streets that were historically part of a potential long-term network solution for Geelong,” a spokesman said.

“Given the recent expansion and redevelopment of our Newtown store, we are reviewing the ongoing requirements for these sites.”

But until that review is complete, the houses will sit empty.

DISASTER AT DOG ROCKS

The iconic tree at Dog Rocks was a favourite photography spot for locals and tourists alike. Picture: Ketut Suwitra.

Geelong’s nature lovers are mourning the desecration of a much-loved landmark.

The tree at Dog Rocks Reserve in Batesford has long been a staple for the region’s photographers, but sadly, it’s become the victim of senseless vandalism.

“It’s always deeply painful when something so beautiful and significant is lost, especially when it holds cultural and emotional value for many people around the world,” a reader said.

“Sometimes the very things that make an area or object special, like its beauty or symbolism, become part of a larger debate that distracts from the core issue – preserving it for future generations.

Keen photographers Chris Wilken and Margaret Metcalfe at the tree.

“The tree, though non-native and sometimes considered a weed from a practical standpoint, clearly held deeper significance, not only for its physical presence but also for its role in bringing people together.”

Its understood the tree was cut in half by vandals with a chainsaw.

What a pity.

SARDINED BY SOUTH GEELONG

Picture: NCA NewsWire / Ian Currie

VLine has scored some goals of late, namely updating its timetable to fit the new dual-platform stations between South Geelong and Waurn Ponds and capped fares.

But as they say, the more things change, the more things stay the same, which could be said of the reliability of VLine’s Vlocity fleet.

Yet another peak morning service was reduced to three carriages this week, leaving the conductor to apologise on behalf of her bosses and explain the other set was found with a fault and wasn’t fit for service.

Stepping on at South Geelong, one passenger left standing in the last carriage, which was packed two stops later at North Geelong, before becoming a real crush at Lara.

At Deer Park she had to shoo passengers away from the doors.

Our conductor apologised for the reduced capacity after each stop.

Sensing her moment, our conductor acknowledged the “extreme overcrowding” before advising passengers of a feedback page on the PTV website.

Without passenger complaints, she explained, VLine wouldn’t get the message and do something about the ongoing situation.

Reduced capacity trains are becoming more commonplace in recent months on the Geelong line – the busiest in the network – both in the morning peak, but also on the return journey when the arrival of a three-carriage train sets off a Southern Cross scrum.

It begs the question, how is the state of the increasingly busy Vlocity fleet?

Are there enough trains to allow for regular mechanical servicing and maintain the timetable with appropriate six-carriage sets?

For those still thinking about their experience, here’s the complaints link – www.ptv.vic.gov.au/footer/customer-service/feedback-and-complaints/

FUNDING FAILS (AGAIN)

Geelong councillors Peter Murrihy (centre) and Eddy Kontelj (right) at Hamlyn Park in 2021 for the official opening of new light towers.

The final siren has sounded on the sports funding saga that engulfed City Hall earlier this year, marking the end of a match where there were few winners.

Geelong council confirmed this week that its $1.5m funding application to the federal government’s Play Our Way program fell flat.

The money was to go towards a much-needed upgrade of female-friendly facilities at the Bell Park Dragons’ home at Hamlyn Park.

City Hall convened an urgent meeting in April to confirm the application after Bell Park was shafted in February when a group of six councillors – led by Peter Murrihy – scuppered a recommendation by council officers and instead put forward Newtown and Chilwell Football Club’s Elderslie Reserve for a state government funding opportunity.

That application was also unsuccessful.

Manifold Heights Primary School students wrote to City Hall to highlight the need for improved female facilities. Picture: Brad Fleet.

Now ratepayers will foot all of the $1.7m bill for the Hamlyn Park works after council offered an olive branch to furious club powerbrokers and committed to fund the project should its funding application fail.

“Bell Park are now right but the ratepayers and Newtown are paying the price through some loose governance,” one observer said.

City officers are working alongside the club to progress the project.

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Originally published as WTF: Woolies’ home truths, disaster at Dog Rocks, and funding fails (again)