Land at corner of Portarlington Rd Melaluka Rd to be opened for development
Parts of the Bellarine won’t be developed for housing because of strict rules. But a council vote has unlocked hectares of land for homes on the peninsula.
Geelong
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Plans to rezone farm land, expected to be the last of its kind put up for residential development in Leopold, have been approved by Geelong council.
City of Greater Geelong councillors voted to approve a recommendation from an independent planning panel to rezone two adjoining blocks at 672-690 and 692-700 Portarlington Rd, Leopold for development.
About 2ha at the corner of Portarlington Rd and Melaluka Rd would be opened for residential development.
A council report found rezoning the land was consistent with the local planning scheme.
“The (proposal) will provide social benefits by facilitating new residential development
conveniently located to retail and community facilities,” the report read.
“An increase in housing supply will support opportunities for affordable housing on the Bellarine Peninsula.
“Part of the land close to Melaluka Rd is flood prone, which can be managed by a site stormwater plan required for future subdivision and development.
“Council officers agree … the rezoning is the final piece of farming zone land in Leopold to be made available for residential development.”
The developer of the land will have pay council about $80,000 for a community infrastructure contribution.
The block at 692-700 Portarlington Rd sold for $1.2m in 2018, according to realestate.com.au.
An independent planning panel, appointed by the state planning minister, assessed the rezoning of the land in November and recommended it be approved subject to conditions.
“Rezoning the land to general residential will support the final stages of residential development in the northwestern part of Leopold within the settlement boundary,” the panel noted.
“The (proposal) delivers net community benefit and sustainable development … and should proceed subject to (stormwater, road and other) recommendations.
Planning consultants working on the project noted a preliminary investigation had found land at 692-700 Portarlington Rd may be contaminated.
“A preliminary site investigation prepared by Landserv Pty Ltd … found the property to be potentially contaminated but not the land containing the dwelling and gardens.”
The report did not outline the nature of the contamination but noted more investigations were needed.
The land at 672-690 & 692-700 Portarlington Rd was earmarked for incremental development in state government’s Bellarine Distinctive Area and Landscape, the 50-year vision for planning that sets town boundaries in suburbs like Drysdale, Leopold, Barwon Heads and Ocean Grove, which was finalised in October last year.
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Originally published as Land at corner of Portarlington Rd Melaluka Rd to be opened for development
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