Proposed Woolaston Rd, Warrnambool retirement home development plan approved

A proposed development plan on Woolaston Rd that was once rejected by council will now go ahead. Discover what has changed.

A proposed development plan for a huge retirement home in Warrnambool — that was knocked back by council in November — has been given the green light.

Councillors approved the adjusted development plan at their last meeting in 2022 on Monday night.

The original plan included a private golf course on public land which lead to the rejection of the first proposal by council.

The private golf course did not sit well with the majority of councillors.

Once the golf course was taken off the proposal, the application passed unanimously.

The planned retirement home will see residential subdivision along the eastern boundary serviced by a single access from Wollaston Rd and a carriageway easement for future access across the river.

The altered proposal also includes the balance of the residential zoned area shown as suitable for a retirement village on a single lot and the remainder of the urban floodway zoned area shown as open space.

There will be 52 retirement homes on the property, ranging in size from 698sq m to 957sq m.

About 36m of creek reserve will see revegetation and it will include a public pathway.

Councillor Ben Blain said it was great the plan had come back to council and addressed councillors concerns as Warrnambool was in need of more housing.

Councillor Max Taylor, Richard Ziegeler and Vicki Jellie spoke for the proposal.