Geelong council defers vote on Highton Village overhaul plans

A vote on plans to overhaul Highton Village has been deferred with Geelong councillors requesting more information on the proposal, which has split the community in our online poll.

Geelong council has hit pause on a divisive plan to overhaul Highton Village with a strategic framework to “guide future development” in the area and boost urban infill.

Councillors on Tuesday moved to defer a scheduled vote on a recommendation to endorse the Final Highton Village Urban Design Framework, a city plan to modernise the Belle Vue Ave precinct with major streetscape upgrades, road redesigns and a push to promote developments of up to four storeys.

Councillor Ron Nelson called for the deferral, saying he wanted “more information” from city officers.

The council group unanimously supported the deferral.

Highton Village UDF artists impressions.

Geelong Advertiser readers were this week evenly split on the plans, with 54 per cent of 195 online poll voters signalling they did not support the plans.

The city first launched community consultation around its hopes to modernise the Highton Village precinct five years ago, with the latest consultation attracting 65 submissions earlier this year.

While 26 submissions supported pavement renewal and minor upgrades to Belle Vue Ave and the area’s laneways, 33 submissions objected to changes to the roundabout and Taylors Court intersection, and the removal of a service lane between Barrabool Rd and a carpark.

Plans for “multirise development” in the village also prompted 24 objections.

Highton Village UDF artists impressions

The framework includes five primary recommendations and projects, including to:

CONSOLIDATE commercial land uses within the retail core to promote a compact village centre;

PROMOTE high-quality mixed use development up to four storeys that respects the low-scale built form of the Village;

REDEVELOP the council car park for a mixed use development and carparking, in the long term;

REDESIGN the junction of Belle Vue Ave and Barrabool Rd to reduce vehicle conflicts; and

UNDERTAKE streetscape upgrade works in Barrabool Rd service lane, Village Walk, Belle Vue Arcade, the rear laneway and Belle Vue Ave to emphasise pedestrian routes and create a unified material palette throughout the village.

Community feedback to the city included comments stating, “we do not want a huge mess of retail high-rise buildings”, “the proposed development at the council car park should be taken off the books, full stop,” and “increasing pedestrian crossings will not only contribute to the above traffic concerns, but also poses a number of safety concerns”.

What concerns Highton Village overhaul opponents

November 21

A plan to overhaul Highton Village is set to be finalised by Geelong council this week, despite community concerns with aspects of the plan including a proposal to transform a carpark site with a multistorey development.

Councillors will on Tuesday vote on a recommendation to endorse the Final Highton Village Urban Design Framework, a key document aiming to “guide future development” in the area and help boost urban infill.

The final framework comes five years after the city first launched community consultation around its hopes to modernise the Belle Vue Ave precinct, including major streetscape upgrades, road redesigns and a push to promote developments of up to four storeys.

The recommendation to adopt the final report follows a six-week community consultation earlier this year, which attracted 65 submissions.

While 26 submissions supported pavement renewal and minor upgrades to Belle Vue Ave and the area’s laneways, 33 submissions objected to changes to the roundabout and Taylors Crt intersection, and the removal of a service lane between Barrabool Road and a carpark

Plans for “multirise development” in the village also prompted 24 objections.

Highton Village UDF artists impressions

The final framework report included feedback from community members and traders, including comments stating “We do not want a huge mess of retail high rise buildings”, “The proposed development at the Council Car Park should be taken off the books, full stop,” and “Increasing pedestrian crossings will not only contribute to the above traffic concerns, but also poses a number of safety concerns”.

The final interim plan includes five primary recommendations and project, including to:

CONSOLIDATE commercial land uses within the retail core to promote a compact village centre;

PROMOTE high quality mixed use development up to four storeys that respects the low scale built form of the Village;

REDEVELOP the Council car park for a mixed use development and carparking, in the long term;

REDESIGN the junction of Belle Vue Ave and Barrabool Rd to reduce vehicle conflicts; and

UNDERTAKE streetscape upgrade works in Barrabool Rd service lane, Village Walk, Belle Vue Arcade, the rear laneway and Belle Vue Ave to emphasise pedestrian routes and create a unified material palette throughout the village.

Councillors will on Tuesday evening vote on the recommendation to endorse the Final Highton Village Urban Design Framework

Originally published as Geelong council defers vote on Highton Village overhaul plans