Geelong council presses pause on Ocean Grove sporting infrastructure plan

An infrastructure plan – years in the making – that will shape the sporting facilities in a booming Bellarine town has been put on hold in what one Geelong councillor said was an unprecedented move.

Armstrong Creek bowler Lachlan Mulgrew in full flight last weekend in the BPCA grand final at Collendina Reserve – one of six Bellarine sporting venues earmarked for upgrades. Picture: Mark Wilson.

A six-year process to update a plan to modernise sporting facilities in a fast growing Bellarine town has stalled at the final hurdle at the request of groups that helped shape it.

Geelong council was set to vote on the adoption of the new Ocean Grove Sporting Infrastructure Plan at its meeting on Tuesday night following extensive community engagement that commenced in 2019 and included an 18-member project reference group.

But just as the lead agenda item was to be debated, council chief executive Ali Wastie said the matter would not proceed.

“In order to support a request from community groups that have yet to respond and provide letters of support for the Ocean Grove Sports Infrastructure Plan, the item will be removed from tonight’s agenda and will be presented back to council in the coming months,” she said.

Anthony Aitken immediately sought clarity from Mayor Stretch Kontelj following the unusual move.

The Corio ward councillor asked whether there would be a “defined operational policy … that an item can be withdrawn based on a community request because it is setting a precedent”.

Mr Kontelj said specifics would be discussed at the next councillor briefing.

The infrastructure plan encompasses six sites – Arthur Powell Reserve, Collendina Reserve, Devlins Road Reserve, Memorial Reserve, Shell Road Reserve and Wallington Reserve – as well as the sporting and recreation activities conducted at them.

At the top of the list is the $10m Devlins Road project, located in Ocean Grove’s northern growth corridor, which is aligned with Kingston and Oakdene residential estates.

The addition of soccer pitches to the football oval there currently would see Ocean Grove Soccer Club relocate from Shell Road.

In turn, this would see a second football oval at Shell Road replace the existing soccer pitches.

A pavilion and supporting infrastructure would also be built at Devlins Road.

Council listed the project on a federal funding wishlist in January and Opposition leader Peter Dutton this week came good with a $5m promise should the Coalition form government.

“We need to ensure that local population growth is backed up with the necessary local infrastructure – and that’s what this investment is all about,” he said.

Ocean Grove’s population is projected to rise by almost 15 per cent in the next decade to more than 24,000.

That is coupled with strong growth in sport participation, most notably in Australian rules, soccer and netball.

Federal Liberal leader Peter Dutton announced $5m funding for Devlins Road Reserve in a prerecorded message at Monday’s Future Geelong event. Picture: Alison Wynd.

Other high priority works within the plan include the upgrade of Collendina Reserve’s pavilion so it offers compliant gender-neutral change rooms, and the completion of detailed investigations and preliminary designs to determine the viability of an extension to the Memorial Reserve hall.

The report that was to go before council ominously warned there was no immediate funding available beyond projects that were underway, meaning the plan’s full implementation is likely many years away given the scale of works involved.

The plan ensures all upgraded and new facilities are universally designed for use by people of all ages, gender, abilities, and cultural backgrounds.

GEELONG COUNCIL’S MEET AND GREET TRIAL

The City of Greater Geelong trialled a “meet your councillor” event ahead of Tuesday night; s meeting. Picture: Alison Wynd.

City Hall has trialled a “meet your councillor” event as it looks to counter criticism from some circles regarding a lack of information provided during public question time.

While not all councillors were present, the trial on Tuesday afternoon, conducted prior to the formal meeting that evening, was billed as “a significant opportunity for residents to build connections with their local representatives”.

Held at council’s $102m Wurriki Nyal headquarters on Mercer St, the 45-minute session provided an opportunity for people to ask questions and raise concerns specific to their area.

“This trial session will offer an informal environment for us to all converse freely and openly,” Mayor Stretch Kontelj said.

“We recognise that perhaps not everyone feels comfortable speaking publicly in a formal environment at council meetings.

“We hope this session will alleviate these barriers and offer an alternative for those still looking to engage councillors and make their questions or concerns known.”

Mr Kontelj, who as mayor chairs each monthly meeting, has been criticised by certain groups in recent months over what they have viewed as a failure to address their questions with any meaningful detail.

Originally published as Geelong council presses pause on Ocean Grove sporting infrastructure plan