Council decides next steps for controversial Pakingston St plans

A controversial plan to overhaul Pakington St has been approved by Geelong councillors, but one key aspect is still up in the air.

A controversial plan to overhaul Pakington St has been approved by Geelong councillors.

The City of Greater Geelong’s Urban Design Framework (UDF) will now move to a planning scheme amendment to deliver infrastructure upgrades.

An officer’s report recommended the plan be adopted along Pakington St and Gordon Ave, with a separate plan for the Pakington St North precinct to be put out for community consultation in the new year.

The plan would allow residential developments of up to 8-10 storeys in certain parts of the street, build “pocket” parks, reduce speed limits through the “heritage core” of the street and include cycling and pedestrian infrastructure.

Heavy community opposition flagged issues with potential traffic congestion, increased noise and preservation of the suburb’s heritage, village feel.

Cr Peter Murrihy acknowledged the high level of community interest in the project.

“Over the next 25 years Pakington St and Gordon Ave will be a vibrant, thriving urban village,” he said.

The report flagged “medium density and medium rise buildings” around Gordon Ave, “limited development” around Pakington St’s heritage retail drop and “medium density and medium rise” retail and residential development around Pakington St North.

Cr Murrihy also flagged the untapped potential of Gordon Ave.

“It has long been a street that you pass through, not a destination unless you have a purpose to visit,” he told the meeting.

“This UDF identifies the potential for Gordon Ave for larger sites … provides more open space, public art and street furniture.

Save Our Pako community campaign is fighting against a council proposal to allow 10-storey buildings in Geelong West.

“This vision is that Gordon Ave will develop into a vibrant, sustainable mid-rise precinct.”

According to the report, the area would move to an amendment process that would allow for public consultation during the amendment process.

But Cr Anthony Aitken, who didn’t support the adoption of the planning framework, said he was “nervous” about its potential adoption because the report also flagged pending infrastructure upgrades to meet the plan’s needs.

“In fact there isn’t going to be more consultation because we’re going to start doing the works associated with it,” he said.

“Community consultation in the amendment process is a planning engagement process, it’s actually not a genuine process to address the significant concerns that are still being raised.”

Community across 24 weeks in 2020 triggered a traffic assessment and revised preferred building heights and implemented mandatory controls to “balance design flexibility and certainty”.

Cr Aitken said the framework needed to come from a place that prioritised community engagement and development, rather than being driven by a planning outcome.

“What we need to respect is this is one of the most liveable parts of Geelong,” he said.

“It needs community engagement and community development engagement to help deliver a planning framework the community will embrace and understand.”

Concerned residents Dr Jane Mooney and Angela Mangan said they were pleased the North Pakington St precinct would be considered separately, but still had major concerns about parking and density throughout the overhauled site.

“Residents have a desire to see rejuvenation and revitalisation that’s genuine and not just in-fill housing,” Dr Mooney said.

Plans for the Pakington St North precinct will come back before the council next year.

What council considered in divisive issue

Geelong councillors will consider plans to overhaul Pakington Street at a meeting on Tuesday night.

City of Greater Geelong officers have recommended council adopt the Gordon Avenue and Heritage Core Precincts in the Final Pakington Street (Geelong West) and Gordon Avenue Urban Design Framework to enable the commencement of a planning scheme amendment and delivery of key infrastructure upgrades.

Impressions of the Gordon Ave section of the Geelong West UDF plan

Officers have also recommended council approve further community consultation in early 2022 be undertaken for the Pakington Street North Precinct.

Preparation of the Final UDF commenced in 2018, and some community members have voiced fierce opposition.

“The Final UDF establishes the short and medium-term principles, strategies and actions to guide the future development of three key precincts in Geelong West through the regeneration and transition of Gordon Avenue and Pakington Street North, and the protection of the Heritage Core,” the meeting agenda said.

“The Final UDF seeks to support Council’s goal of providing for 50 per cent of future housing needs through urban infill, as well as delivering greater housing diversity and affordability.”

Originally published as Council decides next steps for controversial Pakingston St plans