Pakington St future now in hands of planning panel
City Hall has handballed public submissions regarding plans to develop Pakington St to a state planning panel amid ongoing concern about “excessive” building heights.
The modernisation of Pakington St and Gordon Ave is one step closer despite ongoing push back from some people who view buildings up to 10 storeys out of keeping with the area.
Geelong council this week made public 51 submissions received during a consultation phase following its earlier endorsement of two urban design frameworks (UDF) that support City Hall’s goal of providing half of its future housing needs through urban infill.
It has been a years-long process that dates back to 2018, with fierce community push back encountered along the way as opponents pushed for “rejuvenation and revitalisation that’s genuine and not just in-fill housing”.
Council always maintained it wanted to strike the right balance between increasing housing supply while maintaining the history of Geelong West.
The Pakington St and Gordon Ave UDF was ultimately adopted in December 2021 after being separated from the Pakington North precinct – from Church St in the north to Waratah St and Wellington St in the south – that had its UDF endorsed in May last year.
The submissions were noted at this week’s council’s meeting and referred to an independent planning panel appointed by the state government, as is standard protocol when an amendment to the Greater Geelong planning scheme is sought.
Alternatively, council could have changed the amendment in line with the submissions, or abandoned the amendment altogether.
The amendment, if ticked off by the panel, would see land rezoned of land and overlay controls altered to allow for a wider range of uses, including multi-level apartment buildings that would help council meet its target of 77,500 new infill homes by 2051 that was set by the state government.
“The amendment will create more compact, liveable neighbourhoods that are well connected to central Geelong, and provide new housing, lifestyle and business opportunities,” council states on its website.
“This is a major step towards shaping the future of Pakington St, Geelong West.”
Public exhibition of the amendment closed September 1 and generated 51 submissions: 13 in support, 34 objected, and four provided commentary that did not specify a position.
Some objectors cited “excessive building heights” in Pakington St North that were set by a “community panel” overseen by Capire Consulting after council’s earlier efforts failed to result in an agreed position.
Other key themes included traffic congestion and parking shortfalls, the lack of open space, the justification for such major change, and stormwater drainage.
The rail sidings yards at 28–64 Pakington St was earmarked for development of up to 10 storeys but the site is now not subject to rezoning or immediate urban renewal, council documents stated.
The reversal followed a submission from state government statutory body Transport for Victoria that “requested local policy relevant to the Pakington North precinct to acknowledge that the rail sidings yard is an essential site for provision of rail services”.
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Originally published as Pakington St future now in hands of planning panel
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