Geelong mayor Stretch Kontelj has reiterated his concerns and those of the community regarding a proposed Coles supermarket in Point Lonsdale to the state government.
The proposal, which has drawn significant opposition from the local community, would see Coles build a new supermarket at 2341-2349 Bellarine Highway, Point Lonsdale.
The retail giant has begun a pre-application process, engaging with the Department of Planning to see whether the proposal is eligible for the Development Facilitation Program (DFP).
The DFP, designed to expedite development proposals of particular size, scale and significance, would allow the proposal to bypass municipal planning processes, instead putting the matter in the hands of Victorian Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny.
Mayor Kontlej said the council’s role in this matter was to “provide feedback and advice when requested by the DTP, ensuring our community’s perspectives and local considerations are clearly communicated”.
“As part of the pre-application process, the City of Greater Geelong has raised substantial concerns about the proposal, including strategic misalignment, environmental impacts, infrastructure limitations, and conflicts with retail policy,” he said.
The site is currently zoned for commercial use, but according to the City’s Point Lonsdale Structure Plan “this zoning, which encourages bulky goods retailing and manufacturing industry, is inappropriate for the land considering the tourism focus of Point Lonsdale and the location of the land acting as a gateway entry to the town”.
The plan also states that “opportunity exists to rezone the land to a Special Use Zone to facilitate the development of an appropriately scaled tourist accommodation or tourism related use”.
Mayor Kontelj said while possible rezoning “remains a secondary consideration”, it was not the “preferred or most effective pathway as a pre-application is currently under consideration for this proposal”.
“Given the scale and complexity involved, if a rezoning is considered more appropriate by the Minister, the Minister has the authority to initiate and progress such amendments, and Council respects this distinction within the planning process,” he said.
“I remain committed to constructive engagement with all stakeholders, including the Minister, the Department, and our local community, to ensure a transparent and coordinated approach as this matter progresses.”
