Plans for Point Henry

Plans for Point Henry. - article from Addie, map from Addie, my sketch, and a photo by Sandra J.

TWO thousand residents would call Point Henry home, under a plan that forecasts water-based tourism, environmental conservation and industry for the new urban suburb.

New hotels and resorts, major tourism attractions, a working pier, boating marinas and foreshore paths to Eastern Gardens and the Bellarine Rail Trail are encouraged under the 30-year vision.

In a win for conservation and birdlife groups, the prominent wetlands and former saltworks precinct will be protected and backed by nature-based tourism and commercial facilities.

Released today by the State Government, the draft Moolap plan details the variety of uses allowed across four designated precincts across the sprawling 1200 hectares of coastal land.

Bellarine MP Lisa Neville said the area was almost three times the size of Fishermans Bend in Melbourne, which is currently Australia’s largest urban renewal project.

She said the planned development of the Point Henry region, which has long been owned by Alcoa, would attract residents, tourists, recreation users and businesses.

“To really open up that area to community access will really change Geelong in a positive way,” she told the Geelong Advertiser.

There are four distinct precincts.
“It will change the nature of how we see ourselves and the nature of ... how visitors see us as well.”

The plan signals that the Point Henry urban area will be unique in the Geelong region, offering:

— Medium to high density coastal living for more than 2000 people;

— New connections to the water, including continuous coastal access and boating facilities such as a pier and marina;

— Boardwalks linking the pier to other parts of the foreshore; and

— Cultural, arts and recreational activities and spaces, including innovative re-use of existing buildings.

Further investigations will be done to see if the Point Henry Pier could be used to dock commercial and tourism vessels, such as cruise ships.

Ms Neville said there were a lot of similarities with Alcoa’s plan for its 575-hectare block, although the Government’s vision calls for greater protection of key industrial land.

“I think (Alcoa) would have liked to have see some of the south-east land develop more quickly, but our concern with that was the future of Dow Chemical and Winchester,” she said, citing the combined 450 jobs at the two companies.

“You need a good buffer to protect those.”

The draft plan has been released for further public feedback, before it is adopted and planning scheme changes are introduced from September.

City of Greater Geelong chief administrator Kathy Alexander described the project as a “once in a lifetime opportunity” for the prime land.

She lauded the plan’s strong focus on conservation, stating that it was a key public priority.

“I think one of the things that has come out of the Our Future strategy, with the 11,000 people that have participated, is that the environment is really, really high on this community’s mind

“This will differentiate Geelong — with the clean air, the clean water, the beautiful things to see. I think so far it is a good outcome.”

To view the plan visit: https://engage.vic.gov.au/moolap

THE FOUR PRECINCTS
1: POINT HENRY

120 hectares, surrounded by Crown coastal foreshore

Major use: Tourism and Residential

Land use could include:

• major and minor tourist attractions

• entertainment facilities, cultural events and recreational activities

• retail, restaurants and bars

• hotels, resorts and other forms of tourism accommodation

• boating facilities and low impact marine industry

• medium to high density residential development

• community facilities and public open space

• retarding basins and wetlands

2: SOUTH-EAST PRECINCT

300 hectares of rural land

Major use: Residential

Land use could include:

• Standard and medium density housing, social housing and aged care

• retail and commercial businesses

• interface treatments to Clifton Avenue and Portarlington Road

• community facilities and public open space

3: SALTWORKS AND WETLANDS

465 hectares of former saltworks land, plus marine and freshwater wetlands

Major use: Environmental with complementary tourism

Land use could include:

• the management and conservation of environment and heritage assets

• wetland habitats

• low impact water, heritage and nature-based tourism and commercial facilities

• recreation areas and public access

• interpretative information facilities and viewing paths and platforms

4: INDUSTRY PRECINCT

60 hectare industrial estate to the south of Portarlington Road;

More than 45 businesses along Point Henry Road and Buckley Grove.

Major use: Industry

Land use could include:

• continued operation and potential expansion of existing businesses

• new connections to the broader transport network

• infill development with new and innovative industrial operators.