Geelong Mayor supports residents' opposition to school expansion

Geelong Mayor supports community opposition to Bacchus Marsh Grammar expansion

CoGG Mayor delivers positive response to local residents' questions at Council meeting

At a full City of Greater Geelong (CoGG) council meeting last night Geelong Mayor, Dr Stretch Kontelj, agreed with residents of Staughton Vale and Anakie that the proposed expansion of Bacchus Marsh Grammar at Staughton Vale is an inappropriate use of the site.

At the meeting 7 dedicated representatives of the Staughton Vale and Anakie Action Group asked 8 pertinent questions covering these issues: 

• Council to support the community by confirming objection to Minister for Planning
• Why did Council not notifying community earlier?
• Enforcing Significant Landscape Overlay (called SLO5)
• Traffic inconsistencies and issues
• Costs of road upgrade and maintenance
• Bushfire and Emergency response
• Master Plan and Agricultural land use
• Koala protection as key species in the area

Residents pointed out that CoGG and the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) were against the original application in 2015.  Two key wins for us were requirements to ensure that the permit was of a size and scale that fitted Bacchus Marsh Grammar's stated purpose: that the land was to be used for a "small agricultural-based school" and that all references to 'staging' were removed to ensure that the Grammar would not try to increase the size of the development at a later time. (details here)

This time Bacchus Marsh Grammar have taken advantage of the Victorian Labor Government’s Fast Tracking for Non-Government Schools process which bypasses Council and VCAT approval.

Mayor's response: keep pushing!

Mayor Kontelj said he would speak with our local member Ella George MP regarding contact with the Planning Minister.  He encouraged residents to continue to pursue the issue reminding us that with a State election looming we should continue to drive home our demands that the school expansion be knocked back by the Minister for Planning

In his brief response he also confirmed that CoGG had objected to the Bacchus Marsh Grammar's Staughton Vale expansion as inappropriate for the site but stated that the Council is constricted by the fast-tracking laws which exclude Council from any further official involvement in the process.

---

What you can do - these actions make a difference

1. One of the most effective actions to take is to call or email our local State Member, Ella George, and express your concerns:
   Tel: 5275 3898   Email: ella.george@parliament.vic.gov.au
2. We have been told by the Department of Planning that the submissions can be made via email to development.assessment@transport.vic.gov.au
3. Email Hon. Sonya Kilkenny, Minister for Planning
email: sonya.kilkenny@parliament.vic.gov.au

Subscribe to receive new stories and videos

Subscriptions to these stories are growing. To receive your notifications of new stories and videos please subscribe below. ⤵️

We love  your comments

If you like this video please tell us why in the Comments below. You can do this anonymously.

More Info

Please check out our About Us page for more information about the 11 year background to stop the over-development of the Bacchus Marsh Grammar campus on Staughton Vale Road

Thankyou everyone for your support!