The planned future face of Lara Township: Infill high-density development, few open spaces, scarce wildlife, inappropriate land use and more over-saturated unsafe roads and lack of infrastructure.
Read the current Lara Structure Plan adopted in April 2011 and what it means for you. Don’t like what you see? Geelong Planning will revisit the structure plan soon. Get involved with TLC Inc now to help make changes on how livable your community will be.
Join TLC today and make a difference!
The 16th Annual TLC Tree Planting was held at Serendip Sanctuary inside the wallaby enclosure. The Lara Scouts turned out in force and did a great job.
Special thanks go to the Lara District Community Bank who provided a grant for TLC to buy the 500+ plants, guards and stakes. Local volunteers are welcome to join in this most worthwhile annual endeavour.
27 September 2022
Urgent: Lara Flood Overlay Council Vote. Lara Hall 1A Flinders Avenue, Lara VIC 3212 6:00PM
The council is set to vote on the highly controversial Lara Flood Overlay amendment that had over 560 objections from local property owners. Local developers that objected to the highly restrictive and devaluing overlays were granted exemptions on 2203 properties in Lara despite being recommended for flood overlays by the cities consultant.
The SBO or Special Building Overlays planned for 6000+ existing homes in Lara will include extensive restrictions to a number of common works allowed on these blocks. An example would be any size deck, veranda, pergola, fence, shed, granny flat, handicap ramp, etc. will require the hire of a licensed land surveyor, hydraulic engineer and others to assess the application costing residents thousands. No more solid fences of any type will be allowed in most of Lara not fitted 300mm above grade. The city may require property owners to share 50% of the cost to fit street storm drainage infrastructure due to these flood overlays.
A permit applicant has no right of appeal at VCAT to contest any permit decision by the City on overlay properties.
The SBO overlays marked for essentially all of Lara are seen by residents as far overreaching and not based on historical or factual findings or credible threats. The consultant has based the overlays on rain storm ponding threat justifications from their “desktop only modelling” on future global warming rain falls in the year 2050 to 2090.
What can you do?
Send a short 3 minute 3 question list with your written opinions to the Council to enable you to speak at the 27 September 2022 6:00PM meeting at Lara Hall. Specifically ask for a NO vote on the amendment. You cannot speak at the council meeting unless you submit your request by noon 26 September 2022.
Copy the following link to your browser to lodge a request to speak and/or to ask questions in the three minute time allowed. Ask for a NO vote.
https://www.geelongaustralia.com.au/meetings/CouncilMeetingQuestion.aspx
Also on 27 September 2022 Lara Hall
Help Save Serendip Sanctuary. Council Motion 27 September 2022
If you value Lara’s iconic Serendip Sanctuary please lodge a request to speak and to support a motion to be presented at council on 27 September at Lara Hall. Parks Victoria has removed by stealth large numbers of various fauna without disclosing a reason. The fauna has been “re-homed” to various zoos despite a new state master plan to preserve and redevelop the site. Little or no fauna is to be retained at the site. Parks Victoria declines comment to the TLC Group Lara as to who authorised the removal of fauna. The Lara community was represented by TLC in soliciting and developing the long term strategy for the 80+ year old Sanctuary used heavily by locals and tourists from across the globe.
Have your say at the council meeting and contact the city in the coming weeks. Ask for the city to bring the fauna back and to preserve Serendip for all to enjoy.
FRV Fire Station Update
On 21 February VCAT issued a final order approving the voluntary withdrawal by FRV of the application for a planning permit at 147-153 Windermere Road Lara VIC.
Council for FRV states that a new site with public consultation and approval is being sought for the facility.
The Lara Care Group Inc. that has fought hard to stop this development at Serendips front door for over two years welcomes this decision on a matter most critical to preserving the fauna and tourism assets of Serendip Sanctuary. It is understood that a new site better suited to providing the community with needed fire response times in an environmentally friendly location is on.
December 2021
Urgent Notice: Help Save Serendip Sanctuary
To anyone who lodged an objection to the proposed FRV Fire Services Facility at 147-153 Windermere Road Lara directly across the Road from Serendip’s front gate. The 200m protective buffer to Serendip comprised of rural living zoned land highlighted in prior planning amendments is essentially rendered void should this be approved. This is not a State project with minister approval and is seen as a duplication or a competitive service to the newly remodeled and outfitted Lara CFA Station on Mill Road. No other sites were considered by FRV on this private land purchase made without public consultation.
Council refused the planning permit for this major commercial facility. Reasons for refusal included being not suited to the rural living zone amenity, as not being compatible with biodiversity namely Serendip Sactuary’s free ranging and captive fauna assets and not considerate of several planning scheme clauses. The 24/7 noise, traffic, lighting and area disturbances were cited as unacceptable by the Council Planning Committee which included Mayor Asher after the city planning department recommended approval. The cities same planning department must now defend against the proposal at VCAT.
The FRV applicant has lodged an appeal at VCAT. Some 95% of objectors of record were omitted by CoGG Planning from receiving the required notice with instructions on how to participate in the online hearing to be held in April 2022. If you made a prior submission and have not received any posted mailings from FRV please call VCAT today and lodge a complaint. A Tribunal order was issued for you to receive these to be able to participate and be heard. Council has refused requests to confirm notified objectors.
Be part of this decision to prohibit this use of the rural living zone at this sensitive biodiversity location.
Again, if you made a submission to Council but did not receive the VCAT appeal paperwork from the applicant then you are encouraged to urgently contact VCAT regarding your unlawful exclusion.
For more information contact: tlcpresident@laracaregroup.com.au
VCAT contact: www.vcat.vic.gov.au
1300 01 8228
The EPA hosted engagement session on the Waste to Energy Plant proposal in Lara was held 13 July 2021 with a capacity attendance at the Lara Masonic Lodge on Rennie Street. The proponent Prospect Hill International gave insight into the project with much feedback from community residents. More information is to follow from the EPA on specific concerns highlighted during this hands on workshop assessment.
13 July 2021
Urgent EPA Sponsored Public Meeting 13 July 2021 6:30PM at Masonic Hall 37-39 Rennie Street Lara VIC 3212
Prospect Hill International Waste to Energy Plant Proposal at 164-200 McManus Road Lara.
Pre-registration is required. Seating is very limited. Register here.
The proposal is for a large scale incineration facility to reduce land fill waste whilst generating electricity by steam turbine technology. Issues include location, health concerns from toxic emissions and odours into Lara’s nearby residential and school zones, noise and lighting, heavy truck traffic feeding the plant 24/7, water use, air pollution, green house emissions and the EPA’s ability to enforce conditions and violations on a foreign owned entity. Attend to have your say as this is the last opportunity to do so prior to the decision to grant a permit.
1 July 2021
Council rejects 84 Townhouse retry proposal at Manzeene Village Lara.
The Council Planning Committee unanimously rejected the latest proposal to build 84 multi-storey townhouses on 2.195 hectares at Patullos Road Lara. Reasons for refusal included traffic congestion concerns, safety, as not enhancing the character of the zone, too intensive based on neighborhood character, lack of open space requirements and area amenity concerns. The first proposal for 89 townhouses at the site was rejected last year by both the Council Planning Committee and subsequently by VCAT.
23 June 2021
Council rejects RFS fire facility next to Serendip Sanctuary.
Council Decision Fire Facility PDF
The Council Planning Committee comprised of six Geelong councilors which included Mayor Stephanie Asher rejected the proposed major fire facility across the street from Serendip’s front door in a 6-0 vote Wednesday evening. There were 106 local objections surrounding the proposed site in the little advertised proposal. The refusal involved conclusions of unacceptable risks to the Sanctuary’s fauna assets from obtrusive noise, light and traffic, tourism impacts, area amenity impacts, as not enhancing the character or purpose of the rural living zone, being out of position to provide the declared need and response times and no alternative sites having been sought. The panel encouraged the RFS to seek an alternative location closer to the expanding prisons and large scale residential developments to the West where most call outs occur.
21 April 2016
Jamco Constructions Helipad Permit VCAT P1542-2015 85 Mill Road Lara
VCAT decides in favour of Lara residents
On 21 April 2016 the Victorian Civil Administrative Tribunal issued its final decision and order on the appeal lodged by local objectors working with The Township of Lara Care Group Inc. (TLC). The decision to grant this inappropriate permit made by Geelong Statutory Planning on 2 July 2015 was set aside by Tribunal with no permit to issue. The very same reasons and evidence presented to senior staff at Geelong Council Planning prior to their approval were quoted by the VCAT Tribunal in its final decision to refuse a permit.
CASA and Vic Track safety concerns, noise levels and amenity, public safety, purpose and need and Avalon Airports close proximity that were all ignored by the CoGG Planning Department were key considerations by Tribunal in their written decision. The Welcome decision comes after a 1.5 year effort by TLC staff and residents to stop this inappropriate proposal in the face of much adversity and indifference from the opposition.
Special appreciation is directed to those who donated to the considerable costs for the appeal. The Volunteer legal effort by local lay persons and TLC was profound. The decision sets a landmark precedence in VCAT for safety to be a planning consideration as long required in the Planning and Environment Act 1987 but treated as “someone else’s worry” by Geelong Planning, VCAT and many Victoria councils.
Geelong News 30 April 2016
VCAT Decision P1542-2015 Jamco Heliport.PDF
TLC supports education program at Serendip Sanctuary and congratulates staff on the NAB grant award.
TLC announces that the lobbying effort was successful with Parks Victoria who has secured a grant from the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEED) for funding of the important ongoing youth educations programs at Serendip Sanctuary.
The primary benefactors include Lara Primary School students and 3000 other regional youth participants in these unique programs held at Serendip Sanctuary in Lara. Lara primary school students attend the Serendip Education Program three days per week.
Serendip offers natural wildlife amenities that do not exist elsewhere in the region. TLC wishes to thank NAB, the DEED Parks Victoria, our Serendip rangers and all who made this possible for their continued support of this valuable education opportunity for our children.