Committee for Bellarine wants the Drysdale Ring Road

An article in the Geelong Advertisier today (print edition - Wednesday 25 April 2012) entitled "Call grows for bypass" by Tom Bennett calls for the building of the Drysdale bypass by Tom O'Connor from the Committee for Bellarine.

The Committee for Bellarine has jointed the growing chorus for a Drysdale ring road.

The proposed bypass would allow Geelong-bound traffic from Portarlington, Indented Head and St Leonards to avoid Drysdale altogether.

It would also keep garbage trucks bound for the local tip out of the town centre and its major intersections.

Adjoining towns Drysdale and Clifton Springs have undergone a population explosion in recent years and peak hour traffic snarls are now common.

Worst effected areas are in the main retail precinct and the four way intersection at the Jetty Rd roundabout.

The busiest time is between 8am and 9am when peak hour coincides with school drop offs.

While I understand the reasons behind the call for the bypass, previous reports have suggested that the bypass which has to be funded by VicRoads is not a priority. Estimates of between $50m and $70m to build the road have been quoted. VicRoads has already spent between $4m and $5m buying up land to use for the road. Still more land has to be purchased.

Given the austere times facing this state government, I don't see this project getting underway anytime soon.

Draft G21 Regional Growth Plan blueprint released and it will impact Drysdale and Clifton Springs

The G21 Geelong Region Alliance has published a draft Growth Plan designed to manage growth and land use pressures in our region. Covering the time period from now to 2050, the Plan will pull together the strategic land use and growth planning already done across the region. The plan is in draft form and is now open for comment until 18 May 2012,

From the Media Release

"The draft G21 Regional Growth Plan released for public comment (beginning 3 April) is one of the most significant documents people of the region will need to consider for many years to come, G21 - Geelong Region Alliance CEO Elaine Carbines said today.

"This is a blueprint for our region's future for the next 40 years during which the population will potentially grow to 500,000 people, which is about 200,000 more than today. It's about physically shaping key aspects of the region which we will ultimately hand over to our children," Ms Carbines said.

"With many more people going to be living, working and visiting in the region we have to plan carefully for a self-sustaining region that uses existing infrastructure and land more efficiently.

"The draft plan identifies new areas of land for growth, likely to be required after 2030, and looks at what is needed by way of new housing, employment, services, public transport and roads to meet that growth....

With regards to our area the draft regional growth plan notes:

p.15 Bellarine Peninsula - The larger towns of Ocean Grove and Drysdale/Clifton Springs provide significant housing opportunities and a range of services to smaller coastal towns. Towns on the Bellarine offer coastal recreation, food and wine experiences and holiday accommodation. They experience significant population peaks and pressure on infrastructure over summer and other peak holiday periods such as Easter. Queenscliff provides an important harbour and ferry link to the Mornington Peninsula

p.16 2.5 - Identified Planned Growth - ... The current identified growth areas have been selected through local planning processes that involved extensive community engagement. Central Geelong, Armstrong Creek, Ocean Grove, Drysdale/ Clifton Springs, Leopold, Lara, Torquay/Jan Juc, Bannockburn and Colac are identified for significant growth. These settlements will contain the majority of new residents and jobs. They play an important role in supporting surrounding communities and protecting our agricultural land.

In Section 3.0 Geelong Region Plan, Drysdale and Clifton Springs are described as a Regional Centre - between 10,000 - 100,000 people and a district town and also as a subregional employment cenre.

The draft background report provides more detail.

The draft G21 Growth Plan Summary Brochure describes Drysdale and Clifton Springs as being identified as supporting planned growth and reinforcing the role of district towns and encourage growth of district towns or centres consistent with existing structure plans/growth plans.

The G21 Geelong region plan (p.40 of the pdf) has identified that Drysdale/Clifton Springs currently has 66 hectares of currently zoned residential vacant land. There is 360 hectares which has been identifed for future residential development which gives a total of 426 hectares.

The vision of this plan (p13 of the pdf) is that by 2050 Drysdale has resulted in a population of between 20,000 to 30,000 people with major services located in this sub regional centre near transit stations.

From what I can tell, the Bellarine Peninsula will become much like the Mornington Peninsula - lots of housing and a disappearing rural landscape. High density housing with over 20 lots per hectare will become the norm.

The map below shows where the housing development will occur in our area. Most of it appears to be in the Jetty Road development area.

The draft G21 Regional Growth Plan is now open for comment. The public comment period will run from 3 April until 18 May. They want you to tell them what you like about the Draft Growth Plan and how it could be improved.

Feedback on the plan can be made in person at the Open Houses, online or in written form to:

G21 Regional Growth Plan team,
City of Greater Geelong
PO Box 104, Geelong, 3220
Or email: G21RGP@geelongcity.vic.gov.au
Or fax: 03 5272 4855

You are asked to return feedback sheets and submissions by the 18 May 2012

Note the closest Open House to Drysdale or Clifton Springs is

Geelong - 28 April, 10.00am – 2.00pm
Market Square
115-117 Little Malop Street

A number of articles have also appeared in the press on the issue

• Game changer, by Joanna Carson. Bellarine Times, April 10 2012. "We should change the game, says regional planning group. A ring road between Geelong and Torquay should also include a new road onto the Bellarine Peninsula, according to the G21 regional planning group. A draft Economic Development Strategy, just released, sees a future in which 500,000 people live in the Barwon region in 40 years' time. The Barwon region covers Geelong, Queenscliff, the Surf Coast, Colac-Otways and Golden Plains council areas. The economic development strategy focusses on the next 10 years.
• Road map - Planning must start soon for roads to keep up with development, by Joanna Carson. Bellarine Times, April 17 2012. "New roads servicing a more populated Bellarine may not happen for more than a decade, if planning isn't started now. Regional planning group G21, funded by the City of Greater Geelong (CoGG) and four surrounding councils, has identified major road infrastructure necessary to cater for future growth. They include a duplication of Portarlington Highway (between Drysdale and Portarlington) and the Bellarine Highway, and an extension of the Geelong Ring Road (GRR) to Moolap. The G21 Draft Regional Growth Plan says Ocean Grove and Drysdale/Clifton Springs still offers significant housing opportunities. The greater Geelong region currently has a population of 220,000, but land has been mapped that will allow double that. A longer term provision in the plan is to provide for growth beyond 500,000 people..."

Drysdale and Clifton Springs Press Articles April 4 - 23, 2012

Car destroys renovated Drysdale chapel, by Erin Pearson. Geelong Advertiser, April 23rd, 2012. "The owners of a Drysdale funeral home face a massive repair bill after a car smashed through their newly renovated chapel at the weekend... Queenscliff police said a 20-year-old Drysdale man ploughed his Holden Commodore into the funeral home early yesterday morning. The man suffered minor injuries and recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.158..."

Marcus Oldham College gets $4m farm gift, by Andrea Hamblin. Geelong Advertiser, April 20th, 2012. "A gift from a wealthy philanthropist will see Geelong's Marcus Oldham College expand to rival the most prestigious agricultural colleges in the country. Philip Myer, of the famous Myer family, announced that a second campus for the college would take over his $4 million Murradoc Farm at Drysdale. Regional leaders say the acquisition will further cement Geelong's reputation as a centre for educational excellence..."

V/Line bosses front commuters, by Alex Oates. Geelong Advertiser, April 19th, 2012. "Geelong commuters say they have lost faith in V/Line services as rail bosses rode peak-hour trains last night... Drysdale's Richard Jagtenberg said last week's signal fault that forced the cancellation of trains for the best part of two days had caused many customers to find alternative ways to travel..."

Straight to prison for $20k in parking tickets, by Andrea Hamblin. Geelong Advertiser, April 19th, 2012. "... More than 4000 vehicles were checked near the Jetty Rd roundabout in Drysdale, with 10 not registered and four people caught driving on suspended licences..."

Parish completes winning grand design, by Joanna Carson, Bellarine Times, April 18 2012. "In true Grand Designs fashion, it has cost about double the initial predictions, dragged on quite a bit longer than expected and taken a lot out of the builders. But as in the popular TV show Grand Designs, the new look St James Church Hall in Drysdale is impressive. The parish received the keys to the nearly completed complex at the beginning of this month and are now pulling all the fittings out of storage and back into their new look home..."

Road map - Planning must start soon for roads to keep up with development, by Joanna Carson. Bellarine Times, April 17 2012. "New roads servicing a more populated Bellarine may not happen for more than a decade, if planning isn't started now. Regional planning group G21, funded by the City of Greater Geelong (CoGG) and four surrounding councils, has identified major road infrastructure necessary to cater for future growth. They include a duplication of Portarlington Highway (between Drysdale and Portarlington) and the Bellarine Highway, and an extension of the Geelong Ring Road (GRR) to Moolap. The G21 Draft Regional Growth Plan says Ocean Grove and Drysdale/Clifton Springs still offers significant housing opportunities. The greater Geelong region currently has a population of 220,000, but land has been mapped that will allow double that. A longer term provision in the plan is to provide for growth beyond 500,000 people..."

Sixty fox carcasses cause a stink, by Erin Pearson. Geelong Advertiser, April 17th, 2012. "Gutterd and rotting fox carcasses on a Curlewis road have caused upset after allegedly being left hanging only metres from passing traffic for more than six months. In an area where new development meets farmland, more than 60 fox carcasses hang along Coriyule Rd, metres from the Jetty Rd growth area set for 2000 new lots..."

Have you seen these men? Erin Pearson. Geelong Advertiser, April 17th, 2012. "Geelong police arhave released CCTV images of two men suspected of burgling a Curlewis property causing extensive damage last month. Senior Constable Rohan Iddles said the pair allegedly stole more than $2500 in motorcycle and personal goods from a rural property on Geelong-Portarlington Rd about 10.30pm on March 23..."

Wasted opinions wanted, by Joanna Carson. Bellarine Times, April 16 2012. "... Committee for the Bellarine representative Tom O'Connor, who attended the forum, said waste management was a huge issue in the area, especially now that some of Geelong's waste was directed through Drysdale to the landfill on Murradoc Road..."

Easter art show success. Bellarine Times, April 11 2012. "The Easter Art Show run by the Rotary Club of Drysdale was successfully completed with a record number of 541 paintings entered..."

How to be a locavore, by Joanna Carson. Bellarine Times, April 11 2012. "The places that Drysdale chef Aaron Turner goes to for local produce that has made his restaurant famous are revealed in a new book..."

Jetty Road bottleneck concerns, by Joanna Carson. Bellarine Times, April 10 2012. "A Drysdale community association is hoping changes will be made to the layout of Jetty Road before someone is knocked off a bicycle..."

If in doubt ring 000, by Joanna Carson. Bellarine Times, April 10 2012. :Not all fires visible on the Bellarine Peninsula will be out of control, even though one that ripped through Curlewis grasslands last week was..."

Jetty Road bottleneck concerns, by Joanna Carson. Bellarine Times, April 10 2012. "Jetty Road is being redesigned to make way for services and new intersections for several new housing developments along its length. Part of the plan was for a 2.5 metre shared cycling and footpath, which was approved of by local groups like the Drysdale and Clifton Springs Community Association.

Game changer, by Joanna Carson. Bellarine Times, April 10 2012. "We should change the game, says regional planning group. A ring road between Geelong and Torquay should also include a new road onto the Bellarine Peninsula, according to the G21 regional planning group. A draft Economic Development Strategy, just released, sees a future in which 500,000 people live in the Barwon region in 40 years' time. The Barwon region covers Geelong, Queenscliff, the Surf Coast, Colac-Otways and Golden Plains council areas. The economic development strategy focusses on the next 10 years.

Lions of literacy fund Authors in Schools program. Bellarine Times, April 5 2012. "Authors will be appearing in North Bellarine primary schools, thanks to the Portarlington/Drysdale Lions Club..."

NBN roll-out a set-back for Bellarine communities. DryClift Days, Wednesday, April 4, 2012. "The National Broadband Network (NBN) is set to arrive on the Bellarine Peninsula in 2015, yet much of the Peninsula won't have access to it..."

Articles in the press about Drysdale and Clifton Springs, March 27 - April 3, 2012

Warning after campfire gets out of control, by Erin Pearson. Geelong Advertiser, April 3rd, 2012. "Geelong firefighters are warning holiday makers to be vigilant over the Easter break after an unattended campfire caused a large blaze in Curlewis at the weekend. Seven trucks and 30 volunteer firefighters were called to the grass fire between Jetty Rd, Clifton Springs, and McDermott Rd, Curlewis, about 2.45pm on Sunday after embers from a smouldering camp fire spread from the beach to nearby paddocks...."

Art on Easter show. Bellarine Times, April 2 2012. "Drysdale Rotary Club's traditional art show is on again this Easter. Over 500 paintings will be exhibited at the club's 36th annual show on Easter Saturday April 8, from 10am-5pm and Sunday, April 9, from 10am-4pm, at the Christian College Sports Stadium, 40 Collins Street, Drysdale..."

Dopey renter caught out, by Mandy Squires. Geelong Advertiser, April 2nd, 2012. "A Clifton Springs man who moved marijuana plants from his home to the back of his station wagon before a house inspection may have impressed his real estate agent but not police..."

Lights, costumes, butterflies, action, by Ali Deane. Bellarine Times, March 31 2012. "The finishing touches are being put on an enchanting new theatre show set to wow young audiences these Easter school holidays at Drysdale's Potato Shed. The original fairytale Bread and Butterflies promises to entertain, excite and inspire audiences with its mystical and funny characters and beautiful handmade costumes..."

Council could slug residents over carbon tax, by Peter Begg. Geelong Advertiser, March 29th, 2012. "Geelong region households face up to 1.5 per cent on top of their rate bill with the introduction of the carbon tax this year... City CEO Stephen Griffin said the council was currently in the middle of its budget deliberations and was giving close consideration to the potential impacts of a carbon tax. "In particular the council is considering what the impact of a carbon tax might be on the city's landfill operations at Drysdale," Mr Griffin said.."

Leave Beacon Point alone ... almost. DryClift Days, Thursday, March 29, 2012. "Close neighbours of the Beacon Point Reserve in Clifton Springs want it left just as it is ... apart from some improvements. On 28 March, around twenty people met at Drysdale's SpringDale Neighbourhood Centre to discuss a proposed Master Plan for the Reserve. The meeting was called by the City of Greater Geelong's Recreation and Open Space Unit and by Thompson Berrill Landscape Design, engaged by CoGG as consultants to create the Master Plan..."

Super ponies saddled up, by Fran Cleland. Weekly Times, March 28, 2012. "... Bacchus Marsh Pony Club's grounds have improved enormously in the past couple of years. And with a new circular water complex built by Ewan Kellet and several other new jumps on their cross-country course, youngsters dreaming of Olympic eventing are given a great opportunity to learn their trade... In grade two... Section B resulted in a triple dead-heat between Imogen Nicholson (Corio/Moorabool) on Jayay Dom Perignon, Brittany Salthouse (Yarrambat) on Magpie and Holly Hornsey (Drysdale Leopold) riding Captain Planet.... Grade four was split into three groups, with Maddie Rumler (Ballarat) on Magic the winner ahead of Megan Wallace (Drysdale-Leopold) on ESB Golden Ambition and Marnie Hamilton (Corner Inlet) on Krunchie..."

Hawks soaring into season proper, by Luke Griffiths. Bellarine Times, March 27 2012. "With the BFL season less than a fortnight away, Drysdale's confidence has been given a major boost following its 20-goal rout of Grovedale on Saturday..."

Teen arrests after Clifton Springs break-ins. Geelong Advertiser, March 27th, 2012. "TWO 14-year-olds have been arrested after weekend break-ins at Clifton Springs Tennis Club and two houses in the town..."