The proposal to construct more than 380 houses directly opposite the Serendip Sanctuary in Lara has been approved. This will seriously alter the regional environment and endanger the survival of the Sanctuary.
The proposal to construct 380+ high density houses directly opposite the Serendip Sanctuary in Lara has been approved! This will seriously alter the regional environment and endanger the survival of the Sanctuary. Greater Geelong Council, in a total backflip, has now approved the rezoning for this development (and hence the inevitable developments that will follow).
The Lara and Geelong community are calling for support to let the Government know that this is the worst possible outcome and should not be accepted.
Please take a look at their web site for more details:
http://www.tlcgrouplara.com/home.html
You can sign their petition:
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/save-serendip.html
background information
Lara Care Group Media Release
16/4/11
BIGGEST BACKLASH IN GEELONG COUNCIL HISTORY – RESIDENTS OPPOSITION TO INAPPROPRIATE DEVELOPMENT OPPOSITE SERENDIP SANCTUARY IGNORED
Lara residents witnessed the division in views and voting on Tuesday 12 April 2011 with City of Greater Geelong Councillors approving the C73 Amendment/Caddys Road application to rezone rural land directly opposite Serendip Sanctuary to Residential 1 Zoning to allow 380+ houses in a high density development known as the Sanctuary Views Estate. This is despite the fact that Council had received overwhelming and unprecedented opposition to this development from the people of Lara for the past 8 years;
* 2410 signatures presented at the Legislative Assembly of Victoria,
* 670 submissions to Council
* 2 public meetings with hundreds of residents present
* Public Rally "Walk for Serendip"..over 400 residents present.
* Facebook site. Save Serendip..No Rezone over 1100 members.
To rezone this land sets a dangerous precedent for open slather development that places the very SURVIVAL of our wildlife at risk. Consequently, Serendip will become "an urban park in an urban matrix" instead of the sanctuary which is internationally recognised for successfully breeding captive species such as Brolga, Musk Duck, Australian Bustard and now the EASTERN BARRED BANDICOOT which is on the brink of EXTINCTION. Numerous free ranging wildlife like the Cape Barren, Magpie Geese and Eastern Grey kangaroos breed here and spill over on to the rural land surrounding the Sanctuary that is also only 2 km from You Yangs Regional Park. This is an important wildlife corridor. High density housing opposite the Sanctuary also brings increased numbers of cats and dogs and an increase in fox population due to urbanization.
The Wood Report, (an independent report organized by Parks Vic and not referenced to at either of the Independent Panel hearings by D.S.E) forecast this outlook if high density housing was approved on the land opposite Serendip Sanctuary.
Sheryl Goatman
Spokesperson for the Township of Lara Care Group Inc and the residents of Lara TLC Group Lara Inc
P.O.Box 281, LARA, 3212
www.tlcgrouplara.com
Mobile: 0409 327 403