Boomer demand drives beachside apartment development growth
LONDON: Baby boomer demand is driving pell-mell growth in the upscale beach adjacent apartment market. The state’s planning umpire has given a multistorey, multimillion-dollar Portarlington development the green light.
The development of four land parcels at 20-34 Newcombe St and 25-27 Fenwick St in Portarlington by developers Qudos will feature 55 apartments and seven shops built across the 4717 sqm site.
The Newcombe St side will feature a five-storey building with setbacks beyond 16m high, made up of three wings.
The seven retail units will be located on the Newcombe St side, along with dozens of apartments and a common area for residents.
The Fenwick St side of the project will include a four-storey building split into two wings and incorporate more apartments, as well as the entry to a basement car park.
The project has been scaled back from 62 apartments in 2021 to 55 approved by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).
A render of the Fenwick St side of the development.
Geelong council’s planning committee approved the project, which sits at the western edge of the Newcombe St shopping precinct, in April last year.
The city received 44 letters of support for the project and 29 objections, with one objector, John Keaney, taking the matter to VCAT.
Mr Keaney’s concerns included the development’s visual impact, noise, its disruptive character, the impact it would have on views and traffic within the coastal hamlet.
VCAT members Joel Templar and Stephen Axford found the project was “on balance … an acceptable one”.
“It is apparent that Portarlington is set to change … our observations are that this is already occurring,” they wrote in their decision.
The tribunal found the development would not be visually disruptive or dominant, and granted an amended planning permit.
Qudos development manager Dom Monea said developers were “thrilled” the project, designed by architect Sean Longergan, could move forward.
“We’ve held onto this land since 2005, we’ve been waiting for the right time when we felt the town was ready,” Mr Monea said.
“With the introduction of the Portarlington to Docklands ferry, we felt this was really appropriate.”
Mr Monea said the project was similar to other developments by Qudos in St Leonards and Barwon Heads.
“We’re looking at a lifestyle – someone who wants to enjoy that coastal lifestyle with all the amenities that go with it,” he said.
The Portarlington community and the Portarlington Development Business Association were overwhelmingly supportive of the project, Mr Monea said.
When first announced in 2021 it was estimated to cost $20m, however it is understood that figure has ballooned significantly.
A single-storey home at 27 Fenwick St and a shop at 20 Newcombe St occupy the site currently, while the remainder is vacant.
