The lease required the site to be cleared. The City did not build, own, or manage the buildings on this site as this was the responsibility of the organisations that leased the land.

The Plantation Reserve that is on the title for this site is from the plan of the old subdivision (1958). Under the planning scheme the Plantation Reserve status does not control the current and future use of the land. The land is zoned for residential in the Geelong Planning Scheme and has been since 2000. A planning permit would be required to remove the reserve status from the land.

Social housing is housing where the rent is capped, usually at 25-30% of the households’ income. Social housing is therefore for people and families with low incomes. Sometimes people with additional needs, like people living with a disability, may also live in social housing where they can access additional supports.

The City is in the process of partnering with a community housing provider which the City intends to be a Registered Housing Association/Provider under the Housing Act 1983 (Vic). The City intends for the partner community housing provider to provide the City and the community with further detail about what a development could include on this site. Such a partner may also be able to discuss the demographics of potential residents.

The City hasn’t made a decision about the use of this site for social housing. To assist both the City and the community to understand what a future development could look like, the City will undertake a collaborative design process with the community and our partner community housing provider.

This design process would consider building heights, neighbourhood character, how people and vehicles would access the site, traffic impacts and how the site could be used for both open space and social housing.

In June 2022 the contractor engaged by Scouts Victoria to demolish the buildings on the site removed a number of trees near the Dean Street entrance. The City did not ask for these trees to be removed and their removal was an error. The City is pursuing this matter.

The City intends for the selected community housing provider to provide the City and the community with greater detail about the houses that might be delivered and other potential uses of the sites. This will enable the City and the community to make an informed decision.