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BELLARINE’S NUMBER ONE NEWSPAPER
26 JUNE - 9 JULY, 2026
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Master chefs at Surfside
(Ivan Kemp) 560591_03
Surfside Primary School’s year 6 students traded notebooks for ovens during the annual MasterChef challenge. Students used their culinary skills to create a range of dishes during the challenge’s 17 and 24 June events. The challenge highlighted the school’s teamwork and achievement values, which allowed students to develop quality food and life-long skills. Surfside Primary School’s MasterChef challenge is the culmination of the kitchen and garden sessions where students learn about food origins, preparation and healthy eating. The students showed off their skills by working together in groups to create and prepare a dish during the challenge. Pacey (left), Darcy, Hamish, Zoe and Sybilla are pictured collecting ingredients for their recipes during the 24 June challenge. Turn to page 8 for more photographs.
Development concern By Matt Hewson Ocean Grove residents have expressed concerns about a proposed development near the heart of town. Developers UXD Group have submitted a planning permit application to the City of Greater Geelong to build Hanging Gardens, an eight-dwelling apartment building up to 10.5 metres high at 59 The Parade. The three-storey building, which would encompass nearly the entirety of the roughly 425-square-metre block, also includes a 17-space basement car park. While The Parade and the surrounding area has been targeted for increased housing diversity, including high-density infi ll projects, some local residents have concerns around Hanging Gardens. Ocean Grove resident Gerard Cornish submitted an objection due to multiple issues.
Artist impression of proposed apartment development Hanging Gardens. (UXD Group)
“There will be more cars in that street, where parking is at a premium anyway, and it’s going to affect the views of the existing properties,” he said. “We thought if they dropped the height so it doesn’t overshadow and overlook so much, it would make it a bit more amenable.”
UXD Group proposed an even larger complex in 2023 at 57-59 The Parade, which was unanimously rejected by Geelong council. UXD won through at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) with minor alterations in the interests of view sharing with existing residents, but ultimately the development did not materialise. Vicki Nolan was an objector in 2023 on the grounds that the building would block views from her property to the rear of 57-59 The Parade. She has objected to the new proposal on similar grounds. “We’re not against the development per se, we’re purely concerned with the size of the development; it’s going boundary to boundary pretty much all around,” she said. “When we purchased our property on The Avenue, we did it based on the fact that
we were protected for view sharing. “I think they could still achieve a good result by bringing in the upper two storeys so that we have view sharing. As it is, it’ll completely obliterate our views.” UXD director Beau O’Brien said the current proposal would have “far less impact” than the approved 2023 proposal. “We’ve taken a really conscious effort… to soften the built form and contribute to a pleasing shape,” he said. “The owner of the property is engaged with the neighbours…and that’s ongoing. We’ve just submitted to the council a response to the objectors and requested a consultation meeting with the community, which we’re waiting on council to facilitate. “I think it’s been proven at the tribunal what’s acceptable view sharing, and I would say our application is consistent with that determination of VCAT.”
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