By Corey Everitt
To represent the area of Officer carries with it a considerable burden, the next councillor soon to be elected will inherit the widespread frustrations over the township’s lack of development.
Officer and Officer South have an estimated population of over 20,000, yet if you walk down it’s main thoroughfare, Siding Avenue, it is still mostly a paddock.
“Recently, on a family bike ride, we followed a bike path that led right up to the Officer town centre site,” Officer Ward candidate Samantha-Jane Potter said.
“But once we got there, it felt like it had been forgotten in time, it was a wall of grass, quiet and empty, even though this is meant to be the heart of our growing community.”
Current Officer Ward Councillor Tammy Radford, who will soon vacate her role as she is not standing for reelection, did a considerable amount of work on the matter.
She took a leading role in the council’s adoption of Officer’s Urban Design Framework in February, which more precisely pinned the overall planning for the town centre beyond what was given in the Officer Precinct Structure Plan.
Radford took it further as she procured a report in April from council officers detailing the current landholders through the town centre and the status of their respective planning permits.
The detail revealed is beyond the level provided for most major activity centres but it still doesn’t assure private investment will start being realised.
“I understand that there’s a lot of moving parts here with over 130 land parcels and about 80 different landowners involved, rising costs for developers might be slowing things down,” Potter said.
“While the UDF gives us all a good start plan, it doesn’t control the pace at which these things happen.”
Among the many applications is the proposal for a supermarket north of Cardinia Shire’s municipal office, as of April the permit is still pending while waiting for a Cultural Heritage Management Plan.
A permit has already been issued for a mixed-use development off of Officer South Road, but as of April is still waiting on the ‘applicant to progress’.
Officer Ward candidate Ron Malhotra said he felt ‘encouraged’ by the UDF’s emphasis on accessibility and safety.
“However, I recognize that progress on the Officer Town Centre development has been slow, leading to frustration for those who live in Officer or have recently moved here, eager to enjoy the town centre amenities,” he said.
“The site for the Officer Town Centre has multiple ownerships, including the State Government, Cardinia Council, and private landowners. This complexity presents significant challenges for development, as the necessary applications, permits, and approvals depend on various factors outside the council’s direct control.”
Potter and Malhotra both acknowledge that there are many factors still undetermined from outside the council, but Potter flagged that acquiring better public transport and attempting to make Officer more marketable could be worthwhile pursuits.
“We need better connectivity and accessibility for Officer Ward, and I’m keen to explore further solutions with the council staff and other levels of government to make sure our transport network can support the town centre’s growth,” Potter said.
“I feel that marketing the town centre attractive, showing its promise, will be crucial in drawing attention from real investors.
“To support these initiatives, we could pursue grants and funding opportunities from State and Federal governments, as well as look for sponsorships from relevant local businesses.”
Malhotra said improving the ‘dialogue’ with residents on the matter was ‘crucial’ and said that a council can play an active role between stakeholders from private landowners to the State Government.
“I believe future councillors for Cardinia can play a vital role in fostering engagement with developers through pre-application meetings and ongoing discussions with landowners,” Malhotra said.
“Council officers can also facilitate conversations with interested developers and local businesses to ensure the best outcomes for the Officer Town Centre, ultimately benefiting our community.”
Both candidates for Officer referred to the future development as a ‘top priority’.
