This petition is to draw the attention of the Legislative Assembly to the decision from the Victorian State Government to build 50 homes on the remaining parcel of land adjacent to the Colac Secondary College. This small parcel of land is not a suitable use of the vacant lot. It should remain available to support the school's future growth. Developing this space would fail to provide the open space and community amenity expected in a regional area. Both access and overall amenity would be significantly compromised. A more thoughtful, deliberate approach is needed to avoid decisions driven by convenience rather than long-term benefits.

Colac's Mayor, Jason Schram, has commented as following:
"In Colac, we desperately need social housing and affordable rentals. But it must be done in a way that spreads out the housing evenly throughout the community and be available for our locals that need it the most. The State Governments own recommendations are to integrate new social housing throughout the community and not build concentrated low socioeconomic areas as these are acknowledged errors from the past. The Pound Rd plan goes against everything we have learnt about past mistakes when building social housing. Again our community needs more social homes but they must be for our people in need and not just those on high priority on the social housing registry, which most will be from Melbourne. I hope our community sends a clear message to the State Government on this Pound Rd proposal at the same time acknowledging the need for the funding to stay in Colac for Colac people. This is not against social housing nor is it "not in my backyard". This is about not creating the same mistakes from the past and shifting a problem from the city to the regions. Please also spare a thought for our most vulnerable community members at this time."