** Lara Storage seeks your support through signatures only. Please be careful when signing the petition. Do not click the money option when submitting **

Lara Storage is a family-owned small business located on a 5-acre property in Lara, Victoria.  It is a secure facility with digital access codes and 24 hours CCTV.  Customers feel safe and secure to leave their vehicles there.

Lara Storage has been working with the City of Greater Geelong Council on the setup of the storage facility for a while now.  The Council demanded rows of large sheds with side walls.  Such construction and related work cost more than $3 million.  It is simply unaffordable for any small business.  Affordable alternatives (i.e. carpark shade sails) have been rejected.  The Council has allowed an open-air carpark for 30 vehicles next door for the previously proposed place of worship.

From Google satellite map, it is quite noticeable that there are vehicles (including trucks) and heavy machineries parked outdoor in the area.  Lara Storage is not alone!  Yet the Council chose to enforce this planning regulations due to property zoning.  No neighbour has complained on the visual aspects of the current setup.  The area has been earmarked for light industrial and employment zone in the future.

With identical property zoning, Lara Storage is unable to store vehicles the same way as neighbours, including a nearby self storage facility. 

The Council encourages higher density living.  Yet they have failed to recognise that the storage yard plays a supporting role to their planning decisions.  Further, the Council embraces the relocation of Spirit of Tasmania ferry from Port Melbourne to Geelong.  Lara Storage also cater for vehicles belong to residents living in Tasmania! 

There are limited number of storage facility at northern part of Geelong.  The demand continues to grow as more new housing estates are being developed and people moved to the area!  Industrial properties have much higher costs, which make storage rental unaffordable for most customers.

More than 120 boats, caravans and other vehicles will be forced to park on streets around Geelong.  It makes streets unsafe for traffic and pedestrians alike.  

Please sign this petition to oppose the demand from the City of Great Geelong Council to build sheds with side walls to house boats, caravans and other vehicles.