OUR NEW MEGA BURBS
110,000 PEOPLE: City unveils sites for Geelong’s huge growth areas
A NEW frontier for housing growth, expected to increase Greater Geelong’s population by 110,000 people, has been unveiled.
The 5334 hectare area in the city’s west and north will cater for growth beyond 2050 and add 48,000 people to Lovely Banks and 62,000 people around Batesford.
Most of the land is privately owned but the council expects the plan, which will be put to its meeting next week, will add about 39,000 homes to Greater Geelong.
Geelong Mayor Bruce Harwood said an even spread of development was needed across the region.
A NEW frontier for housing growth, expected to increase Greater Geelong’s population by 110,000 people, has been unveiled.
The 5334ha (13,181 acre) area in the city’s west and north will cater for growth beyond 2050 and add 48,000 people to Lovely Banks and 62,000 people around Batesford.
Most of the land is privately owned but the council expects the plan, which will be put to its meeting next week, will add about 39,000 homes to Greater Geelong.
Geelong mayor Bruce Harwood said an even spread of development was needed across the region.
“The Bellarine makes up just over a quarter of Greater Geelong’s total housing stock, yet over the past 10 years it has provided almost 40 per cent of all new housing development,” Cr Harwood said.
“Geelong is growing at a faster rate than the rest of Victoria. The expected growth rate of 2.5 per cent would see the population increase by 153,000 to 388,000 by 2036.
“This demonstrates the further urgency required in making sure there is an even spread of development.”
The council has been working on Batesford and Lovely Banks development plans since 2014 and they now include 10 town centres; 200ha for new businesses; open space; two major transport corridors set aside for buses, walking and cyclists; schools and community facilities; and rural living lots.
The population plan also earmarks space to add 12,700 homes on the Bellarine Peninsula, and 6000 in Lara West.
Suburbs identified for growth include Leopold, Ocean Grove, Clifton Springs, Drysdale, Portarlington, Indented Head, Point Lonsdale and St Leonards.
But the council says the Lovely Banks and Batesford areas remain the priority.
Meanwhile, the population of the Armstrong Creek growth area has reached 7000 people with room to grow to 55,000 residents or 22,000 homes still available.
The population of central Geelong is also planned to reach 10,000 by 2028, the council’s settlement strategy shows.
Most of the region’s future housing needs will be provided at Armstrong Creek, in the northern and western growth areas and by increasing current density, according to the council.
Cr Harwood said the pace of growth on the Bellarine needed to slow to preserve its character.
“We need to ensure housing remains affordable and that there is diversity in the housing marketplace for potential buyers,” he said.
“The scale and long-term nature of the (north and west growth) project means we have an enormous opportunity to create something special.”
He said the transport corridors set aside in each of the growth areas could one day cater for driverless buses.