Trucks solution by design
THE recent UNESCO Creative Cities Network designation of Geelong as a City of Design is an accolade that reinforces the city’s vision as a clever and creative cityregion. As a city that was forged on vehicle engineering design, Geelong can be proud of its contribution to industrial design and its continued pursuit of design excellence.
Take a look around at examples of how design influences the look, feel and the way we traverse a city and it is not hard to find outstanding examples in our backyard. Leading the way must surely go to the award- winning Geelong Library and Heritage Centre. Other notable examples include the Barwon Health Library and Community facility, Barwon Water head office rebuild, WorkSafe head office and buildings under construction, such as the National Disability Insurance Agency head office and the Geelong Tech School on The Gordon’s city campus.
There are many more fine examples of creative design and clever architecture in Geelong, including the repurposing of the former Dalgety Woolstores into Deakin University’s magnificent waterfront campus, a masterpiece of design connecting Geelong’s past with its present and its future — the work of local architects McGlashan Everest.
We have seen a rebirth of former disused and neglected laneways that have become food and entertainment outlets. Opening and repurposing our laneways has also provided new links and new ways to move around our city, connecting people and places, and adding a new and exciting dimension to Geelong’s cultural heart.
We have much to be proud of in Geelong, we are a city that is on the move, building on our clever and creative industrial heritage to forge a diverse and strong future economy driven by health, education, services, advanced manufacturing, technology, the visitor economy, entrepreneurial activity and innovation.
The repurposing of our industrial and city heritage with developments such as Little Creatures in South Geelong, Federal Mills Park in North Geelong and Deakin University’s redevelopment of the former T&G building provide inspiration and incentive for investment and advancement of Geelong as Victoria’s second largest city. All of these exemplify good design combined with visionary thinking.
But what of our streetscape? How does design impact the way people traverse our city? Could design thinking provide a solution to the growing issues of traffic congestion and heavy trucks hurtling through the centre of our city?
The issue of trucks in central Geelong has been an issue on the table for more than 15 years, but could clever and creative design be part of the solution?
As a chamber of commerce, we often speak to traders, particularly those operating along Ryrie St — part of State Route 91 that traverses eastwest between Geelong and Queenscliff — who are at their wits’ end dealing with the continual assault on the street on which they have chosen to build their business.
Daily near misses between trucks and pedestrians, occasional accidents, diesel fumes, rattling windows, dirt and noise pollution, and awnings being ripped from shops have led to anger and disillusionment among traders who have little choice but to put up with these daily imposts that neither serve to encourage trade and business along that strip or create an image of a city that is clever and creative.
As a city that is now designated as a UNESCO City of Design, how can we apply clever and creative design principles to an old problem while encouraging a mindset shift, leading to a solution befitting Geelong’s status as Victoria’s second largest city?
Geelong lacks an east-west transit solution. Let us deal with the elephant in the room once and for all.
The time for talk is over and the time for action is now!