Planning our clever and creative future together
The cranes in central Geelong and the expanding Armstrong Creek community are two constant reminders of our region’s recent evolution.
So too the increasingly frequent stories of families leaving Melbourne for a new, better lifestyle down the highway.
While our city was already growing, the COVID pandemic has accelerated the influx.
Council’s Settlement Strategy, adopted in 2020, forecasts the local population will grow from around 265,000 to upwards of 385,000 over the next 15 years.
Mayor Stephanie Asher acknowledges it’s a big shift that will require careful planning.
“It’s definitely a pivotal time for Greater Geelong; it’s exciting,” Mayor Asher says.
“Population growth comes with its challenges, but it does present opportunities to attract new investment and to start to shape the city we want for the future.
“Our region will be different in 15 years’ time, but as we grow it’s still vital that we retain everything people love about living here now.”
For the council, that means a major focus on sustainability as the drive to achieve the community’s 30year ‘clever and creative’ vision continues.
“Sustainability has often been referred to only in the context of the environment, but it’s bigger than that. It’s about surviving and thriving into the future,” the Mayor says.
“We are certainly taking strong action to protect our natural environment and tackle climate change but, equally, sustainability also needs to be considered from an economic and social viewpoint.”
In 2021, councillors also agreed on more than 20 public sustainability targets, which align strongly with the strategic directions in the Council’s new four-year ‘Our Community Plan’.
Alongside being a high performing council and organisation, priorities include creating a healthy, caring and inclusive community, achieving sustainable growth and environment, and developing a strong local economy.
Central to the focus on social sustainability are community facilities essential to mental and physical wellbeing.
In each of the past three years, the council has invested more than $120 million in capital projects to deliver new or upgraded sporting fields and pavilions, childcare centres, playgrounds, skate parks and community centres.
That figure will expand to a combined $728 million over the four years of the current council term, helping to service new areas and renew ageing facilities in established towns and suburbs.
“Investing in local infrastructure is critical to ensuring people right across Greater Geelong have easy access to health, recreation and community facilities,” Mayor Asher says.
Two major new aquatic centres – the Northern Aquatic and Community Hub in Norlane, and the North Bellarine aquatic facility – form the centrepieces of the planned capital program.
Mayor Asher also highlights the council’s determination to deliver on its Shared Trails Master Plan, which aims to create a fully connected network of trails across Greater Geelong.
“This is a top infrastructure priority because having towns and suburbs connected with trails will encourage healthy, environmentally friendly transport such as cycling and walking,” she says.
“It will also expand our appeal as an active tourism destination, which is a growing market.”
“WE ENDORSED OUR FINAL SUSTAINABILITY FRAMEWORK AND ACTION PLAN EARLY IN 2021 AND THIS COUNCIL HAS CEMENTED SUSTAINABILITY AS A CORE CONSIDERATION IN ALL OF ITS DECISIONS AND ACROSS ALL DEPARTMENTS OF THE CITY OF GREATER GEELONG,” SAID MAYOR ASHER.
It’s hoped this significant infrastructure spending will achieve an additional outcome of stimulating the local economy and creating new jobs in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The council will aim to harness Geelong’s status as a UNESCO Creative City of Design to accelerate the recovery, and to foster and attract clever and creative thinkers and businesses.
“Geelong has always been a city of makers and designers,” Mayor Asher says.
“With so many clever people and businesses already here and the chance to attract more as our economy expands, the future looks very bright.”
To find out more please visit geelongaustralia.com.au.