Carefully managing Geelong’s growth
THE past two years have fasttracked Greater Geelong’s already rising popularity.
We’ve read countless stories of new residents, largely from Melbourne, moving here during the pandemic. Our breathtaking natural landscapes, sense of community, and our laid-back lifestyle are our biggest drawcards.
As locals, we’ve been raving about our region’s liveability for years. And, of course, Covid-19 has meant that working from home is now in the mainstream.
Our new community members have realised they can work from home while having access to our stunning beaches, the Barwon River, and our growing arts and cultural scene.
It’s easy to see why our region holds so much appeal, but it’s important we manage this growth deliberately so we can all keep the lifestyle we know and love.
Greater Geelong’s growth is carefully managed through the council’s settlement strategy, which sets out how we can meet housing demand in a sustainable way over the next 10 years and beyond. It’s all about preparing for growth and making sure we have the right infrastructure in place.
The strategy directs growth away from the Bellarine to the new Northern and Western Growth
Areas at Lovely Banks and Batesford, which will eventually accommodate more than 100,000 residents.
Armstrong Creek is also one of Geelong’s and Victoria’s fastest growing suburbs, and has evolved into a thriving and connected community. In 2020-21, the city approved nearly 2000 commercial and domestic building permits across Armstrong Creek, Charlemont and Mount Duneed.
The area is about 40 per cent developed, and will eventually be home to around 60,000 residents.
It’s natural to read those figures and recall new estates in decades gone by that lacked appropriate infrastructure.
With these lessons firmly in mind, the city has worked collaboratively with developers since the suburb’s inception to ensure vital services like footpaths, drainage and sporting fields are in place.
The council’s Armstrong Creek East Community Hub and sports pavilion are well used, and detailed designs are being developed for a library and community hub in the Town Centre precinct. There are a lot of other exciting projects under way, including the Sparrovale Wetlands, and a community shed and garden in Mt Duneed.
And across the region, council has committed $379m over two years for new and updated community hubs, roads, libraries, pools, shared trails and environmental projects.
Planning for growth in this way will accelerate the region’s recovery from Covid-19.
Investing in infrastructure is also about investing in people, because it creates jobs for people delivering services to our community at a grassroots level.
Our communities also rely on the volunteer groups, organisations and clubs that keep the pies warm at the footy, help the homeless, plant trees and run programs that keep kids engaged.
These volunteers strengthen the fabric of Greater Geelong by bringing people together and preventing isolation.
It’s not just the roads and footpaths that connect our community, but the people. And we recognise that in order to help facilitate residents reconnecting after the past two years, some clubs are in need of a refresh.
Which is why the council is proud to invest $3m into these groups in our latest grants round.
A $350,000 allocation to the Bellarine Bears Baseball Club is one example that will see development of new fields, fencing, dugouts, a scorer’s box and lighting at Wallington Recreation Reserve.
These new facilities will assist in attracting more members.
In Hamlyn Heights, the Hellenic Orthodox Community of Geelong building will be supported with an $11,000 grant to upgrade its kitchen and install energy efficient lighting – its first renovation since the ’90s.
And the ladies at Lara Bowling Club will have a better bowling experience thanks to a $85,700 grant that will deliver a new synthetic green.
To the clubs and organisations out there – thank you for your passion and dedication during
2021. It’s just another reason why Greater Geelong is the place to be.
On behalf of the council, I wish all community members a happy and healthy new year.
IT’S NOT JUST THE ROADS AND FOOTPATHS THAT CONNECT OUR COMMUNITY, BUT THE PEOPLE.