Crucial Geelong has a long-term plan
IN THE COMING MONTHS, THE COMMITTEE FOR GEELONG WILL BE KICKING OFF CONSULTATION WITH MEMBERS ON A NEW PROJECT – FUTURE CITY GEELONG.
IN little more than a week, we should know who will form the next government of Australia.
Whether we have a Liberal or Labor Prime Minister elected in their own right, or whether one party is able to form government through negotiation with other parties or independents, it remains to be seen.
While politics can often be frustrating, we need to celebrate the strength and power of our democracy and ensure it is fiercely protected.
On a local level, the federal seat of Corangamite is one of the most marginal seats in the country.
It is hotly contested and provides an avenue for significant focus and multiple election commitments for our region.
Among all the debates, announcements, door knocking and campaigning, one thing remains true – Geelong is growing fast and must be supported to manage its growth.
Whether we elect a Liberal or Labor government, Geelong will continue to be a city of importance to the country, with key infrastructure including an international airport, seaport, and major road and rail connectivity.
The recently released The Great Migration: Leaving our
Cities for the Regions (University of Melbourne) report found that “the City of Greater Geelong was the top regional destination for those opting out of life in Melbourne” (Geelong Advertiser, May 7).
Geelong was already a destination of choice before the pandemic and now this growth has been turbocharged.
Melburnians who were in extended lockdowns saw the opportunity to move to our region with the promise of greater flexibility in their working environments.
We have the right mix of housing affordability, natural environment, economic and social infrastructure asset base, and world-class health and education services to entice this major population shift.
However, our median house price is now higher than outer Melbourne.
Our rental market is extremely tight. Skill shortages are hampering productivity while our unemployment rate is lower than the national average.
Our public transport system is vastly underfunded and underutilised with under 5 per cent of all journeys to Geelong by public transport.
With this population growth also comes private investment. Our skyline is crowded with nests of cranes with several multistorey, multimillion-dollar developments under construction in central Geelong.
And before the end of 2022 we will toast the arrival of the Spirit of Tasmania to our shores.
At the weekend, another
$250m development was proposed for property locked between the council’s new civic precinct, the WorkSafe and TAC headquarters and the site of the new Geelong Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Future city shaping is happening before our eyes.
Many of these changes have happened in the past 12-18 months and as a community we need to take stock of the situation.
To ensure this growth is sustainable, we need a longterm plan.
The Committee for Geelong believes that the need for an overarching Plan Geelong is well overdue.
In essence, Geelong does and will play a significant role in easing the population pressures of Melbourne while maintaining liveability, affordability and accessibility – but only if the planning is long-term, strategic and supported by all levels of government.
Until this work is agreed and completed – it is very difficult to align other significant planning work conducted by local and state governments.
Several regional strategic planning documents are now 10-15 years old and much has changed in that time.
In the coming months, the Committee for Geelong will be kicking off consultation with members on a new project – Future City Geelong.
We hope that this project will start discussion about the longterm strategic thinking for our city-region and will challenge community and stakeholders regarding our future.