Council has endorsed a program for 2023-2024 that maps out the delivery of Precinct Structure Plans for the City’sNorthern and Western Geelong Growth Areas.
The Northern and Western Geelong Growth Areas span 5,500 hectares across Lovely Banks and Batesford and will eventually be home to around 110,000 residents.
The Greater Geelong Settlement Strategyidentified these areas as vital to addressing population growth and housing demand.
The growth areas will be rolled out as a sequence of nine separate precincts, each with its own structure plan that details the required community facilities and infrastructure, settlement boundaries, key strategic planning issues and planning controls to protect biodiversity.
At Tuesday night’s meeting, Council supported the development of structure plans to begin in 2023-2024 for the Batesford North, Elcho Road West and Heales Road West precincts. These precincts will deliver approximately 12,900 dwellings.
Work to develop structure plans for the McCanns Lane (with a change to the boundary) and Merrawarp precincts should commence in 2025-2026, subject to ongoing work with the Department of Transport on transport network planning.
Six monthly updates and an annual report will be provided to Council on the progress of the Precinct Structure Plans.
The City’s CEO will provide advice on long-term infrastructure demands and advocacy to the state and federal governments and other parties, to ensure the timely delivery of essential infrastructure such as public transport.
Mayor Trent Sullivan
As one of Australia’s fastest growing regions, it is vital for council to deliver housing to meet population demands.
To maintain required lot supply and accommodate a potential growth rate of 2.5 percent, the City will develop a carefully managed program on the next set of Precinct Structure Plans to start in mid-2023.
By commencing the plans for Batesford North, Elcho Road West and Heales Road West precincts next year, we will take the City’s land supply to approximately 13 years in 2025.
Deputy Mayor Anthony Aitken – Windermere Ward
The program for Precinct Structure Plans was informed by two stages of engagement.
The Council decision to approve the development of these new Precinct Structure Plans will ensure appropriate levels of future land supply to support our growth, in addition the existing two plans to be completed in 2023.
The plans will further set the blueprint for a population growth of 110,000 that Council is envisaging in the Northern and Western Geelong Growth Areas.
We have long-term infrastructure needs and this Precinct Structure Planning program will help identify major transport upgrades to link Geelong with these new residential areas, preferred public transport options, and locations for facilities such as schools, stadiums, employment hubs and activity centres.
