Action plan moves forward as city celebrates progress

ALMOST 90 per cent of the actions outlined in the City of Greater Geelong’s annual action plan remain “on track” for completion as of the end of December last year.

The annual plan’s quarterly report, tabled at the council’s March 25 meeting, stated two of the 58 actions included in the Our Community Plan had been “completed”, while a further 51 actions were “on track” for completion by the plan’s closing date at the end of the financial year.

The two “completed” projects are the upgrades to the John Landy Field athletics track, which wrapped up in December last year, and the implementation of a new governance structure and framework of the council’s informal meetings.

Of the remaining actions listed in the plan, the establishment of an Armstrong Creek community garden is no longer going ahead, the development of a driving range of Lara Golf Club is regarded as “off track” following an extension to the consultation process and the delivery of a precinct structure planning program for northern and western Geelong’s growth areas is “delayed” while council waits for the Planning Minister to authorise public exhibition of the plan.

A further two actions – a review of the city’s draft Early Years Infrastructure Plan and the preparation of the next stage of its Reconciliation Action Plan – have been placed “on hold” while the organisation works to understand recent early childcare reforms and recruitment for necessary expertise takes place, respectively.

Geelong mayor Stretch Kontelj celebrated the city’s progress on its 2024-2025 community plan.

“As we progress through the Our Community Plan, we are proud to see 51 out of 58 actions on track, demonstrating our dedication to a vibrant and sustainable community,” he said.

Speaking at the city’s meeting last week, Cr Emma Sinclair said she was looking forward to seeing how the remaining 51 “on track” actions would be implemented over the life of the community plan, which she noted “is coming to a close” with preparations for the next four-year community plan already underway.

The council was also initially scheduled to consider the adoption of the Ocean Grove Sporting Infrastructure Plan, which sets out the city’s priorities for the development of six reserves, at last week’s meeting, but the item was withdrawn from the agenda.

City chief executive Ali Wastie said the decision was made to “support a request from community groups that have yet to respond and provide letters of support” for the plan.

The plan will be presented back to council in the coming months.