Feedback sought on public facilities

THE City of Greater Geelong is seeking community feedback on the Social Infrastructure Plan 2014–2031, which provide a planning framework that can help guide decision-making and investment in city-owned spaces and places.

The city maintains more than 500 community buildings, 275 playgrounds and more than 2,000 hectares of open space across diverse urban, coastal and rural settings.

However, the council faces several challenges relating to the creation and maintenance of these facilities – Geelong’s population is set to grow from 245,000 to about 395,000 over the next two decades, finances are constrained by reduced government funding and rate-capping, many of the city’s buildings are aging, and the existing provision of infrastructure is inconsistently located with some suburbs enjoying better access than others.

Feedback is required to identify which community places, spaces and services people use, and which ones they cannot get access to easily at the moment and why.

Ideas on how to make fair and informed decisions on investment are also sought. Interested community members are invited to go to www.geelongcity.com.au/yoursay to learn more and to complete the survey.

Printed surveys will be available at all City of Greater Geelong customer service centres and at libraries within the municipality.

“These important spaces and places are where we get involved in community life and form connections with people living in the same area,”

Geelong mayor Bruce Harwood said.

“This is something that affects us all, so we hope to hear from as many people as possible about which community places and spaces they value most, and what they feel is needed.

“We plan to find clever and creative ways to overcome the challenges we face, and make sure everyone has access to high-quality community facilities, regardless of whether they’re in central Geelong, on the coast or in rural areas.”