Plan for region’s future housing and development moves forward

THE City of Greater Geelong has adopted a strategy that will see the Bellarine’s contribution to housing supply decline over time.

One of the focuses of The Greater Geelong Settlement Strategy is to protect what the community values most about living in Geelong, including protecting the natural environment and green spaces.

Council agreed to adopt the strategy last week following a second round of community consultation, which received 73 submissions, resulting in a number of changes to the plan.

The Greater Geelong Settlement Strategy is a planning framework to ensure the municipality can meet the amount of housing required until 2036, based on a high population growth scenario of 3 per cent.

It directs where growth and development can occur in the region and has an emphasis on sustainable urban growth.

“Adopting the Greater Geelong Settlement Strategy ensures we are responsibly catering for the inevitable growth of our region in a way that aligns with our clever and creative vision to support population growth and protect our natural environment,” Mayor Bruce Harwood said.

“There will be further opportunities for the community to have their say and we want to hear from anyone with questions or concerns.”

A key direction of the strategy is the plan for the Northern and Western Growth Areas to accommodate future housing needs through urban infill, accommodating more than 100,000 new Geelong residents.

Council will now request the Minister for Planning to authorise the preparation of a planning scheme amendment to implement the recommendations of the strategy.