BANKSIA BEGINS: Next Armstrong Creek housing development under way

DEVELOPERS have broken ground on a new Armstrong Creek housing estate that will create about 500 new homes and a proposed childcare centre.

Project director from Stockland Ed Krushka and City of Greater Geelong deputy mayor Trent Sullivan last week planted the first shovels into the 30-hectare site that is expected to start house builds in August 2023.

The $193 million Stockland Banksia development – named after the native silver banksia wildflower, indigenous to some of Geelong’s coastal areas – is about 10 kilometres south of Geelong’s CBD at the corner of Horseshoe Bend Road and Boundary Road, diagonally opposite Iona College.

A childcare centre is planned at Horseshoe Bend Road at the southern end of the development site.

“We are thrilled to be starting construction at Stockland Banksia and share the start of the journey to create a new community at Armstrong Creek with the council and residents,” Mr Krushka said.

“Geelong is one of the fastest growing regional corridors in Australia, and Stockland Banksia in Armstrong Creek will help to meet the strong demand from homebuyers seeking a low-density coastal lifestyle yet with great connections to the cities of Geelong and Melbourne,” Mr Krushka said.

“It is an exciting time to be creating new communities in the Geelong area, which also includes our new land lease community in Curlewis, contributing to a region that boasts a beautiful natural environment and quality infrastructure and services.”

Cr Sullivan shared the developer’s excitement: “As a community, we are looking forward to welcoming new residents to the area and seeing what opportunities are created from the Stockland community,” he said.

Hari Krishna Nadipelly and his family will be among Banksia’s first residents, and said he “cannot wait to see our future neighbourhood take shape”.

Lot sizes at Banksia range from 319 to 520 square metres, while a future land release announced this month would include blocks starting at 213sqm.

Stockland stated it would aim to deliver “thoughtfully planned and considered home designs that complement the local and natural environment”, featuring tree-lined streets and a waterway to protect local wildlife and bushland.

The developer is talking up the estate’s links to Melbourne’s CBD via the Geelong Ring Road, which has an entry point 6.9 kilometres from Stockland Banksia, or by train from the Waurn Ponds and Marshall railway stations.