Community feedback welcomed for South Geelong landfill

THE City of Greater Geelong is calling on the community to have its say after endorsing plans to redevelop the South Geelong Landfill.

Set on 158 hectares of land, the former landfill located between the Geelong Racecourse and the Barwon River is currently being used by the city to store clean fill from local road and drainage projects.

After closing in 1990, the land has also played a significant role in assisting with the recycling of concrete and other materials.

Under the draft South Geelong Landscape Plan, the city proposes to improve landscaping to reduce dust and improve stormwater management, as well as a new perimeter fence with a shade cloth and fill mound.

The landscape design will only apply to 15 hectares of the overall site with plans to reshape the eastern embankment.

In 2020 soil embankments were created to screen residents from the industrial activity with the additional work to further provide a visual screen for nearby residents.

Geelong mayor Stephanie Asher welcomed the community’s feedback on the draft which she said would reduce the dust and visual impact of industrial activity for neighbouring residents.

“This draft plan aims to protect and preserve the amenity and liveability of the neighbourhood for local residents,” she said.

Work will be carried out in stages with the initial fencing and mound to be completed before the end of the year, followed by reseeding the grass to reduce the dust and planting indigenous trees.

Brownbill Ward councillor Sarah Mansfield said the reduction in dust and sediment runoff would provide a positive impact for those living and working in the area.

“The plan is to revegetate and capture stormwater which will have a positive effect on dust and runoff at the site,” she said.

“I encourage anyone who lives or works in the area to view the draft plans and provide feedback on the proposed landscaping.”

Community members can view the plans via the City of Greater Geelong’s website.