Council releases final South Geelong plan

SOUTH Geelong residents have their final chance to influence a new planning vision for the area, as the City of Greater Geelong (COGG) outlines an overhaul.

The council has released its Interim Final South Geelong Urban Design Framework (UDF), which will guide development decisions for the suburb as COGG aims to provide greater housing opportunities close to its city centre.

The latest UDF plan follows rounds of community consultation late last year and the second part of a heritage study that COGG finalised last month.

The council has reduced areas designated for high-density housing and increased heritage-protected areas to include a further 193 properties in response to community feedback during earlier stages of the plan.

Revised plans also decrease proposed heights limits for apartment blocks on Carr Street from 10 storeys to six.

The now-vacant Carr Street Barwon Water site is identified as a key development site, alongside South Geelong station opposite.

Current carparking south of the station towards Verner Street would be transformed into a public plaza including retail stores, supermarkets and medical centres, while a multi-level commuter car park would also form part of a revamp of the transport hub.

Moorabool Street is also earmarked for large-scale redevelopment, with the council hinting at a rezone that would enable multi-storey apartment complexes to rise at the site, with commercial premises on the ground floor.

Blocks surrounding the train station, along Fyans Street and immediately north of Kardinia Park are slated for “substantial change”.

The UDF’s provision of more high-density housing opportunities follows planning strategies and amendments in the past 15 years that aim to facilitate more housing diversity in the city, where detached, single-dwelling lots account for 85 per cent of total housing stock.

COGG will host a one-hour, online q-and-a session on March 16 about the project.

Further information has been sent to local residents by mail, which is also available alongside the full report on the council website.

Submissions on the final UDF close on April 8.

COGG indicated it would finalise the framework mid-this year, before beginning implementation before the end of 2022.