Have your say on City’s Market Square Quarter masterplan

The recent launch of Council’s Christmas program at the Lighting of the Tree showcased yet again how spectacular our waterfront is.

Every year thousands of people gather here for this, and many other events, and the location never fails to disappoint.

But it is so important for us to ensure that other key public areas – such as central Geelong – best serve our growing community and visitor base.

There is so much that our city has to offer, both to locals and visitors.

One only needs to look to the revitalisation that has occurred at the west end of Little Malop Street, as well as the arts and cultural precinct, to see what can be done with a bit of planning, investment, and imagination.

It would be wonderful to see that vibrancy extended to other parts of central Geelong, including along Little Malop Street, which forms part of the Market Square Quarter.

The Market Square Quarter is bound by Malop, Yarra, Ryrie and Moorabool streets, and includes the Market Square shopping centre, Centrepoint Arcade and a small section of Little Malop Street.

Earlier this year we asked the community to share its ideas on different ways to improve the Market Square city block by making it a more welcoming, safe and accessible space.

The feedback generated on the City’s Have Your Say page was incredibly valuable, with nearly 8,500 views from 3,341 visitors.

These insights have formed the basis for a draft Market Square Quarter masterplan, which will open for further public consultation from next week.

The preferred ‘Malop Heart’ option proposes turning the Market Square Quarter into the thriving heart of Geelong, with Little Malop Street Central reinvigorated by a pedestrian ‘Eat-Street’, Centrepoint Arcade redevelopment and new plaza designed in collaboration with Wadawurrung Traditional Owners.

In addition, it would include an adaptable central open space to support outdoor events and markets, a 5-12 storey development above sleeved podium parking with the potential to include a fresh food market, street planting improvements along Moorabool and Yarra Streets, and the conversion of Union Street to slow traffic speeds with more greenery planted.

This city block is a crucial and strategic destination for our city.

It provides a place for locals and visitors to shop, dine and experience the best of what the region has to offer.

It is for this reason that it is appropriate we explore how privately owned buildings, City-owned public space and key connections to the surrounding area can be revitalised.

After all, the final masterplan will ensure that any future development plans from landowners align with the vision for this precinct, and better outcomes between City-initiated and developer-led projects.

But we need the community’s help.

We are at the draft masterplan stage, and feedback gathered throughout the consultation phase will guide our next steps.

So, I strongly encourage those with an interest in this precinct to get involved.

The consultation will run from Monday, 4 December through until Sunday, 11 February, and can be accessed via the City’s Have Your Say page.

For any Council-related matters, please feel free to contact me on 0434 307 045 to raise an issue, or reach out via the City’s website (www.geelongaustralia.com.au), via phone (03 5272 5272), via email ([email protected]) or via the City app.

Councillor Peter Murrihy

Brownbill Ward