THE City of Greater Geelong will use a pair of state government grants to make two of its major growth areas more environmentally sustainable.<\/p>\n
The city was one of the councils to share in more than $3.2 million in funds from the Streamlining for Growth program announced earlier this week.<\/p>\n
Established in 2016 and administered by the Victorian Planning Authority (VPA), the program aims to facilitate faster and more cost-effective permit-ready delivery of employment and residential land across the state.<\/p>\n
According to the VPA\u2019s list of approved grant applications, the city received two grants towards its Northern and Western Geelong Growth Areas (NWGGA) – $215,000 for a biodiversity funding framework, and $120,200 for innovation delivery.<\/p>\n
The first project will deliver a funding model and funding mechanism to mitigate the impacts to the environment from urban development and provide certainty for government and industry.<\/p>\n
The second project will assist with creating solutions for issues including zero-emissions development; urban greening, increased tree canopy coverage and co-location; and Water Sensitive Urban Design including passive irrigation, all identified in the city\u2019s NWGGA Framework Plan.<\/p>\n
The city has resolved a planning and policy approach to innovation in greenfield planning, \u201chowever the delivery process including technical, process and maintenance matters requires significant input\u201d, the VPA\u2019s document states.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis will provide more certainty to all stakeholders and facilitate a quicker approvals process.\u201d<\/p>\n
The plan is the city\u2019s vision to address Geelong\u2019s long-term greenfield population growth.<\/p>\n
It proposes two distinct growth areas with a combined 40,000 dwellings holding more than 112,000 people across a total area of 5,331 hectares.<\/p>\n
The city\u2019s grants both fell under the Better Regulation and Streamlined Processes stream of the program.<\/p>\n
This year, the program focused on projects that would support Victoria\u2019s economic recovery and address land supply shortages in regional Victoria and Melbourne\u2019s growth areas.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know regional Victoria is facing land supply and affordability pressures, which is why two-thirds of this year\u2019s funding was focused on the regions,\u201d Planning Minister Richard Wynne said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe funding will help local councils with staffing or financial support to unblocking or fast-track strategic planning projects to deliver new homes and jobs faster.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis program has a track record of delivering faster and more cost-effective permit-ready land for new homes and jobs across Victoria.\u201d<\/p>\n
Labor says it has confirmed funding for a seventh year of Streamlining for Growth in 2022-23.<\/p>\n
For a full list of grant recipients, head to the Victorian Planning Authorities website.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THE City of Greater Geelong will use a pair of state government grants to make two of its major growth areas more environmentally sustainable. The city was one of the councils to share in more than $3.2 million in funds from the Streamlining for Growth program announced earlier this week. Established in 2016 and administered […]<\/p>\n