Geelong’s population expected to skyrocket

GEELONG will be home to about 112,000 new residents by 2050 thanks to council’s commitment to establish two growth areas in the city’s northern and western suburbs.

In a meeting on Tuesday March 26, councillors voted in favour of the lengthy Northern and Western Growth Areas Framework Plan, which has been in the works since May 2013.

The document outlines urbanisation plans for both Lovely Banks and Batesford across a total growth area of 5,331 hectares.

Councillor Anthony Aitken welcomed the unanimous decision, suggesting the move will create exciting opportunities for the region.

“This is actually the most important decision that a Geelong council will make for the next 30 years,” he said.

“We are actually agreeing to establish a new city the size of Ballarat.”

Cr Aitken said the Western Growth Area is expected to have a population of around 65,000 and will be about the size of Shepparton.

He went on to describe the Northern Growth Area as being double the size of Warrnambool.

After initial plans for the two areas were released for public consultation in May last year, residents living in a rural section near Lovely Banks expressed concerns about potential zoning changes.

In response, council decided to keep this area as a rural living zone.

Councillor Sarah Mansfield, who chairs the environment and sustainability portfolio, said she hopes the framework will result in “some very liveable and sustainable communities”.

Keeping in tune with the city’s 30-year clever and creative vision, the areas are proposed to include 19 primary schools, five secondary schools, healthcare centres, police stations and multi-purpose community spaces.

Walking and cycling will be central to the design of the two neighbourhoods to promote active transport.

A 48-billion litre freshwater lake will fill the Batesford quarry in the Western growth zone, while the Northern growth zone will connect Lara with urbanised Geelong.