A Geelong ratepayers group says Victoria's second-biggest city must not be allowed to become a "mini-Melbourne", after the state government unveiled a 30-year vision for the regional hub.
Businesses and investors had been waiting for years for the government to endorse Geelong's central framework plan, so construction of new commercial and residential buildings in central Geelong could go ahead.
It means dozens of construction projects can now proceed to the application phase.
The government's 30-year plan lays out rules and restrictions for building height limits and setbacks, the shadowing of spaces from new buildings and improvements in public transport.
The state government oversees most development approvals in Geelong's CBD instead of the local council.
Before the state government stepped in, there were few restrictions on building heights in Geelong, meaning the city was potentially a free-for-all for large skyscrapers.
Now, much stronger controls will be brought in to limit building heights in specific areas to protect the character and views of the waterfront and minimise overshadowing.
The draft plan released in 2021 said height limits would be between 13m and 60m, while the approved plan changed that to 16m along the beach and 60m in other parts of the inner CBD.
Ratepayers Geelong president Peter Mitchell said it was important 60m-high buildings did not make their way onto the waterfront.
"We don't want a Surfers Paradise here," he said.
"We need to maintain the character of Geelong and not make it a mini-Melbourne."
Under the plan, Geelong's main shopping centre will also be allowed to build up to 60m — a detail that was not in the draft plan.
Other major city changes in the plan include:
- Tearing up three parking lots and replacing them with open public space
- Increasing the population of the CBD from 2,500 to 16,000 by 2050
- Increasing people working in the CBD from 20,000 to 60,000 by 2050
- Making streets safer and more accessible for pedestrians and cyclists
- Redirecting freight trucks away from central Geelong
- Ensuring development along the waterfront does not obstruct views
- Creating a second central green spine for cyclists
Public transport key to Geelong's 'paradigm shift'
The government also wants a "paradigm shift" to "reduce and discourage on street parking" in Geelong by improving the city's bus network.
Currently, more than 80 per cent of trips to central Geelong are done by car. The plan wants that reduced to 50 per cent by 2047.
Mr Mitchell said the volume of traffic coming through Geelong to coastal locations and issues with the city's bus network posed serious challenges.
"The problem with the bus network is the lack of convenience of it — a lot of the buses go a long way around Geelong and are not convenient for anyone to use," he said.
"If they revamp it I'm all for public transport but they've tried several times and failed."
He said it was up to the state's transport department rather than the council to improve the city's public transport offering.
"I don't think buses are sufficient in Geelong given the size it is," Mr Mitchell said.
"The biggest issue with cars is through traffic — it's people going through the CBD to get to the Bellarine and Surf Coast."
Property advisor Nat Anson said residents could expect construction to ramp up in the wake of the plan's approval.
"I think you'll see a significant change in central Geelong," Mr Anson said.
"It absolutely does mean we should expect to see substantial development that can cater to a residential population."
He said the plan should be put into action "in a committed and rapid way".
"The short-term priorities in the plan need to be underway and ready to welcome the world for the 2026 Commonwealth Games," he said.
"Let's get on with it."
Permanent residents needed for a colourful CBD
Geelong Regional Alliance chief executive Giulia Baggio said Geelong's CBD desperately needed the plan to encourage people to move in.
"At the moment the city barely has a pulse," she said.
But Ms Baggio was disappointed the targets for those living and working in central Geelong were lower than the comparable regional cities of Newcastle and Wollongong, which have 6.9 per cent and 8.4 per cent of residents living in the city centre, respectively.
"Perhaps we should be aiming higher and faster," she said.
"We know also from Melbourne's experience that permanent residents are the key to a living, breathing, colourful CBD."
Ms Baggio also encouraged the government to begin implementing the plan as soon as possible.
"We need to use the Commonwealth Games as the catalyst to start moving. Geelong is too important an asset to be left to languish," she said.
"We need the resources to fast track the approvals.
"I would think because it's taken quite a while for the plan to come forward, government should be ready now for implementation.
"There's no reason to delay and there's every reason in the world to get on with it."
