Towns’ bypass boost

Andrew Mathieson
COUNTRY towns surrounding Geelong’s bypass have been earmarked for development and a population boom, according to a new regional report.
A study on the economic and land use impacts of the new ring road has found that Moriac, Winchelsea, Inverleigh and Lethbridge are set to absorb some of the projected 50,000 homes required to meet expected demand.
Ed Coppe, chairperson of regional councils alliance body G21, which prepared the report said about 10,000 allotments were already “locked away” for new residents.
Geelong’s Armstrong Creek growth area would provide more allotments but developers were seeking other large blocks of farmland to rezone for housing, Mr Coppe said.
He expected the bypass to prompt a new wave of Melburnians making “tree changes” to the region.
“People will look again at places like Moriac, Winchelsea, Inverleigh and Lethbridge and discover what terrific towns they will be to live in within an easy distance of their work,” Mr Coppe said.
The report said the G21 area’s population would increase 114,000 to 374,000 by 2031. G21 covers City of Greater Geelong, Borough of Queenscliffe and Surf Coast, Golden Plains and Colac Otway shires.
Mr Coppe said Surf Coast Council’s decision last week to knock back a plan for more than 6000 new homes in Torquay’s Spring Creek area would add further pressure to future developments
But he said nearby towns would resist further expansion.
G21 chief executive Andrew Scott said future development must be achieved “easily, efficiently and cheaply” without damaging farming.
“You look at rates of growth for this region and we need to be asking where’s the next Armstrong Creek,” he said.
“That’s clearly starting to come into people’s thoughts and what’s been happening at Spring Creek becomes part of that picture as well.”
Mr Scott said the transport industry had already indicated the bypass would be a hub for its operators.
The bypass would create at least 5000 jobs, he said.
“Companies already located in Geelong say they will be better off near the ring road,” Mr Scott said.