Timely land release for Geelong

Premier John Brumby announced State Government was “releasing land” at Geelong’s Armstrong Creek this week – one day before the release of figures showing a 9.1 per cent fall in Victorian building approvals.
The opposition branded the Australian Bureau of Statistics figures for the three months to September as “disturbing”.
South Australia was the only other state to record a fall, with approvals in Victoria’s near neighbour declining nine per cent.
Mr Brumby visited Mount Duneed with Planning Minister Justin Madden on Tuesday to announce rezoning of the Armstrong Creek area for development.
“Today we’re not just releasing land; we begin building a new community,” Mr Brumby said.
“There won’t just be homes and jobs, but schools, retail space, parks, open space, bike paths and a place for the people of the region to create a home.
“This land release is the largest ever for Geelong and will help cater for an extra 22,000 homes while providing a great local jobs boost.”
Authorities expect new estates to start appearing at Armstrong Creek in one to two years.
Opposition housing spokesperson Matthew Guy said the Government was too slow releasing the land.
The land should have gone on the market during recent boom times for Australia’s economy, “not at the start of an economic slowdown”, Mr Guy said.
“Geelong has suffered land supply shortages for years due to State Government inaction,” he said.
“Labor’s timing is hopeless – this land should have been released at the start of the year to get projects underway much sooner, to ease the housing affordability crisis earlier and to provide a reliable and steady boost to the local economy.”