Cranes have become a familiar sight on central Geelong’s skyline.
We’ve seen a spate of corporate office towers open in the past eighteen months, including GMHBA’s new headquarters and Council’s own Wurriki Nyal.
And the transformed Geelong Arts Centre and two high-rise hotel developments – on Ryrie Street and Gheringhap Street – are edging closer to completion.
More commercial and mixed-use developments are in the pipeline, with hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of investment proposed for the CBD.
But while there’s much to be optimistic about, there remains areas to address.
The Market Square precinct – which is known as the ‘heart’ of central Geelong – is widely acknowledged as being ripe for development.
It is a place that has regularly reinvented itself.
Marking the site where the city was founded in the 1850s, Market Square has since hosted a public produce market; an exhibition building that was converted into a theatre; and more recently a shopping centre and public mall.
In recent years, Council has helped enhance the atmosphere and amenity of the areas around the shopping centre.
The regular live music and entertainment program; school holiday activities; and art installations are among the initiatives we’ve introduced to help attract and retain people in the public space.
However, issues surrounding the site remain.
These include a loss of former laneways, lack of connections between the shops and the public areas, declining retail sales and antisocial behaviour.
As our city’s ‘heart’, Council think it is vital that we help all stakeholders, including landowners.
So, to help determine and promote Market Square’s development potential, work is underway on developing a masterplan.
The Market Square Masterplan aims to guide the regeneration of the block bounded by Malop, Moorabool, Ryrie and Yarra streets.
It will focus on improving the public realm, shaping Little Malop Central as a key public space, and providing better connections with surrounding precincts, such as Little Malop West.
In consultation with Wadawurrung Traditional Owners, the masterplan will look at ways to celebrate Wadawurrung history and culture.
It will consider traffic movements within and outside the area, and importantly, it will also explore how privately-owned buildings can be progressively revitalised.
Hopefully, this masterplan will provide the guidance – and the ideas – to allow the Market Square block to flourish.
It will also ensure that landowners’ plans align with the agreed vision, ensuring better outcomes between Council-led and private projects.
Your ideas are now being sought to help develop the draft masterplan.
This can be done online at yoursay.geelongaustralia.com.au/MSM, or you may see City officers at the shopping centre during your next visit.
The draft masterplan will be considered by Council later this year, and will be released to the public for feedback and submissions before it is finalised.
Please, share your ideas and your experiences before community consultation closes on 24 February.
