Central Geelong would be home to 16,000 people and 60,000 jobs in 2050, according to a 30-year framework plan for the city.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, central Geelong had a resident population of 2518 in 2021 and 22,906 jobs in 2016.
On Wednesday, the state government released its ‘Central Geelong Framework Plan – A Plan for the heart of Djilang 2022’, which focuses on the growth and development of Geelong’s city centre, providing direction for future building design and scale.
The government said the plan would deliver new planning controls for central Geelong to create jobs, growth and enhance Victoria’s second largest city as a great place to live, work and visit.
The plan outlines upgrades to the city’s streets and public spaces and improved public transport.
“Central Geelong is significant to the state and the Barwon region, and better design guidelines will protect important community values and provide greater certainty for investors to plan ahead,” Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny said.
G21 – Geelong Region Alliance chief executive Giulia Baggio welcomed the plan, saying Geelong’s CBD was “shockingly underutilised”.
“At the moment less than one per cent of our population is living in the city centre,” she said.
“The framework plan aims to get this up to four per cent by 2050. However, we could be aiming for greater numbers in a shorter time frame. The city of Newcastle, for example, has been revitalised with seven per cent of its population living in its central precinct.
“In addition to permanent residents, Geelong as a university city needs to make the most of its student population by providing an affordable and attractive CBD lifestyle.
“This city should be an economic engine room for Victoria and Australia and the report recognises this as key goal.
“At the moment it’s a shockingly underutilised asset in need of modern public transport and active transport connections, and CBD housing options that will be attractive to a new generation of young and talented people who are already choosing to move to the region.”
Geelong mayor Trent Sullivan said the plan “will give certainty” to development and help attract new investment in central Geelong.
“We are looking forward to working with state government on its delivery, as we grow and develop to accommodate 60,000 jobs and 16,000 residents over the next 30 years, compared to 20,000 jobs and 2,500 residents currently in the city centre,” he said.
