One of Geelong’s most bustling shopping precincts is getting a well-earned facelift in 2026.
Pakington Street is on the path to a major refresh, with footpath renewal works set to commence next year.
The project is part of the City’s annual asset renewal program and responds directly to community concerns about the condition of these footpaths.
We’ll deliver these works after Pako Festa and the Easter shopping period to ensure the project causes minimal disruption to the community.
Once complete, the renewal will deliver a more stable and accessible footpath that better supports the needs of traders, shoppers and visitors to this vibrant strip.
This investment in Pakington Street goes beyond just fixing pavers: it’s an investment in the long-term success of our local economy.
Small businesses, like those lining Pako, form the vital economic and cultural backbone of Geelong. They employ local residents, sponsor community groups, and provide unique goods and services that big chain stores simply cannot match.
Pakington Street thrives because of its diverse collection of independent boutiques, cafes and grocers. These local traders create a unique sense of place and community connection that reverberates well beyond Geelong West.
The City’s commitment to maintaining and enhancing this area is crucial for keeping these businesses competitive and ensuring that our residents have accessible, attractive local shopping options.
The current footpath was built 30 years ago with brick pavers and needs a renewal to meet community expectations and the standard of service we strive for as a local government.
It will be replaced with an asphalt surface, featuring brick-edged segments measuring three metres by three metres.
We completed a very similar project earlier this year at Highton Village’s Belle Vue Avenue, where we used the existing pavers to preserve the unique character of the shopping hub.
The renewal used asphalt, which is usable by the community shortly after placement, enabling our team to reopen sections of the path within hours, rather than days. This significantly minimised disruption to businesses and pedestrians.
We tailored this work around the needs of each business and our team worked with individual traders to adapt the construction schedule for each section of path.
This is one of the main benefits of having our own City Works teams completing these projects – it enables us to be agile and collaborate closely with stakeholders.
We will keep the community informed of the Pakington Street project’s scope and timeline, and install on-site signage prior to construction.
While the project will cause some minor disruption to pedestrians, it is essential to ensure the safety and quality of one of our region’s most loved shopping strips.
I’m grateful to local traders and residents for their ongoing feedback and cooperation as we work to improve the safety and usability of our public spaces.
We are working closely with the Geelong West Business Association to ensure these works cause as little disruption to our traders as possible and we recently hosted an open forum for traders and stakeholders to raise any questions and concerns.
We will continue to engage with all stakeholders to ensure we are on a shared path to a renewed and revitalised Pakington Street.
