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Settlement Strategy - implementation update
On 25 August 2020 Council adopted the Settlement Strategy. Ministerial approval of amendment C395 which introduces the key directions as policy in the Greater Geelong Planning Scheme was gazetted on 5 June 2021. 

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We are delivering the objectives of the strategy through a number of projects see below:

  • Spatial Distribution of Growth and Land Supply
  • Northern and Western Geelong Growth Areas framework plan On 25 August 2020 Council adopted the Northern and Western Geelong Growth Areas framework plan to support the development of two new communities.
  • Housing Diversity The City will continue to support housing diversity through appropriate infill development and through the planning of strategic sites and our growth areas.
  • Social and affordable housing A dedicated social and affordable housing officer has been working on a social housing policy based on the adopted Social Housing Plan. This work has informed social housing requirements including provision rates and/or contributions in growth areas and infill projects.
  • Managing Future Growth
  • Bellarine Peninsula Distinctive Areas and Landscape - Protected settlement boundaries We are working with the State Govt on the Bellarine Distinctive Areas and Landscapes project which seeks to protect what the community values on the Bellarine Peninsula. This includes implementing protected settlement boundaries for townships on the Bellarine. This will provide a long-term boundary for townships. Individual township Structure Plans will no longer be required to be reviewed. For more information visit Engage Victorias Bellarine Peninsula page 
  • Urban Geelong Long-term Boundary Review A review of the Citys long term settlement boundary is underway with more information found at the project page.
  • Northern and Western Geelong Growth Areas – Precinct Structure Plans The Northern and Western Growth Areas Framework Plan was adopted by Council on 25 August 2020. The City is now working on Precinct Structure Plans (PSPs) for the Creamery Road precinct in the Western Growth Area and the Elcho Road precinct in the northern growth area.
  • Social Infrastructure Plan The Social Infrastructure Plan outlines the needs of our community investment priorities relating to social infrastructure  and the way forward to ensure that people know what is planned in the place that they live. Social infrastructure includes indoor and outdoor community places and spaces including sporting facilities playgrounds and parks leisure centres community halls libraries neighbourhood houses and much more.
  • Development Contributions Plans (DCPs) DCPs provide financial and works in kind contributions towards infrastructure that supports new master planned communities.View our DCP
  • Urban Consolidation The City is progressing several residential and mixed-use precincts identified for more intensive housing.
  • Pakington Street Urban Design Framework
  • South Geelong Train Station Urban Design Framework 
  • Saleyards Precinct 
  • Central Geelong

Monitoring and review

The City regularly updates land supply. The latest update was prepared in April 2022 by Spatial Economics.

Key findings:

  • Population growth has increased on an average annual basis of 2.4 percent or nearly 6 000 persons per annum from 2016 to 2021. In 2021 the resident population growth rate declined to 1.8 percent. Future dwelling requirements will continue to be based on the planning growth scenario of a 2.5 percent population growth rate.
  • Due to the significant and all-time high volumes of residential greenfield land pre-sales Spatial Economics have assumed that from March 2022 to the end of the calendar year of 2023 continued levels of peak construction activity will continue at approximately 3 500 greenfield lots per annum. From January 2024 the 2.5 percent population growth scenario is applied to estimate the total dwelling requirements for the City of Greater Geelong.
  • As measured from 2022 to 2036 it is estimated that there will be a dwelling requirement within greenfield estates of approximately 47 640.
  • In total there is approximately 22 years supply of undeveloped (zoned and unzoned) residential broadhectare land stocks across the municipal area of Geelong. Of this supply there is approximately eight years of zoned residential broadhectare lands.

Work is progressing on the Marshall PSP Creamery Road PSP Elcho Road East PSP and Jetty Road Stage 2 to maintain residential land supply.

Consultation on the next tranche of PSPs will commence shortly.