Community consultation sessions are being held this week to help Wyndham and Greater Geelong residents and stakeholders have their say on the draft Avalon Corridor Strategy.

The strategy is a land use framework developed in partnership with Wyndham City Council and in collaboration with Victorian Department of Environment Land Water and Planning.

The Avalon Corridor covers 30 000 hectares of land between Geelong and Melbourne and includes major assets such as Avalon Airport and the Melbourne Water Western Treatment Plant.

The strategy aims to protect:

• significant infrastructure and important cultural and environmental values while creating new job opportunities through the proposed Avalon Employment Precinct
• the ‘green break’ between Geelong and Melbourne recognise significant environmental and cultural values and create a framework for future jobs in Geelong and Werribee.

It will guide the location and extent of future development to 2050.

Once finalised the strategy will be incorporated into both the Greater Geelong and Wyndham Planning Schemes via a planning scheme amendment.

Submissions via the City of Geelong close at 5:00pm on Tuesday 21 September 2021.

• Have Your Say on the strategy now.

Councillor Anthony Aitken - Windermere Ward

The strategy will help us make the most of our region’s strong freight rail and air transport links to support jobs and economic growth.

Greater Geelong’s and Wyndham’s populations are projected to grow by more than 317 000 over the next 20 years. We want the Avalon Corridor to become the engine room for our growing economy.

Councillor Kylie Grzybek - Chair Statutory and Strategic Planning

We want to manage urban growth and maintain the unique identity of Greater Geelong and our townships such as Lara and Little River.

COVID-19 has shown us how much we rely on our natural assets for recreation. The strategy outlines further protections for conservation areas such as the You Yangs Regional Park Serendip Sanctuary Western Grasslands Reserve and Avalon Coastal Reserve.

Councillor Adele Hegedich - Wyndham Mayor

The Avalon Corridor is an important tract of land and it needs to be protected. It has some amazing environmental assets including the coastline. We don’t want urban sprawl to ruin what is an important green break between our cities.

At the same time there are opportunities for targeted growth and economic benefits for Wyndham residents including jobs.

We certainly welcome residents’ feedback on this strategy and encourage them to find out more.