Plans for two major Corio warehouse developments

Corio could be home to two major warehouse developments if plans before Geelong council and the state government are approved.

A proposed warehouse and storage facility in Corio, as viewed from Railway Ave. Picture: Supplied.

Corio could be home to two major warehouse developments if plans before Geelong council and the state government are greenlit.

Plans for a $23m industrial complex, comprising 29 warehouses and 14 storage units, are before the City of Greater Geelong.

The vacant 1.7ha site, located at 17-29 School Rd and 11 Railway Ave, was sold in April 2024 for an undisclosed price, after being advertised as a possible development site.

According to the planning documents, the proposed development would strengthen the use of “large and under-utilised parcel of land” in the heart of Corio’s industrial area.

The site is located on the northwestern corner of the intersection of School Rd and Railway Ave, about 200m east of the Princes Hwy and 50m west of the Geelong railway line.

“The application proposes the construction of 29 warehouses with ancillary upper-floor offices and loading areas and 14 storage units,” the documents state.

The warehouses would be 10.1m high, with the site to also include 176 on-site carapaces.

The proposed site of a warehouse and storage facility in Corio. Picture: Supplied.

Meanwhile, planning consultancy firm Urbis has prepared a planning application for a site at Heales Rd on behalf of developer Bisinella.

The application details plans for 12 warehouses at 235-245; 255-265 and 275 Heales Rd, Corio.

“As a substantial industrial development, the proposal will deliver critical high-amenity industrial infrastructure and local employment opportunities within the Geelong Ring Road Employment Precinct,” the report states.

According to the report, the construction phase of the project would generate 47 full-time jobs per year and $52m in “total gross value added over the construction period”.

Once complete, the site could generate 435 full-time jobs and add $70.7m.

It is not yet known what businesses would be based at the site.

Plans state the project would deliver “a range of other benefits”, if approved, and could lead to better employment outcomes in Greater Geelong.

“The proposed development will deliver significant industrial floorspace across the 12 warehouses, along with ancillary office space and other staff amenities,” the plans state.

Plans for the School Rd and Railway Ave site are open for public comment until July 5, while plans for the Heales Rd site are before the Planning Minister.

Originally published as Plans for two major Corio warehouse developments