2800 new homes needed in Geelong’s CBD to meet 2050 draft report target

An expert from Deakin University has shed light on the kind of residential developments needed to accomodate the city’s growth goal.

Greater Geelong’s CBD will need to add thousands of residents over the next four years for the city to reach a target of 10,000 people by 2026.

And experts say creating liveable areas in existing and underused buildings is key to helping the city achieve this goal.

As of 2020, central Geelong had a population of just 2807 – with a council report showing less than 1 per cent of the city’s population calls the CBD home.

The number of Geelong city dwellers is far smaller than Wollongong – which has a CBD population of 17,676 (8.4 per cent) and Newcastle – where 11,073 people (6.9 per cent) live in the city.

Yolanda Esteban from Deakin University. Picture: Mike Dugdale

The City of Greater Geelong’s draft Central Geelong Framework Plan, which lists the target of 10,000 resident by 2026, notes that while Wollongong and Newcastle have similar CBD employment rates to Geelong they have been far more successful in attracting residents to the city.

Deakin University senior lecturer at the school of architecture and built environment Dr Yolanda Esteban said empty shops along key precincts had created “key challenges” in drawing people to the city.

“There’s hasn’t been a huge amount of vibrancy along the main streets, like Moorabool and Ryrie streets,” Dr Esteban said.

“Some of the street life is starting to pick up, but it will only go so far without having people in the centre of town.

“More housing in central Geelong will bring that added vibrancy, street life and diversity – which becomes really important for a city.”

The city’s framework notes that central Geelong support 22,906 jobs, representing 22 per cent of total employment across Greater Geelong.

It notes that demand for “employment-related floorspace in Central Geelong is expected to be strong over the next 30 years”.

The report also says the residential population of the area is also expected to rise, “driven by people seeking lifestyle and proximity to employment”.

“From 2011 to 2016 the resident population of Central Geelong has grown by 4 per cent per annum from 1720 to 2087 people, with growth of the working age population particularly strong,” the report notes.

“The resident population is anticipated to grow to between 7135 and 12,039 people by 2050, requiring between 2805 and 5529 additional dwellings.

“Most of this new housing in central Geelong is expected to be in higher density apartments, with a trend towards mixed-use and ‘shop top’ style developments.”

Dr Esteban said new high rise living must not be seen as the only type of residential accommodation, and instead said there should be a focus on refurbishing existing buildings.

“There a lot (of buildings) that are currently empty,” she said.

She said “one of the biggest challenges” could be consulting with and managing land and property owners to get a “positive outcome”.

Peter Murrihy. Picture: Alison Wynd

City of Greater Geelong Mayor Cr Peter Murrihy said council was working with the state government on a suite of projects to activate the city centre.

“The Central Geelong Framework Plan sets the future vision for Central Geelong and determines where future residential development will go,” he said.

“The framework will be incorporated into the planning scheme and will provide greater certainty for future development opportunities.”

Originally published as 2800 new homes needed in Geelong’s CBD to meet 2050 draft report target