Building works in pipeline as Warralily hits 10,000 people

As Geelong’s biggest housing estate at Armstrong Creek has reached a population of 10,000, there is plenty of community facilities to be delivered. See what’s in the pipeline.

Anthony Barnett was the first to buy a block at Warralily in Armstrong Creek. Picture: Peter Ristevski

New schools, neighbourhood shopping centres and sporting facilities are in the pipeline as Geelong’s biggest housing development surpassed an estimated population of 10,000.

Warralily marked the milestone after it exchanged 4232 contracts, with 3620 homes completed in the estate stretching across Armstrong Creek and Mt Duneed since 2010.

Anthony Barnett, who bought the first lot in Armstrong Creek, has watched the community develop.

“I was attracted to the new growth area as a good place to raise my children and a setting where community feel would grow,” he said.

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“The people are wonderful and it’s awesome having great neighbours who look out for each other.

“The environment is fantastic too and there are lots of places for my boys to explore and be active with their friends.”

Land sales surpassed previous records last financial year with 604 lots selling on the back of the HomeBuilder scheme.

Since 2010, 88 per cent of lots have been sold, with the 568 lots remaining expected to provide 2.5 years supply, based on average 240 lot sales per annum, Warralily general manager Mark Whinfield said.

The Warralily community at Armstrong Creek is now home to an estimated 10,000 people.

The price of a 448sq m lot at Warralily was $159,000 in 2010. Today it’s $450,000.

But there are still plenty of community facilities to be built across the suburb, such as schools, local shopping precincts and sporting ovals in precincts near Surf Coast Highway and Horseshoe Bend Rd along Warralily Blvd.

They include a swim school (at Warralily Village); two primary schools (which will be a matter for the state government) and active open spaces with ovals, netball courts, sports pavilion and playgrounds. Mixed use precincts will include local shops and cafes.

Some of the work is already under construction.

Numerous parks and shared pathway connections are also in the pipeline, with a final restoration project along Armstrong Creek from Surf Coast Hwy to Airport Rd.

Armstrong Creek resident Anthony Barnett pictured at the first ballot to purchase land in 2010.

The developers expect to remain on site for at least four more years, including civil construction over 12 to 18 months after the last lot sale and maintenance of assets for two years after the estate is completed.

Geelong mayor Peter Murrihy said Armstrong Creek is a why Geelong is one of the nation’s fastest-growing regions.

“It has been great to see Warralily develop over the past decade into such a thriving and connected community,” he said.

Cr Murrihy said there’s some exciting work underway on major infrastructure projects in the Armstrong Creek Town Centre, which will make the suburb an even more attractive place to live, work and play.

“We’re looking forward to providing more local spaces and places as the population continues to rise in the coming years.” he said.

Mr Whinfield said Armstrong Creek’s first masterplanned community to release land continues to lead the market in terms of sales and community development.

“We invested in community development from the beginning, when our first resident moved in, and the sense of belonging from this still resonates with residents a decade later,” Mr Whinfield said.

“A strong community spirit is what sets Warralily apart and is something we are really proud of.”

Originally published as Building works in pipeline as Warralily hits 10,000 people