Future Geelong: Premier Jacinta Allan announces 400 new homes for Waurn Ponds precinct

Premier Jacinta Allan reveals 400 homes – including more than 70 for low income earners – will be built on the site that was earmarked to be the home of athletes during the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Premier Jacinta Allan speaking at Friday’s Future Geelong event. Picture: Alan Barber.

Up to 400 new homes will be built in Waurn Ponds on the site where the Commonwealth Games’ athletes’ village was to be situated prior to state government sensationally scrapping the event last year.

Premier Jacinta Allan announced the move at GMHBA Stadium on Friday, where approximately 330 people gathered for the Geelong Advertiser’s second annual Future Geelong event.

Ms Allan said government agency Development Victoria would oversee the construction of the homes on a parcel of land immediately south of the Waurn Ponds train station.

More than 70 social and affordable homes will form part of the mix.

“Today I can announce that the site formerly earmarked for the Waurn Ponds Athletes Village will become home to hundreds of new and affordable homes, for those families across the region,” Ms Allan told the crowd.

“It’s currently in the early design stage … to make it more attractive to families, the design phase will ensure the development includes green, open space for local families and everyone it will need to support families.”

Premier Jacinta Allan. Picture: Alan Barber.

Ms Allan said the site had significant benefits, including its proximity to public transport, education and healthcare.

“Every Victorian deserves an affordable and secure place to call home and our government is absolutely committed to delivering just that,” she said.

The announcement did not specify a timeline or estimated costs.

Development Victoria partners with industry to deliver community precincts on previously unlocked public land.

“We create vibrant communities that enrich the local area with affordable housing, outdoor spaces and community facilities tailored to meet local needs,” its website spruiks.

The agency is also overseeing the construction of the Geelong Convention Centre.

The Waurn Ponds site was to be home to 2500 athletes and officials during the 2026 Commonwealth Games before being transformed into publicly available accommodation.

Upon canning the event in July because of what the government said were considerable cost blowouts, then premier Daniel Andrews announced a $2bn compensation package for regional Victoria.

The package included $1bn for 1300 social and affordable houses across regional Victoria.

It remains unclear how many of those homes will be built in Geelong

Committee for Geelong chief executive Michael Johnston has been calling for additional detail from the government ever since the event was scrapped and welcomed the announcement.

“We look forward to seeing further detail,” he said.

“Activating our rail corridor is crucial in our city’s growth, we need improved public and active transport options.

“Waurn Ponds can be the first of a number of transport hubs in Geelong, based around our rail station precincts, providing higher density housing and a range of services.”

Mr Johnston said it was crucial local companies were prioritised for the project.

South Barwon MP Darren Cheeseman, who was Parliamentary Secretary for the Commonwealth Games until its axing, said there housing was the most important issue facing Geelong.

“That is why I am pleased that this affordable housing project will be delivered for our community, right next to the recently redeveloped Waurn Ponds train station,” he said.

Working together a must

Collaboration is key for Geelong to prosper and the community must play a part in leading the region’s evolution from a heavy industrial hub to a modern, thriving city, Future Geelong attendees have been told.

“I think it is actually too easy to throw the hot potato in one direction,” Barwon Water chair Jo Plummer said.

“I do think it is absolutely about a collaboration, but again I think it partly needs to be community led.

“We can sit and wait and actually put out our hands and wait for someone to come and fix the problem for us and live with the conundrum in the interim, or we can lead it.”

Ms Plummer joined Geelong mayor Trent Sullivan, Viva Energy chief executive Scott Wyatt and GeelongPort boss Brett Winter for a panel discussion at Friday’s Future Geelong event at GMHBA Stadium.

Geelong Advertiser editor Nadja Fleet puts questions to panellists Scott Wyatt, Trent Sullivan, Jo Plummer and Brett Winter. Picture: Alan Barber.

The quartet were asked by Geelong Advertiser editor Nadja Fleet whether the private sector or government should play the lead role in helping guide Geelong through its ongoing economic transformation.

Mr Sullivan said it was vital council and government worked together effectively, highlighting previous projects such as the Ring Road and the city’s bike lane network.

“I can’t place responsibility on any one person, it’s about coming together,” he said.

“Everyone is coming to the table with good intentions and that’s what it’s about.”

Mr Winter said the government had played a critical role in stimulating economic activity in the past decade and now it was up to Geelong to attract investment from the private sector.

Asked to define in one word what the city should be known for, Mr Winter, Ms Plummer, Mr Wyatt and Mr Sullivan respectively said: ambition, courage, equality, and cleverness.

Prior to the panel, Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles spoke about how his upbringing in Geelong continued to guide his decision making.

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles speak with Geelong Advertiser editor Nadja Fleet. Picture: Alan Barber.

The Defence Minister highlighted attributes of the area that must be leveraged for success on an international level, singling out northern Geelong which falls within his Corio electorate and the benefits that will flow from Korean company Hanwha establishing itself at Avalon.

“I’ve long felt that is the probably best transport and logistics land in the country, with the convergence of sea, rail and road in a geographically strategic place,” he said.

“When you think about defence, amateurs will think about guns, pros think about logistics, there is a lot to like from a defence point of view about this region.

“I think there are huge opportunities and I think Hanwha is the first expression of that.”

Originally published as Future Geelong: Premier Jacinta Allan announces 400 new homes for Waurn Ponds precinct