FUTURE GEELONG: Social connectivity is being built in new developments through community hubs

Community hubs are becoming key features of Geelong’s new developments. Find out the the important role they play.

Cindy Parker-Bardi, the manager of the Club Coridale community hub in a Villawood development in Lara. Picture: Mark Wilson

As Geelong’s population rockets upward, many of new residents will live in yet to be developed greenfield sites.

Buyers in these developments are often new to the area and have no existing connections.

As such, social connection is essential.

To foster that sense of community, Villawood properties has adopted a “resident’s club model”.

Their membership-based clubs require an annual fee which gives residents access to cafes, gyms, pools, family rooms, shared event venues and more.

The developers have described them as ready-made hubs for social connection.

Two of Villawood’s developments in the region feature these new facilities: Club Armstrong at Mount Duneed and Club Coridale at Lara.

More are planned for Villawood’s upcoming Moorabool development.

Villawood executive director Rory Costelloe said community clubs were a “real focus” of the developments and helped fill a role as an “old scout hall”.

“We build smaller facilities that people can walk to within the community,” Mr Costelloe said.

“When they come to our developments, they all meet in this club and form those common interest group.

“When people feel safe and connected then they’re happy.”

Rory Costelloe from Villawood Properties

Richard Bisinella, director of Bisinella Developments, agreed connectivity was fundamental to developing cohesive communities.

“When we undertake our developments at Bisinella, we focus on how we can enable these physical connections through the infrastructure we deliver as part of our new estates,” he said.

Mr Costelloe said ensuring developments had access employment, education, housing, health and recreation was key to building community cohesion.

Cindy Parker-Bardi is a resident in the Coridale community as well as the club’s manager. Picture: Mark Wilson

Cindy Parker-Bardi,manager of Club Coridale in Villawood’s Lara development, said the club had made a big impact on the community’s connectivity.

“We have a lot of families with younger kids that come into the estate and find that it’s a really good meeting spot for those people that are sort of, you know, wanting connections with like minded people and similar people.”

By hosting social events from bingo to exercise classes, the club aims to make social connections for everyone in the community.

The community hubs include gyms, pools, cafes, and sports courts. Picture: Mark Wilson

Ms Parker-Bardi, a resident of the Coridale development, said she loved living there.

“I first moved here in 2022, and it was just paddock with kangaroos,” Ms Parker-Bardi said.

“To watch it to watch it grow, it’s been magnificent.

“Opening this facility and seeing the people come in and getting to form those friendships and work with people has been a really excellent experience.”

Originally published as FUTURE GEELONG: Social connectivity is being built in new developments through community hubs