Rundle Mall, Adelaide, Bourke St Mall, Melbourne could come to Geelong, Ratio consultants says

Vehicles would be banned from key parts of Geelong’s city centre under a vision floated to promote discussion about revitalising the CBD. What do you think?

An idea to shut Moorabool St, Malop St and Corio St and Little Malop St to cars has been floated by planning consultant Ratio. Pictured is Ben Krastins, left, and James Hamilton. Both are senior associates with Ratio. Picture: David Smith.

Vehicles would be banned from key parts of Geelong’s city centre under a vision floated to promote discussion about revitalising the CBD.

The idea, pushed by planning and transport consultancy Ratio, would see cars stopped from entering Moorabool St between Broughamand Ryrie streets; Malop St between Gheringhap and Bellarine streets; and Corio St between Gheringhap and Moorabool streets.

Ratio said its vision could turn Geelong CBD streets into pedestrian-dominate areas like the Bourke St mall in Melbourne, Adelaide’s Rundle mall or The Corso in Manly, New South Wales.

Map which outlines Ratio's proposal to shut Geelong CBD streets to cars.

Shutting city streets to vehicles provided more space for public art and alfresco dining, and would allow buses to operate more efficiently, Ratio said.

The idea is being floated as part of the Future Geelong series run by the Geelong Advertiser to examine how the city’s potential can be unlocked.

Under the plan the insection of Malop St, Gheringhap St and Mercer St would remain open but Little Malop St between Moorabool St and Yarra St would be close to vehicles for most of the day.

Transport senior associate at Ratio, Ben Krastins, said shutting some streets to vehicles would lift liveability of the CBD as it moved to a planned population of 12,000 people by 2050.

“If we are thinking well, well into the future of (greater) Geelong being at 500,000 or a million people, and we are trying attract more visitors (into the CBD) feeding off The Spirit of Tasmania, Avalon Airport and the planned CBD hotels, it’s really about widening footpaths to make for a more walkable experience... and provide for more opportunities like alfresco dining,” Mr Krastins said.

Moorabool Street. Picture: Alan Barber

“(This idea) goes to a capacity issue; when there is so many people walking around the CBD in the future, the existing space given to pedestrians won’t be enough, there’ll be too much congestion. There is opportunity to make it into a Bourke St-like space,”

“We still need to have available CBD parking so people aren’t circling looking for parking.”

In 2020, Geelong council voted to unravel parts of the Malop St Green Spine and increase parking.

Weeks later the state government intervened to veto the move and take over the project.

Of the Corio St and Little Malop St proposal, Mr Krastins said: “It wouldn’t be dissimilar to the way some of the ‘little’ streets operate in Melbourne’s CBD, which are closed to all vehicles at times.”

Of the Malop St proposal, he said: “A futuristic vision is that it would become a premium retail, mixed use precinct where people live, shop and work and effectively becomes a green spine that doesn’t have access to cars.”

Originally published as Rundle Mall, Adelaide, Bourke St Mall, Melbourne could come to Geelong, Ratio consultants says