West Fyans - Fyans Street Precinct Structure Plan

Coomes Consulting have recently been engaged by the City of Greater Geelong to prepare a Structure Plan for the West Fyans-Fyans Street Precinct (an area bound by the north bank of the Barwon River, south side of Fyans-West Fyans Streets, Swanston and Shannon Avenue) and are currently gathering information and working towards developing a Background Report.

Background

The City has over the last few years undertaken strategic planning work for the West Fyans Street area including the West Fyans Strategic Land Use Plan 2002 and Housing Diversity Strategy 2007 (these documents can be viewed under 'Strategic Planning Reports and Strategies'). These strategies identify the West Fyans Street precinct as a key development area which could accommodate significant medium density development in the future.

The Structure Plan process will entail reviewing the strategic planning work to date, and consulting with all interested parties within the Fyans Street/West Fyans Street precinct. The intention is to produce a Structure Plan which provides clear direction for development and land use in this precinct, which will then be included into the Greater Geelong Planning Scheme via a formal Planning Scheme Amendment processes under the Planning and Environment Act 1987.

Project Timing

The project will run over the next 8-9 months (due for completion in August) and is comprised of three phases:

Phase 1: Project Inception (complete)

• Clarifications of project aims
• Site inspection
• Communication Strategy agreed with Project Manager

Phase 2: Understanding the place / future directions (underway)

• Strategic policy review
• Assessment of economic implications, urban character, community and social infrastructure, service infrastructure and carparking, access and traffic
• Identification of key issues, opportunities and constraints
• Consultation with stakeholders

Phase 3: Draft structure Plan

• Collation and assessment of comments from stakeholders and the public, policy review, urban design assessment, traffic assessment, economic assessment, social assessment and data.
• Development of a draft Structure Plan

Phase 4: Final Structure Plan

• Consultation and evaluation of exhibition of draft structure plan
• Finalise documentation and draft amendment
• Finalise Structure Plan
• Adoption of Structure Plan by Council

Consultation

• Council wrote to all land owners in the study area in August 2007 and received a number of preliminary submissions identifying a range of issues and opportunities. These have been used by the consultant team to gain an understanding of study area challenges.
   
• A land owner/business operator workshop was conducted on Thursday March 6 2008 from 12 noon - 2.00pm in the Council Chambers, City Hall, Gheringhap Street, Geelong. The purpose of the workshop was to provide an overview of the project, opportunities for input and timing as well as clarify the various issues that apply within the study area.
  Workshop Notes (PDF-20KB)
   
• West Fyans - Fyans St Precinct Structure Plan - FAQs (PDF-26KB)
   
• Study Area Map (PDF-783KB)
   
• Coomes Presentation - West Fyans Workshop (PDF-226KB)

Project contact

Project manager for the City of Greater Geelong is Tim Hellsten Coordinator Projects Planning Strategy 52270988 thellsten@geelongcity.vic.gov.au