The lifestyle city is here

Ask Peter Dorling, executive director of the Committee for Geelong, what he thinks of Geelong’s future and it’s clear he feels Geelong is a city whose time has come.

“Geelong has seen more major investment in building and development in the past five years than in the previous 20,” he says. “Geelong has been discovered for the lifestyle city that it is. And, very importantly, it has overcome the tyranny of distance now that it is just 45 minutes’ travel time to Melbourne, thanks to improved roads and highways.”

The Committee for Geelong is a group of leading Geelong citizens who work to develop Geelong’s social, economic, cultural and environmental conditions through advocacy. The committee works with the G21 Regional Alliance, which brings together the Borough of Queenscliffe, the City of Greater Geelong and the shires of Colac Otway, Golden Plains and Surf Coast to collaborate with more than 100 local community and business agencies in the interests of the Geelong Region.

Andrew Scott, the chief executive officer of G21, agrees Geelong is a bright spot in a gloomy economic climate. “With our great natural resources and attractions, world-class infrastructure, the lifestyle and tourism, we are very confident that Geelong will continue to perform very well, even in a challenging economic climate,” he says. “We feel we have made a tremendous amount of progress, and we recognise that there is still a lot of potential.”

Mr Dorling is confident. “Geelong is well worth investing in, the returns are great, and people are seeing that.”

The list of infrastructure projects approved or under way in the Geelong region reflects the confidence.

Barwon Health has built its new emergency department at the Geelong Hospital and redeveloped the McKellar Centre in North Geelong, making it the largest aged care and rehabilitation facility outside Melbourne.

Deakin University is expanding its Waterfront campus in central Geelong, and the Dennys Lascelles Building is being redeveloped at a cost of $37 million to increase the campus capacity. More than 1200 students attend the campus, which features a 320-seat lecture theatre, science and technology centre, laboratories, design studios and other facilities.

Deakin has also built the Geelong Technology Precinct at its Waurn Ponds campus to accommodate research and innovation with industry. A ‘proof of concept’ facility is also being constructed at Waurn Ponds so concepts can be developed from the laboratory bench to the point where industry can take them to market.

The Transport Accident Commission (TAC) is a newcomer to Geelong and already a key player. The TAC has just completed its relocation from Melbourne to new headquarters in the centre of Geelong. The move is predicted to inject $59 million a year into the local economy and generate more than 850 new jobs. It is seen as hard evidence of the Victorian Government’s commitment to growing the whole of the state.

Kate Sullivan, general manager of development sustainability with the City of Greater Geelong, says the TAC’s new home in Brougham Street is one of the city’s most sustainable buildings, with a five-star energy rating. Harrison Place, recently completed nearby, will also provide state-of-the-art office accommodation, with the added bonus of spectacular views of Corio Bay.

“If you get above two or three levels in this city, you do get panoramic views,” G21’s Andrew Scott says. “And that is one of the things that attracts investors and attracts people to live and work here.”

The Western Wedge development, between Latrobe Terrace, Corio Bay and Geelong’s CBD, is also pushing the boundaries upward. It borders the railway line and contains a lot of industrial buildings on the waterfront. “The Wedge is the city’s redevelopment area where we want a mix of residential, commercial and retail,” Ms Sullivan says. “We are happy to see good design and we can be flexible about height.”

The city’s largest retail development has been the $200 million expansion and upgrade of the Westfield shopping complex.

“They have expanded the retail space so it now occupies both sides of Yarra Street and it is connected with a flyover that contains eateries with views over Corio Bay,” Ms Sullivan says. Council has identified $350 million in ‘escape expenditure’ a year in Geelong – money that is spent outside the local area. “This Westfield development goes quite a long way to addressing that problem,” she says.

Mr Dorling says the Geelong Conference Centre’s $2 million makeover will also help to keep spending at home. The refurbishment, due to be completed later this year, will transform the centre’s accommodation facilities to four-star standard, as well as provide state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment and modernise the facility’s public areas.

“This is important because the Geelong Conference Centre has such an impact right across the region,” he says. “It brings lots of people to the region who use accommodation, hospitality, tourism and retail.”

Geelong’s waterfront location offers scope for niche developments such as the planned Geelong Marine Industry Precinct at a site in North Geelong overlooking Corio Bay. It is planned to make Geelong the hub of Victoria’s marine industry.

“The project will involve the reclamation of six hectares of seabed to build a hard dock for boat repairs – a facility that will be useful as the site is just south of the Port of Geelong,” Ms Sullivan explains.

Beautiful Corio Bay is also attracting interest from potential residents. To cater for the growing demand, several waterfront apartment complexes are planned or under way. Names include the Bayview, Pier Point, Promenade and the Edgewater.

“Council is encouraging apartment building in the city, we want to see it happen,” Ms Sullivan says. “Corio Bay is north-facing, so the views and the light are just fantastic.”