A new suburb rises
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Over the next few years, the new suburb of Armstrong Creek will emerge on the paddocks south of Geelong. The suburb, only minutes from the Geelong waterfront, will accommodate more than 50,000 people. The City of Greater Geelong has developed a masterplan for the growth area, which covers 2500 hectares. The aim is to encourage highly liveable communities with a focus on accessible activity centres that include retail, commercial and education facilities. The suburb will also generate employment through the creation of 22,000 jobs. The City’s manager of planning strategy and economic development, Terry Demeo, says the council proposes to accommodate the majority of Geelong’s future urban growth in this corridor, and the partnership with the Victorian Government through the Geelong Planning Working Group will see faster approvals and a liveable community. “The corridor will set new benchmarks in urban development, encouraging a full range of housing options from family entry-level housing to higher-density options, and ensure that critical services are in place when communities need them,” Mr Demeo says. Major property investors such as Villawood and The Dennis Family Group are assembling land in the corridor with the intention of developing the area as soon as possible. A railway station was built three years ago at Marshall, a short distance away. Another station is proposed for Armstrong Creek, providing public transport options for residents, particularly to and from Melbourne. The City, with Victorian Government approval, is working towards rezoning the corridor from farming to an urban growth zone. |
