Commencing in August business owners and operators will be invited to take part in a census aimed specifically at Central Geelong businesses.
 
The census, known as the Census of Land Use and Employment or CLUE is designed to gather comprehensive information about land use, building infrastructure, employment trends and business activity in the Central Geelong area.
 
City of Greater Geelong Mayor Cr John Mitchell said the census would provide the City with new data on the trends and changes in the inner city area
 
“CLUE will provide us with up to date evidence on the changes and trends occurring in Central Geelong – it will also assist us to deliver the services required by a changing population and better plan for growth,” Cr Mitchell said.
 
“Importantly the census data will also assist us when we lobby for funding support from state and federal governments for public infrastructure projects in the Central Geelong area,” he said.
 
Brownbill ward Cr Barbara Abley said the City was eager to monitor changes to infrastructure, employment and business activities.
 
“Up to date information will be particularly valuable in the light of the current global economic circumstances and with the planned investments by the City and the state government in the Geelong Transit City project,” Cr Abley said.
 
“It is important that the City is able to respond quickly and keep businesses and government informed about any changes in our community and the likely effects on our overall economic health.”
 
The City of Greater Geelong is the only regional city of eleven councils running the census which is a joint project between Council and the state government’s Department of Planning and Community Development.
 
The CLUE census is expected to provide answers to questions such as:

• How does Central Geelong function?
• What does the city centre consist of – building types; floor space useage, business activities?
• What types of businesses and industries are locating in the municipality and how fast are they changing or growing?
• Levels of vacancies on office, retail and industrial space.
• What are the actual trends in employment growth, business development and       residential sector expansion?
• What have been the impacts of major developments?

        
The census results are expected to be available in February next year.
 
“We are seeking support from the state government to conduct the CLUE census every two years in conjunction with the revaluations given the value of the results,” said Mayor Mitchell.
 
“The City of Melbourne has used a similar census process over the past 20 years and the information provided has shown itself to be invaluable to local government and locacenl businesses.”
 
The census will be conducted by a doorknock survey and is expected to take three to six weeks.