THE CITY OF GREATER GEELONG
LAND USE, GROWTH AND ACCESS SUMMARY DRAFT INTEGRATED TRANSPORT STRATEGY
LAND USE, GROWTH AND ACCESS THE OUTCOME WE SEEK Greater Geelong will guide and sequence growth so people can safely and conveniently reach jobs, education, shops, services, open spaces and public transport. Both new and established communities will have the transport infrastructure and services they need. These connections will provide practical alternatives to driving, lower household transport costs and make better use of existing infrastructure.
WHY IT MATTERS The distance between homes, jobs and essential services affects how far people need to go and which transport options they can realistically use. Geelong and established urban areas, alongside continued growth in Armstrong Creek and the Northern and Western Geelong Growth Areas. It also considers how to manage development across the Bellarine Peninsula and surrounding townships. The Integrated Transport Strategy supports this settlement pattern. It identifies the infrastructure and services required to connect new and established communities. Separating housing from employment, education and everyday services creates longer journeys and often leaves driving as the only realistic option. When public and active transport arrive after communities take shape, car -dependent habits can become expensive and difficult to change. Central Geelong and other major activity centres must remain easy to reach as housing, employment and visitor numbers grow. Established areas offer opportunities to house more people close to existing infrastructure, railway stations and services. New growth areas offer a different opportunity. By planning early, we can integrate public transport, walking and riding into these communities from the beginning and coordinate delivery with housing, jobs and community infrastructure. Land use and transport planning must work together. The Settlement Strategy identifies where and how Greater Geelong will grow, while the Integrated Transport Strategy explains how people will access and connect with that growth.
The goal is not to stop people from driving. It is to avoid building communities where driving becomes the only practical choice.
WHAT THE FUTURE LOOKS LIKE Greater Geelong will grow as a connected network of centres and communities. More housing, jobs and services will sit close to central Geelong, activity centres, railway stations and frequent public transport corridors. This pattern will shorten many journeys and make walking, riding and public transport practical for more people. New communities will be ready for transport from day one. Before development begins, structure plans and precinct planning will protect future corridors for public transport, roads and active transport. Streets, paths and bus routes will then provide direct connections between homes, schools, shops, services, open spaces and workplaces. Growth will feature: Early delivery of public transport and active transport infrastructure. Connected and accessible networks of streets and paths. Safe crossings over or across major roads, railway lines and waterways. Mixed-use centres that bring everyday needs closer to home. Higher-density development in places with strong access to sustainable transport. Coordinated delivery of housing, employment, services and infrastructure. Parking that reflects local access conditions and available transport choices. Equitable access for people of different ages, abilities and incomes.
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Figure 9 - Advocacy for new rail and stations to facilitate growth
SECURE
MANAGE
ENABLE
Secure developer contributions and
Sequence development with network
Concentrate growth near centres and
infrastructure agreements.
capacity.
public transport.
Protect future transport corridors.
Manage access and parking through
Support mixed-use, walkable
planning controls.
neighbourhoods.
Coordinate transport and land-use
Locate daily needs closer to homes
Tie growth to infrastructure commitments.
decisions.
Now
As We Grow
Protect future corridors for public transport, roads and active transport
Locate more housing, jobs and services near activity centres, railway stations
before development begins.
and frequent public transport corridors.
Require new communities to include connected streets and walking and
Coordinate the timing of development with improvements to transport
riding networks from the outset.
infrastructure and services.
Identify gaps in transport access that could limit planned growth, then advocate for early infrastructure and services.
As Demand Matures Support mature, mixed-use centres where people can meet a high proportion of their everyday needs without driving. Direct continued intensification towards locations where sustainable transport can efficiently meet additional travel demand.
Improve access to jobs, education, shops and services as communities
Reduce average travel distances and car dependence by integrating land-use
grow.
and transport patterns more closely.
Indicators Sustainable-accessible growth Everyday accessibility Early transport provision Employment accessibility Average trip distance Car ownership by location
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