12496497-CG22-21
March 27, 2026 Ü¡
FREE DIGITAL EDITION
SIG N U P N O W!
Nice day for fishing
(Ivan Kemp) 542737_09
It was a great day for some fishing at Geelong waterfront on Tuesday 24 March for Kyle Stevenson and his children Elsie and Spencer (pictured). Kyle already had one snapper in the bag and was hoping for more. We have had some wonderful autumnal weather this week with temperatures in the mid-20s. But it was about to turn nasty as the Independent went to print with the first real cold front of the season set to sweep through early yesterday afternoon, bringing rain. Temps will drop to a chilly 17 degrees today (Friday 27 March) and hover around 20 degrees for the weekend. It’s set to brighten up on Monday with a forecast maximum of 24 and then Tuesday and Wednesday will remind us that the warm weather hasn’t left us with Tuesday and Wednesday expected to get to 30 degrees. For more pictures at the waterfront on Tuesday, see page 23.
Priorities on track Geelong council’s overarching plan for the next four years is progressing according to plan, but councillors have bemoaned the state government’s lack of investment in the city’s infrastructure. Councillor Anthony Aitken presented the first six-monthly update on the progress of the four-year plan at the City Hall meeting on Tuesday night. The plan, which set the City’s strategic direction until 2029, outlines 31 major initiatives across six strategic objectives: core and critical infrastructure; healthy and caring community’ economic development; heritage and culture; environment and circular economy; and governance and integrity. Cr Aitken that while the report “says most
items are on track” it was “very hard to be able to make that assessment” given the “brief time period”. “We’re six months into a four-year plan; we’ve got a long way to go,” he said. “What is important is there’s one item that isn’t on track, but that actually because of councillor intervention. “And that is one of the major initiatives, to upgrade the existing resource recovery facilities, prepare for the new food organics, green organics and the glass kerbside collection services.” In December last year council unanimously opposed the state government’s mandated rollout of new purple glass bins as too costly and unsustainable, advocating instead for the expansion of the popular Container Deposit Scheme.
“That intervention by the council has stopped and delayed this particular project, but it was an important decision that council made,” Cr Aitken said. Councillor Andrew Katos highlighted the need for the release of more land for development in the north of Geelong. “Geelong is running out of land, it’s plain and simple,” he said. “Armstrong Creek is almost gone, land-wise, and the growth fronts out in the north are well and truly stalled. Whether it be from state government or from us, we need to open up more land in the north. “It’s about affordability; we want young people to be able to afford their own homes. If the price of land keeps escalating because of lack of supply, then it’s just making building your first home out of the reach of young people.”
Cr Katos also used the discussion to attack the state government for its lack of action on infrastructure investment, particularly around transport and drainage.. “The integrated transport plan, so much of that is sitting with the state government,” he said. “The trucks in Ryrie Street, how long has that been an issue? Former mayor John Mitchell got elected on that issue 20 years ago and it still hasn’t been resolved…the Bellarine link hasn’t progressed at all. “And then there’s our public transport network, which in my book is a shambles in Geelong. It needs major investment. “We need some major decisions and investment from the state government and hopefully, being an election year, we’ll see either investment from the state (government) or from the opposition.”
& WJYNWJRJSY ^TZ Ð QT[J Inspect our displays BOOK YOUR TOUR TODAY 1800 777 898 | armstronggreen.com.au 722–742 Barwon Heads Road, Armstrong Creek 12847901-MS12-26
2-3
2
2
ALFRESCO
BEDROOM TWO 4.2 x 3.0
ROBE
By Matt Hewson
DINING 3.5 x 4.6
STUDY BEDROOM THREE 2.3 x 3.9
LOUNGE 3.5 x 4.6
BATH ROOM DW
BUTLERS PANTRY
KITCHEN 5.6 x 2.5
LAUNDRY 4.2 x 1.9
FRIDGE
WO MW
LINEN
WM
ENSUITE
WIR
MASTER SUITE 4.2 x 3.6
GARAGE 5.5 x 6.1
VERANDAH