We're calling on Armstrong Creek residents to consider our plans to transform a vacant site into a recreation and community hub, with areas for sport, exercise, social gatherings and play.
Our Draft Coastside Drive Recreation Reserve Master Plan covers 13.5 hectares of land, situated on the corner of Coastside Drive and Horseshoe Bend Road.
More than 2,600 residents will be able to access the reserve within a short 5-10 minute walk and nearly 35,000 community members live within a 5-10 minute drive radius.
We're proposing to deliver:
- four soccer pitches, with the ability to support cricket matches
- sports pavilion, including change rooms, public toilets and undercover viewing areas
- district play space, with a drinking fountain, shelter, BBQ area and bike racks
- accessible path network throughout the reserve, as well as a 2.5-metre-wide shared bicycle and pedestrian path
- open space
- protection and enhancement of natural vegetation, including a potential nature walk
- up to 150 car parks
Play equipment will be designed to provide for a diverse range of ages groups and abilities. As part of the engagement, we're asking community members to use an interactive tool to show us your top priorities for inclusion. Options include nature play, obstacles, climbing equipment and slides.
Have your say before 11.59pm on Sunday 24 August or attend our onsite drop-in session on Saturday 9 August from 10am-12pm. Hit 'Follow' for updates on the project.
We're also engaging with state sporting associations, local sporting clubs, Wadawurrung Traditional Owners and community advisory groups. Consultation has already taken place with state sporting associations to confirm their support for the types of sporting fields that are proposed to be delivered in Armstrong Creek.
After analysis of the feedback, we expect that a final master plan will be adopted by Council later this year. Detailed design is due to begin next year, with construction kicking off in 2027 and completion in 2028*.
Greater Geelong Mayor Stretch Kontelj OAM
Council is investing $18.4 million into the planning and implementation of the Draft Coastside Drive Recreation Reserve Master Plan.We want the Armstrong Creek community's feedback on this proposed recreation and community hub that blends high quality facilities with the natural environment.
The master plan's aim is to promote a sense of place and community, prioritise accessibility and active transport, provide integrated facilities and protect and enhance the native flora.
Councillor Emma Sinclair
The final masterplan will improve the mental health and wellbeing of residents in Armstrong Creek and protect and nurture the habitat.We're expecting the number of residents calling the Armstrong Creek Growth Area home to rise by more than 39,000 by 2046.
The Draft Coastside Drive Recreation Reserve Master Plan will help us to cater for this increased population and higher proportion of younger residents, fostering long-term community health and wellbeing.
Existing and future residents of Armstrong Creek will be pleased to learn that the area's vegetation will be retained and enhanced with nature trails.
This commitment, outlined in the draft plan, will future proof our region's natural beauty.
While the landscape master plan identifies the spaces nominated for a community hub, school and residential and commercial development, these are separate projects and outside of the scope of the $18.4 million recreation reserve master plan implementation project.
The school is currently being constructed and is due to open in 2026, along with the community hub next door.
The community hub will be a modular style of construction with frontage to Warralily Boulevard and will also include kinder services from 2026.
*There is potential for estimated timelines to change without notice.
