A year of change, growth and strength is highlighted in the City of Greater Geelong's Annual Report 2024-25 , which was noted at the October council meeting on Tuesday.
The report showcases how a new council, new infrastructure and new initiatives have shaped one of the fastest-growing regions in Australia.
There was also growth of a different kind.
One of the year's most memorable moments was the rare blooming of the corpse plant, Amorphophallus titanum, at the Geelong Botanic Gardens in November 2024.
More than 20,000 people queued to see – and smell – the rare phenomenon, as captured on the cover of this year's report.
The once-in-a-decade event also attracted 67,000 webpage visits and more than 350,000 live stream views from across the country and overseas.
The surge of interest boosted the total number of visitors to the gardens from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025 to 126,000 – a 55 per cent increase on the previous year.
It was a big year for our parks and natural assets, with the City of Greater Geelong named a Tree City of the World once again and more than 2,500 trees and 3,500 tube stock planted across the municipality.
Beyond the blooms, the report demonstrates a clear commitment to community services and infrastructure, health and wellbeing, advocacy and financial responsibility. By the numbers, we:
- DELIVERED 31 core services and more than 100 sub-services, including 34,230 hard waste collections, 55.7 kilometres roads resurfaced, and 10,999 children seen by the Maternal and Child Health service.
- INVESTED $139.3 million in capital works projects, including roads, buildings, open spaces and community facilities, including Biyal-a Armstrong Creek Library, Lara Recreation Reserve, Landy Field, and The Nest Youth Hub.
- STRENGTHENED our engagement approach face-to-face and online to involve more than 9,249 community members in 58 projects, with the 2025 Youth Survey receiving 3,790 responses.
- AWARDED 261 community grants worth $4.3 million.
- SECURED $20.45 million in government funding for local Priority Projects, plus a further $68.2 million for the duplication of Barwon Heads Road.
- RECORDED a surplus of $118.9 million and total revenue of $629.8 million, while net assets rose to $5.3 billion.
Mayor Stretch Kontelj OAM
Supporting one of Australia's fastest-growing regions brings both opportunity and expectation. I thank councillors past and present who contributed to a year of transformation while maintaining that steadfast focus on our residents. This report reflects a council committed to sustainable growth, responsible financial management and creating a thriving, resilient community.
City of Greater Geelong CEO Ali Wastie
We've continued to invest in the services, infrastructure and facilities that make a difference every day, while managing the pressures of rate caps, inflation and rising construction costs. This report shows the scale of our work, the diversity of our community, and the many ways we're responding to local needs. There's a lot to be proud of, and even more to look forward to.
The Annual Report 2024-25 closes the chapter on Our Community Plan 2021-25 and we now look to the new Council Plan 2025-29 , which sets our strategic direction for the next four years and carries forward the community's 30-year Clever and Creative vision.
