The AvalonCorridor Strategy has been adopted, with Council requesting that the Minister for Planning implement the final strategy into the Greater Geelong Planning Scheme.
The strategy sets out how 30,000 hectares of land between Geelong and Melbourne should be used, in order to guide planning decisions to 2050 for individual sites and the surrounding region.
The Avalon Corridor features environmentally and culturally important landscapes encompassing Little River and parts of Lara, and includes major assets such as Avalon Airport and the Melbourne Water Western Treatment Plant.
The strategy was developed in partnership with Wyndham City Council and in collaboration with the Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning.
The green break between Geelong in regional Victoria and Werribee in metropolitan Melbourne will be maintained as part of the Avalon Corridor Strategy.
The area's significant views, grasslands and wetland habitat areas and Wadawurrung cultural values will be protected, while important economic and transport connections between the two regions will be retained.
The strategy will protect Western Treatment Plant operations, limit residential growth, support expanded airport operations and foster new land use, development and employment opportunities as appropriate.
Feedback from the community, landowners and major stakeholders such as the Victorian Government, Wadawurrung Traditional Owners and Avalon Airport helped to shape the final strategy.
Consultation raised a number of themes such as green break safeguards, employment, biodiversity and townships.
The precinct boundary for the structure plan has been included in the final Avalon Corridor Strategy, including additional land south of Dandos Road. The VPA will continue investigations where land is identified as an Extractive Industry Interest Area.
Mayor Trent Sullivan
The Avalon Corridor Strategy presents the chance to create new employment opportunities for the growing Greater Geelong and Wyndham regions.
As our combined populations are projected to grow by more than 317,000 over the next 20 years, this strategy will be vital in providing economic certainty for future employment opportunities in our municipalities.
We look forward to the Victorian Planning Authority (VPA) preparing a structure plan for the Greater Avalon Employment Precinct, to guide development of suitable land within and adjacent to Avalon Airport.
Deputy Mayor Anthony Aitken
We thank the community, landholders and stakeholders for having their say.
The Greater Geelong Council supports the long-held view that there must be a green break between Geelong and the metropolis of Melbourne, as our natural environment and Wadawurrung cultural sites in the north need protecting. The Avalon Corridor Strategy enshrines these significant planning principles.
The Avalon Corridor Strategy, if approved by the Minister for Planning, will also be the engine room of job growth for our region for the next 30 years, with a future Bay West Port and Avalon Airport being the jewels in this employment precinct.
