LOCAL PROVISION GREATER GEELONG PLANNING SCHEME

21.26 INTEGRATED TRANSPORT

Importance and Key Issues

Transport systems not only affect urban form, but are an important consideration in assisting economic development, sustainable environmental development and quality of life. The attributes of Greater Geelong, the city, the coast and the country are all made accessible to the community through Geelong’s existing transport system. The system comprises road, rail, sea and air infrastructure which accommodates various private and public modes including cars, buses, trucks, ships, bicycles, trains, aircraft and pedestrians. Integrated transport infrastructure links are important to Geelong’s economic development. Similarly, transport links are important to the future tourism development of the municipality. The ‘Transit City’ status of the Geelong Station provides opportunities for better integration of transport with development and improved access to the public transport services provided at the regional transport hub. The City has a bicycle network of nearly 200 kilometres of on-road routes, and 85 kilometres of off road trails. As Geelong’s industry and population base grows, placing increasing demand on the transport systems, it is vital that existing transport infrastructure performs efficiently to service these needs to facilitate growth. However, this needs to occur having regard to the amenity, environmental, social and equity values of the community. Transport needs and issues for the municipality in the coming years include:

ƒ Improved road safety, particularly on the Princes Freeway; ƒ The need to upgrade the Princes Freeway in view of new industrial development in Melbourne’s outer west and northern Geelong; ƒ Improved access and reduced travel times for freight and private commuters between Geelong and Melbourne and other regional centres; ƒ Improved public transport services within the Central City, southern suburbs and on the Bellarine Peninsula. ƒ The need to integrate the local road, rail and air systems into the national transport network; ƒ Reduction of the adverse impacts of roads on abutting properties and pedestrians so as to improve the quality of life of Geelong residents (ie traffic calming); ƒ Improved access to major tourist areas including Geelong, Bellarine Peninsula and the Surf Coast; ƒ The need for an intermodal facility either close to the Port or outside of urban Geelong; ƒ Linking of the Port to the Standard Gauge rail network; ƒ Investigation of a ring road for Geelong incorporating the Eastern/Southern Bypass, in conjunction with the Western Bypass, for which construction of Stage 1 will commence with the up-grade of the Princes Highway; ƒ The need for traffic management measures to deal with the ever increasing impact of tourist traffic at peak times throughout the year. ƒ Improved integration of public transport services with more intensive development around the Geelong Station ‘Transit City’ location. The Geelong Outer Freeway Reservation, also known as the Western Bypass, was incorporated into the Geelong Regional Planning Scheme in 1980 to provide a long term solution to Geelong’s future traffic needs. The long standing reservation for this route by

MUNICIPAL STRATEGIC STATEMENT - CLAUSE 21.26 PAGE 1 OF 6 DATE TO BE INSERTED BY DSE LOCAL PROVISION GREATER GEELONG PLANNING SCHEME

passes the western perimeter of urban Geelong, linking the Princes Highway in the north and south west. The Outer Freeway Reservation has traditionally been the boundary of the westward expansion of urban Geelong and that remains Council’s policy. Future planning and development along the Outer Freeway Reservation should be cognisant of the potential for significant passing traffic volumes. VicRoads has since acquired and is still acquiring much of the land for this proposed route, hence the application of the PAO3. Successive studies in the 1990’s have reviewed the need for, and timing of, an Outer Freeway. Construction at the northern end is due to commence in the 1999/2000 financial year and will provide direct linkage between the Heales Road Industrial Estate and the Princes Freeway. Construction will provide immediate benefit for the township of Lara which is also affected by industrial traffic, particularly from the Heales Road Industrial Estate. Improved industrial traffic routes to service this area through improved links to the Princes Freeway would bring significant benefit to both residential and industrial land uses in this area. There is no definitive time frame for construction and completion of the remaining sections. These will however, be built incrementally from the north to the south over future years subject to VicRoads funding and traffic demand. Irrespective of the immediate or long term construction of the Outer Freeway, investigations are planned in the coming years into the feasibility and suitability of an eastern and southern bypass of Geelong somewhere over or under Corio Bay between Point Henry and Point Lillias linking across to the Princes Highway near the Grovedale area. The planning implications arising from this issue will be seriously considered as part of this process. Since 1975 a bypass route to the east of Drysdale-Clifton Springs has been proposed and this forms the southern and eastern boundary to the growth of the townships. Whilst current and projected growth and traffic data do not indicate a need for construction in the short to medium terms, longer term planning by VicRoads supports continued acquisition of the land for the bypass, and a PAO3 has been applied accordingly. The Geelong to Melbourne rail line services Lara, Little River and Werribee and hosts regular passenger services. Travel times are in the order of one hour. Improvements to the system could significantly affect the potential accessibility (and therefore attractiveness) of Geelong and its role as an alternative residential location to the western suburbs of Melbourne. The southern suburbs of Geelong, the growth areas of the past 20 years, have good road access. Despite the main Melbourne to Warrnambool railway line passing these areas there is no railway station in the area (the closest being the South Geelong station). The residents of the southern suburbs, Deakin University students and residents of the future growth corridor would significantly benefit from a railway station being constructed. Council supports investigations into the selection of a suitable site. The City’s location as the gateway to the Bellarine Peninsula, Surf Coast and Great Ocean Road generates conflict between local and recreational traffic particularly on weekends and during the peak summer holiday period. It is expected that the tourist use of these accesses to the Great Ocean Road and Peninsula is likely to increase thus placing greater demands on the City to upgrade roads supporting these coastal areas. An efficient and effective transport network is vital for the Greater Geelong economy. The strength of the trade and commuting (8% of Geelong residents) connections between Geelong and Melbourne remain important. As these connections continue to strengthen linkages to northern Victoria are enhanced, upgrading of the Princes Freeway will become essential. Recent budget allocations from the State and Commonwealth Governments have secured the upgrading of this road, with works projected to be completed by mid-2002. Conflict between road transport and local amenity reduces the livability of urban areas. Subdivision practices that fail to clearly delineate the road hierarchy will result in inappropriate road use and traffic loads. A high proportion of arterial roads in the municipality have residential, school and commercial frontages and therefore require modification of their traffic function to complement abutting development.

MUNICIPAL STRATEGIC STATEMENT - CLAUSE 21.26 PAGE 2 OF 6 DATE TO BE INSERTED BY DSE LOCAL PROVISION GREATER GEELONG PLANNING SCHEME

Although access to, from and within the Central Activities Area is good, through traffic is reducing the attractiveness of this precinct as a shopping and recreation area. Managing traffic flow by sharing the load between east-west city streets will enhance the amenity and overall viability of the CAA. Planning for travel by bicycle and for pedestrians is an important consideration in the preparation of local township structure plans and outline development plans for new growth areas. To maintain and foster further bicycle and pedestrian movements across the City future ‘outline’ planning needs to ensure that new facilities are provided and adequately link new areas into existing networks. These networks form key components of Council’s open space system.

Objective 1

To provide an integrated transport system that serves the needs of residents, visitors, students, business and industry and supports the long-term environmental, economic and social sustainability of the municipality.

Strategies

ƒ Maximise Geelong’s transport assets and linkages with Melbourne to further develop trade and commuting connections. ƒ Provide for a safe and efficient network of local and arterial roads facilitating access to Geelong and the distribution of traffic through urban areas. ƒ Preserve the option for the Outer Freeway (Western Bypass) ƒ Plan for future transport needs when considering the location and timing of urban growth. ƒ Capitalise on the benefits provided by the proximity of major transport linkages and assets, including the Princes Freeway, Port of Geelong, Avalon Airport, and the Geelong-Melbourne railway line. ƒ Plan for better linkages between different land uses with a view to improving and increasing bicycle and pedestrian movement. ƒ Investigate the development of an Eastern/Southern Bypass between Point Henry and Point Lillias connecting south to the Princes Highway/SurfCoast Highway as part of a ring road for Geelong. ƒ Protect road reservations for planned arterial roads and arterial road widenings. ƒ Improve transport links between existing and new residential areas, employment, community and retail facilities. ƒ Enhance the industrial and business transport linkages between industrial areas and road, rail and port infrastructure. ƒ Maximise use of the rail system for inter/intrastate carriage of bulk commodities. ƒ Facilitate the upgrade of the Princes Freeway to three lanes in each direction between Melbourne and Geelong. ƒ Develop key freight routes that assist efficient movements whilst protecting residential amenity and areas of environmental importance. ƒ Develop an inter-modal facility (truck, rail and ship) in a suitable location in North Geelong to increase transport efficiencies. ƒ Improve public transport service provision to provide wider transport choice and to facilitate ecologically sustainable development.

MUNICIPAL STRATEGIC STATEMENT - CLAUSE 21.26 PAGE 3 OF 6 DATE TO BE INSERTED BY DSE LOCAL PROVISION GREATER GEELONG PLANNING SCHEME

ƒ Encourage improvements to public transport services at the Geelong Station ‘Transit City’ location. ƒ Provide for improved integration between public transport with new intensive development within the Geelong Western Wedge.

Objective 2

To promote improvement to the public transport services and systems to meet the needs of a growing regional city and to better link the coastal and rural townships with each other and urban Geelong.

Strategies

ƒ Promote and plan new urban forms conducive to public transport use. ƒ Improve public transport services throughout urban Geelong. ƒ Encourage bicycle, pedestrian and public transport modes of transport where feasible.

Objective 3

To implement traffic management initiatives that will improve the efficiency and functioning of the urban area.

Strategies

ƒ Consider and incorporate the needs of abutting residential, school and commercial uses, and pedestrians and cyclists when preparing traffic management plans on arterial roads. ƒ Incorporate the needs of cyclists in local traffic management plans. ƒ Implement traffic management measures in urban Geelong which will assist the efficient movement of traffic through Central Geelong and enable convenient access to the Bellarine Peninsula and other coastal townships.

Objective 4

To develop a comprehensive network of cycling routes and infrastructure linking city, coast and country, that identifies cycling as a legitimate form of transport for commuter, recreational and personal travel.

Strategies

ƒ Link the bicycle network to the open space network with the continuing shared use of pedestrian/cycling pathways. ƒ Complete the ‘Round the Bay Trail’ in conjunction with the Victorian Government and neighbouring municipalities. ƒ Ensure that the bicycle network is planned through outline development plans, structure plans and subdivision proposals. ƒ Encourage the provision of safe bicycle parking, storage and shower facilities in employment and community centres and nodes. ƒ Develop a local bicycle signage system.

Implementation

MUNICIPAL STRATEGIC STATEMENT - CLAUSE 21.26 PAGE 4 OF 6 DATE TO BE INSERTED BY DSE LOCAL PROVISION GREATER GEELONG PLANNING SCHEME

These strategies will be implemented by:

Using policy and the exercise of discretion

ƒ Support use and development activities that consider the efficiency and effectiveness of the existing arterial road system in their design. ƒ Using local policy to ensure that subdivision and development adjacent to the Outer Freeway Reservation at Matthews Road, Corio is of a low density nature (Residential Area – Matthews Road, Corio Local Policy, Clause 22.05).

Applying Zones and Overlays

ƒ Applying Road Zone Category 1 to the declared Main Road network. ƒ Applying Road Zone Category 2 to other locally significant arterial roads. ƒ Applying the Public Use Zone 4 (Transport) to the railway network. ƒ Applying Public Acquisition Overlay 3 to land to be acquired for the Western By-pass, the Drysdale By-pass, and to the land to be acquired for road widening along the City’s arterial roads. ƒ Applying Public Acquisition Overlay 6 to land to be acquired along arterial roads included in the Road Zone Category 2. ƒ Applying the Priority Development Zone to the Geelong Station Precinct within the Geelong Western Wedge.

Undertaking further strategic work

ƒ Finalising the Integrated Transport Strategy for the municipality and making the consequential adjustments to this Strategic Statement. ƒ Undertaking an Environmental Effects Statement to investigate the economic, environmental, social, cultural, development of an Eastern/Southern Bypass between Point Henry and Point Lillias connecting south to the Princes Highway/SurfCoast Highway as part of a ring road for Geelong. ƒ Developing planning guidelines and criteria in the form of standard conditions that ensure connections of new subdivisions with the existing bicycle paths and road networks. ƒ Developing parking precinct plans as required.

Other Actions

ƒ Implementing the recommendations of the Integrated Transport Strategy when completed. ƒ Liaising with the Public Transport Corporation regarding the extension and improvement of public transport services within the municipality. ƒ Working with public and community transport providers to monitor transport usage patterns and the design of new routes where appropriate. ƒ Implementing urban design and streetscape improvements to the east-west streets of the Central Activities Area to improve safety and amenity in the area, whilst maintaining multiple route options within the area. ƒ Continuing to implement the physical works recommendations of the Barwon Region Strategic Bicycle Plan 1996.

MUNICIPAL STRATEGIC STATEMENT - CLAUSE 21.26 PAGE 5 OF 6 DATE TO BE INSERTED BY DSE LOCAL PROVISION GREATER GEELONG PLANNING SCHEME

ƒ Implementation of the Geelong Western Wedge Framework, April 2005 (updated September 2005) to provide better integration of public transport services at the Geelong Station ‘Transit city’ location and surrounding new intensive mixed use development.

References

ƒ Greater Geelong Arterial Roads Study, Sinclair Knight Merz for City of Greater Geelong and VicRoads, 1996 ƒ Barwon Region Strategic Bicycle Plan, Barwon Regional Bicycle Council, 1996 ƒ Geelong Western Wedge Framework, Planisphere and Jones & Whitehead Pty Ltd, April 2005 (updated September 2005).

MUNICIPAL STRATEGIC STATEMENT - CLAUSE 21.26 PAGE 6 OF 6 DATE TO BE INSERTED BY DSE