DEVELOPMENT AREAS ACT 1973 GEE LONG INVESTIGATION AREA . '.• 711. 4099 . 452 GEE:V r---------------. ~eM~ oEPAR1MENT-0F '{ I PLANN\NG- L\BRAR ~~~~i~l~ii~iil~~ .'J g~~STRY FOR PLANNING 71 3 7 M0002826 ANQ EN)LIBONME!il J.,JBBABY I DEVELOPMENT AREAS ACT 1973 I G E E L 0 N G I N V E S T I G A T I 0 N A R E A I (Municipal districts of City of Geelong, City of Geelong West, City of Newtown, Borough of Queenscliffe, Shire of Bannockburn, Shire of Bellarine and parts of the municipal districts of Shire of Corio, City of South Barwon and Shire I of Barrabool). I REPORT CONTENTS I PAGE I Chapter 1 Surrmary 1-2 Chapter 2 Bac~ground to the Study 3.:.6 I Chapter 3 The Geelong Region 7-13 Chapter 4 . Pl arini ng Po 1icy, Submissions and En vi ronmenta 1 14-17 I Considerations Chapter 5 Goals and Objectives for the Geelong Region 18-20 I Chapter 6 Constraints on Development 21-32 I· Chapter 7 Location of Growth in the Region 33-34 Chapter 8 Development of a Regional Strategy 35-42 I Chapter 9 Management and Implementation 43-46 Chap~er 10 Recommendation 47 I Chapter 11 Requirements of the Development Areas Act 48-53 I APPENDICES 1. Sites of Aboriginal Relics 54 I 2. Submissions Received Regarding Geelong Investigation 55 Area I 3. Register of Historic Buildings - Geelong Region 56 I 4. Sites of Special Scientific Interest 57-59 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 60 I TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING BOARD :I 22ND SEPTEMBER, 1975. I M A P S I I. 1. Geelong Investigation Area 2. Natural Constraints I 3. Settlement Support Constraints 4. Sites Physically Suitable for Urban Development I 5. Urban Alternative A 6. Urban Alternative B I 7. Urban Alternative C I 8. Recreation, Resort_Development and Buffer Areas 9. Alternative A - Staging Order of Residential Development I I I I .I I I I I I -I I I I - 1 - I CHAPTER 1 SUMMARY I In August~ 1973, the Governor in Council approved Statement of-Planning Policy No. 7 (Geelong). This formal document expressed the Government's view that the Geelong Region is a suitable outlet for large scale urban growth and provides I a desirable alternative to continued Metropolitan concentration. Following this in March, 1974, the Geelong Regional Planning Authority Area was declared to be an Investigation Area by the Governor in Council using the powers I of the Development Areas Act. At the same time a number of other areas around the fringe of Metropolitan Melbourne I were declared to be investigation areas and the Board has already submitted its reports on those areas. This report presents the Board's views on the Geelong Investigation Area, and its submission completes the programme of I investigations identified by the Government in March, 1974. The Government's action in declaring these areas was directed at further developing an urban strategy for the Port Phillip District, and its use of the powers of I the Development Areas Act was aimed at minimizing the effects of speculation and other pressures during the period required to investigate the· development I prospects and problems of the areas. Having completed the investigation, the Board has reached the conclusion that some 13,700 hectares of land to the south-west of the Geelong urban area (shown on Map 5) I is suitable for accelerated development and requires controlled development. The Board has also concluded that other parts of the Region (shown on Map 8) require controlled development. No recommendation is made concerning the declaration of I these areas as designated areas. The report sets out the background of events which led to the declaration of the Region as I an Investigation Area (Chapter-2). describes the present conditions in the Geelong Region particularly population I growth trends and the unemployment problem (Chapter 3). identifies the planning strategy for the Port Phillip District as expressed in I Statements of Planning Policy and other official announcements (Chapter 4). indicates the views of relevant Government departments, public authorities and I municipal councils regarding the Geelong Investigation Area (Chapter 4). identifies desirable community goals and objectives for the planning of the I Geelong Region (Chapter 5). indicates the special features of the Region which act as constraints on development and highlight the need for a programme of conservation planning I and management to be introduced as an inseparable component of the overall development strategy (Chapter 6). considers alternative forms of urban growth and selects the south western I sector-of the Region as the most suitable location for future urban growth of major dimensions (Chapter 7). I considers alternative patterns of development within the·south western sector and identifies areas having major conservation and recreation potential which are threatened by developmental pressures, and locations where unplanned I development would be detrimental to the existing character, function and identity of urban settlements in the Region (Chapter 8). I - 2 - I stresses the need for ongoing commitment by all levels of Government and particularly the need for financial support to be provided by the Commonwealth Government (Chapter 9). · I places considerable stress on the need for a regional administrative and organisational unit capable of assuming overall responsibility for planning and management programmes which will be essential if a·policy of accelerated I development is to be successfully and effectively implemented (Chapter 9). ·The Board•s investigation has largely involved an assessment of various studies which have been undertaken in the Region, and in particular the work undertaken by the I Growth Centre Planning Group. This Group was established in 1.974 and is comprised of representatives of the Board, the Geelong Regional Planning Authority, the Department of State Development and Decentralisation and the Cities Commission. I Assisted by consultants, it has had the task of developing a planning strategy · and evolving_a structure plan for accelerated development in.the Region. The Board. I has drawn heavily on the material provided by that Group in the preparation of this report. I I I I I I I I I I I I I I - 3 - CHAPTER 2 I· BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY 2.1 INTRODUCTION I On the 26th March, 1974, by Order of the Governor-in-Council, made pursuant to the provisions of the Development Areas Act, the Geelong Region was declared an Investigation Area. The Investigation Area is I identical to the Geelong Regional. Planning Authority ·area with the exception of three small localities (See Map 1) which were designated on the same day. Throughout this report the term Geelong Region means I the Investigation Area. The Board was required to submit a· report on the area to the Minister within the period ending the 25th March, 1975. On the 14th March, 1975, the Minister extended the period for the I submission .of the Board's report to September 22nd, 1975. The declarati~n of the Geelong Region as an Investigation Area reinforced earlier State Government decisions relatedto the.important I role of the Region in the planning strategy for the Port Phillip District and the State. · · I 2.2 BACKGROUND In its report, "Organisation for Strategic Planning", dated the 4th September, 1967, the Board made special reference to Geelong in I dealing with the satellite town form of extended metropolitan growth. Although not recommending the latter as a general solution for Melbourne's future growth the Board stated that Geelong merited I attention as a practical alternative: The report pointed out that Geelong's location as a l~rge well established City 'in the vicinity of the metropolis made it suitable as a growth I outlet. One major advantage seen by the Board was that in spite of its proximity to Melbourne, Geelong's growth had been due largely to the development of its own loc.al resources, particularly .its port and it had only I been in more recent times that a strong inter-action between Melbourne and Geelong had grown up. In its report the Board stated that balanced ~conomic development could well demand the optimum use of I Geelong's port facilities but that thi~ would depend on the accele~ated growth of local 'Industry as a matter of deliberate planning and development policy. I The Government adopted the Board's recommendation that there should be a regional planning authority to co-ordinate planning in the Geelong area. The Geelong Regional Planning Authority (G.R.P.A.), I covering nine local government areas, was formed in 1969. On the 29th June, 1971, in referring to strategic plannirig in the I Port Phillip District the Minister, in a letter to th~ Board, stated that accelerated growth at Geelong would not only help·to relieve pressure on vulnerable areas but would also provide a means of restoring broad strategic balance in the Port Phillip Di~trict. I The Minister's letter concluded by stating that it was desirable that . the Board in conjunction with the State Planning Council· should prepare a statement of planning policy which would have the effect· I of identifying Geelong as a major growth outlet. Sl,lbsequently on the 21st August, 1973, a Statement of Planning Pol icy applying to the area of the Geelong Regional Planning Authority was approved I by the Governor-in-Council. The Statement expressed. the following I guidelines: · -----------~"""""~~----.=....-----------------------------------, ~ 4 - I 11 1.1 The Region centred on Geelong shall be promoted and planned as a location for large scale urban growth including business, industry and housing. I 1.2 The region shall be planned to accommodate a greatly increased share of the expected growth in the Port Phillip District to I the optimum limits determined by regional- planning studies.· 1.3 The pl~nni~g of th~ regton shall ensure that B~ceptable I envir-onmental standards are achieved and shall have regard to the high quality of the environment generally and the coastal areas in particular and to the need to preserve established recreation opportunities.