Central Geelong DRAFT Framework Plan May 2021 Prepared by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Author © The State of Victoria Department of Environment, Land, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Water and Planning 2021 Contributing Authors MGS Architects Movement and Place Consulting This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. You are free to re-use the work under that Acknowledgment licence, on the condition that you credit the State of Victoria as The State Government proudly acknowledges the author. The licence does not apply to any images, photographs Wadawurrung people as the traditional custodians of the or branding, including the Victorian Coat of Arms, the Victorian lands, waters and skies within the Central Geelong Planning Government logo and the Department of Environment, Land, Framework study area. We pay our respects to their ancestors Water and Planning (DELWP) logo. To view a copy of this and Elders, past and present. We recognise and respect licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ their unique cultural heritage, beliefs and relationship to their traditional lands, waters and skies, which continue to be Disclaimer important to them today. This publication may be of assistance to you, but the State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication We recognise the intrinsic connection of Wadawurrung people is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your to their traditional lands, waters and skies and value the particular purposes and therefore, disclaims all liability for any contribution their Caring for Country makes to the management error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you of the land, coastlines, seas and its waterways. relying on any information in this publication. We support the need for genuine and lasting partnerships The Central Geelong Framework Plan identifies preferred with the Wadawurrung people to understand their culture and future use and development of the land but confers no rights connections to Country in the way we plan for and manage the to landowners. The Central Geelong Framework Plan identifies region. We embrace the spirit of reconciliation, working towards future implementation actions including Planning Scheme equity of outcomes and ensuring an equal voice for Australia’s Amendments to change the planning policy and controls (i.e. first people. zones and overlays) which informs applications for planning permits for development approval; these applications are to be considered on their merits. Accessibility If you would like to receive this publication in an alternative format, please telephone the DELWP Customer Service Centre on 136186, email [email protected] or via the National Relay Service on 133 677 www.relayservice.com.au. This document is also available on the internet at www.delwp. vic.gov.au ISBN 978-1-76105-388-7 (Print) ISBN 978-1-76105-389-4 (pdf/online/MS word) Contents DRAFT Introduction 7 1.1 Introduction 8 1.2 Purpose 9 1.3 Study Area 9 1.4 Planning Policy & Context 12 1.5 Key Stakeholders & Land Owners Engagement 13 1.6 Opportunities in Central Geelong 14 Structure Plan Urban Design Framework Vision for Central Geelong 17 Introduction 145 2.1 Vision for Central Geelong 18 7.1 Purpose 146 Emerging Precincts 21 7.2 Existing built form controls 148 3.1 Emerging Precincts of Central Geelong 22 7.3 Existing built form, character and challenges 151 3.2 Knowledge and Enterprise Precinct 25 Urban Design Strategy 153 3.3 Station Precinct 28 8.1 Principles and strategies 154 3.4 Retail Core Precinct 31 Urban Design Framework 157 3.5 Health Precinct 34 9.1 Overview 158 3.6 West Village Precinct 37 9.2 Built form 159 3.7 Cultural Precinct 40 9.3 Amenity 179 3.8 Waterfront Precinct 43 9.4 Movement 184 3.9 York Precinct 46 Testing Outcomes 189 Strategic Context 49 10.1 How much development capacity is provided within 4.1 Regional Role: G21 50 the envelope defined by the built form guidelines? 190 4.2 Local Role 50 Implementation 191 4.3 Unlocking Central Geelong 52 11.1 Integration into the Activity Centre Zone 192 4.4 Key Issues 57 Direction for Central Geelong 59 5.1 Land Use & Economy 60 5.2 Residential growth and housing choice 72 5.3 Built form and design 75 5.4 Transport and movement 84 5.5 Public realm and open space 107 Implementation 115 6.1 Implementation Plan 116 1 Foreword Djilang is the Wadawurrung word for Geelong, meaning developments are well designed and built to last, be a ‘Tongue of Land’ where water flows from the respectful of heritage sites and facilitate new buildings mountains into the Bay. that complement their context, including by delivering benefits for the community. For thousands of years, the area now known as Geelong has been, and continues to be, a rich cultural The Framework Plan will also give the community landscape for the Wadawurrung people, a place of confidence that the city will grow sustainably and plenty where families live, work and trade. provide certainty to industry so it can plan for and invest in projects into the future. This vibrant history as a place of community, meeting and natural beauty is still reflected in Geelong today – a Acknowledging the Wadawurrung people’s long growing regional city that is attracting more people to connection and relationship to Djilang, the Framework work, live and visit. Plan will seek to develop and imbed a new philosophy to central city planning by supporting the future The city’s modern character retains that cultural preparation of the Wadawurrung Urban Design and history and remains strongly connected to the Bay and Living Heritage Conservation Guidelines. surrounding natural landscape as well as reflecting its more recent proud manufacturing past. These future guidelines will seek to guide Geelong’s/ Djilang’s built environment to better embrace Central Geelong is Victoria’s second largest city and is Wadawurrung Traditional Owners’ values of place-care expected to be home to more than 12,000 residents by and placemaking, while recognising the value that the 2050, a growth rate that is among the highest anywhere culture, history and people of the Wadawurrung can in the state. provide when planning a built environment like Central Geelong. This growth will bring both opportunities and challenges, but Geelong is well placed to ensure these These future guidelines will be developed in changes support jobs and economic investment and do partnership between the Department of Environment, not negatively impact its character or liveability. Land, Water and Planning (DELWP), the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation, the City By planning for growth now, Central Geelong will of Greater Geelong and the Office of the Government build on its strengths and become a lifestyle city Architect. with excellent services and facilities, employment opportunities, green open spaces and an iconic The future development of these guidelines also waterfront precinct with thriving streetscapes reflects principles outlined in Paleert Tjaara Dja comprising retail, hospitality and laneways and a good – Let’s make Country good together 2020–2030 mix of housing. – Wadawurrung Country Plan, the Wadawurrung people’s plan for how their Country will be cared for The year 2020 and the advent of a pandemic created and managed over the next 10 years. an impetus to shift the way cities operate. Cities are now required to be responsive and resilient to both Geelong is growing. The updated Framework Plan economic and climatic changes. has been prepared to ensure that growth will be well managed, and to promote liveability, create jobs and This updated Framework Plan will protect the reflect the unique character and valued cultural history character of what makes Geelong unique, ensure new of the city and its people, both past and present. 2 | Central Geelong Framework Plan DRAFT Document Structure The Central Geelong Framework Plan document comprises two sections: the Structure Plan and the Urban Design Framework. These sections set out the planning and design parameters, respectively, to guide the development of Central Geelong for the next 30 years. These sections can be read separately, however, it is recommended that they be considered together. Framework Plan The Structure Plan sets the vision for Central Geelong and provides a set of clear objectives, strategies and actions under the themes of: — Land Use & Economy — Residential growth and housing choice — Built form and design — Transport and movement — Public realm and open space Structure Plan Urban Design Framework The UDF provides the built form framework that supports the Structure Plan. It captures the urban Figure 1 Central Geelong Framework Plan structure design strategy and the resultant outcomes sought to collectively manage built form, amenity, movement and public realm for individual sites and precincts to contribute to the overall vision for Central Geelong. 3 Supporting Documents The Central Geelong Framework Plan has been informed by two assessments prepared by Movement & Place Consulting and SGS Economics and Planning. The land use and market assessment prepared by SGS Economics and Planning modelled several growth scenarios for the area, based on retail and commercial floorspace demand, population increase and employment growth. The Framework Plan considered all modelled projections during the development of the content of the document. The transport and movement analysis by