Council Approves $47M Waterfront Revamp as Geelong Pushes Forward on Infrastructure

Geelong City Council has green-lit a $47 million waterfront redevelopment project following a heated debate that stretched across two council sessions this week, marking a significant commitment to reshaping the city's eastern shoreline.

The Bellarine Street precinct upgrade—encompassing new pedestrian pathways, improved public spaces, and enhanced marine infrastructure—passed with an 8-4 vote on Thursday evening. The project, which will extend from the Geelong Waterfront District to the Barwon Heads junction, represents the council's most ambitious waterfront investment in a decade.

"This is about positioning Geelong as a serious player in regional tourism and local amenity," a council spokesperson confirmed, noting the project would create approximately 120 construction jobs over the 18-month execution phase. Works are scheduled to commence in early 2027.

However, the vote revealed significant fractures within the chamber. Several councillors raised concerns about escalating costs—the project's budget has swelled from an initial $39 million estimate—and questioned whether council was adequately consulting residents in surrounding neighbourhoods, particularly in the Newtown and South Geelong areas where residential parking pressures are already acute.

The council meeting also addressed mounting pressure on community service funding. A proposal to maintain current operational budgets for youth programs operating from the Geelong Community Hub on Gheringhap Street was deferred to next month's session, pending a full financial audit. The hub currently services approximately 800 young people weekly across multiple programs.

In related news, the council endorsed a new Local Laws Amendment this week that tightens regulations around temporary food vendors operating in the CBD, a move welcomed by some established hospitality businesses but opposed by small-scale operators who rely on peak-hour trading windows.

Looking ahead, council will convene next Thursday to discuss the contentious proposed rate rise for next financial year—preliminary figures suggest a 4.2 per cent increase—which has already prompted community feedback from residents across Manifold Heights, Highton, and the eastern suburbs.

The council also flagged an upcoming community consultation period regarding transport planning along the Princes Highway corridor, following persistent congestion complaints during peak commute times. Details on consultation dates and venues are expected to be announced by early July.

Residents seeking more information on council decisions or wishing to submit feedback on upcoming matters are encouraged to visit geelongcity.vic.gov.au or attend the next public council session scheduled for Thursday, 4 July.

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