policy
Housing Supply Reform Act: Geelong Council Votes on Zoning Updates Compared to Ballarat
Geelong residents in growth corridors such as Armstrong Creek and Lara will see planning applications processed under updated local rules that match targets already operating in Ballarat and Bendigo.
How we reported this
Geelong City Council voted on 7 July to amend its planning scheme under the Housing Supply Reform Act, setting new zoning allowances for medium-density homes on 320 hectares of land. The changes apply to sites already identified in the Geelong City Deal documents and will affect developers lodging applications from August onward as well as households seeking approvals for secondary dwellings.
The state government introduced the Act in late 2025 to require all regional councils to align local rules with annual dwelling targets. Geelong’s meeting followed similar votes held in Ballarat in May and Bendigo in June, where councils adjusted their schemes to the same state template.
Local effects on daily housing costs and services
Under the updated rules, residents in northern Geelong suburbs can now submit applications for dual-occupancy homes on blocks above 600 square metres without a full planning permit in some zones. Council officers stated that processing times for these applications are expected to drop from the current average of 95 days to 60 days once the amendments take effect.
The vote also locked in quarterly reporting requirements that match those already used by Ballarat City Council. Local advocates note this will give Geelong residents clearer data each quarter on how many new approvals have been granted in their postcode.
Budget papers released with the 2026-27 Victorian state budget list $47 million for planning support across regional councils, including Geelong. The figure covers software upgrades and additional assessment staff, with Geelong’s share projected at $4.2 million over three years according to the allocation formula published in the papers.
Next steps for applicants and monitoring
Council officers will publish the amended planning scheme on the City of Greater Geelong website by 22 July. Residents can then check the interactive map to see whether their property falls inside the new zones before lodging any application.
The first quarterly housing report under the new rules is due in October and will be presented at the council’s ordinary meeting that month.