Geelong Council Plan 2025-29 community consultation closes, shaping city's strategic direction

The City of Greater Geelong's community consultation for the Council Plan 2025-29 has officially closed, marking the end of a four-week engagement period designed to gather input from residents across the municipality. The process, which ran alongside broader engagement held between 8 July and 15 September 2024, included online surveys and a representative community panel intended to reflect the diversity of the Greater Geelong population [1].

What the plan covers

The draft Council Plan 2025-29 sets the strategic direction for the council from 2025 to 2029, responding to the community's shared vision of 'Greater Geelong: A Clever and Creative Future'. For Geelong residents, this means the plan will guide decisions on everything from local infrastructure spending and community services to economic development and environmental programs over the next four years. The plan was formally adopted at the Council Meeting on 22 July 2029 [1].

What this means for local residents

For residents of Geelong and surrounds, the plan directly affects how council resources are allocated to local priorities, such as maintaining parks and sporting facilities, investing in libraries and community centres, and supporting local businesses and job creation. The community panel was designed to ensure the diversity of Geelong's population, including different age groups, suburbs and backgrounds, had a say in shaping these priorities. The online surveys allowed broader participation from those unable to attend in-person sessions [1].

While specific funding allocations or programs are not yet detailed in the public materials, the plan provides the overarching framework within which future council budgets and annual plans will be developed. Residents can expect to see the plan's influence on council decisions around housing supply, transport connections, environmental sustainability and cultural initiatives across the region.

The council says the feedback gathered will inform the final version of the plan, which will guide its work through to 2029. Further details on specific projects or funding tied to the plan are expected to emerge as the council begins implementing its priorities over the coming months [1].