The South - West Geelong Employment Land Review was adopted by Council in December 2023. The Review looks at employment land needs and opportunities in south - west Geelong with a focus on the Boral quarry site (Waurn Ponds) and the adjacent Western Industrial Precinct (Armstrong Creek Growth Area).

HillPDA consultants prepared the review on behalf of the City.

The Review recommendations include:

• The Western Industrial Precinct and Boral land be defined as one 'investigation precinct'.
  
• The precinct needs to deliver approximately 170 hectares of employment land (net developable area).
  
• Activation of the additional employment land is recommended for approximately 2027.
  
• An aspirational job target of 60 jobs per hectare overall be proposed for the 'investigation precinct'.
  
• The 'investigation precinct' should focus on meeting local and sub - regional needs.
  
• A range of industrial lot sizes is needed to meet latent demand from 250sqm up to 1ha and 5+ ha for larger manufacturing.
  
• The 'investigation precinct' should meet the existing market demand for warehousing large format retail and trade supplies and growth sectors such as social service and caring economy activities sustainable growth and environment sectors and advanced manufacturing.
  
• Once employment land is catered for and it is shown it can realistically be delivered to market in a timely manner other land uses can be considered for any surplus land.
  
• Further detailed planning will be required such as a Precinct Structure Plan or similar.

A full copy of the Review can be accessed below. Planning scheme amendment C468 will introduce the relevant recommendations into the planning scheme.