corio norlane structure plan background report - City of Greater ...

1.5 Role of Corio and Norlane
Geelong is a growing provincial centre due to its strategic location and infrastructure
assets. It is in close proximity to Melbourne, well served by road, rail, port, air and
communications infrastructure, and offers a high standard of living and a quality natural
environment.
Northern Geelong is recognised as the industrial hub of the region. Corio and Norlane
form part of northern Geelong, together with the nearby suburbs of North Geelong, Lara
and Avalon. The study area is directly connected to major employers and institutions
and contains significant stock of land zoned Industrial 2. This zone is for industry that
requires significant buffer distances from sensitive land uses and is one of a few such
zoned areas in the State and is of State significance. Industrial uses, in particular largescale
manufacturing, freight and logistics, are located on the eastern and northern
boundaries.
Corio and Norlane are the northern gateway to Geelong, the Bellarine Peninsula and
Victoria’s west coast. The study area provides for significant through road linkages,
including heavy vehicles destined for the Geelong Port and the Geelong Ring Road
Employment Precinct. The Geelong – Melbourne railway line runs along the eastern
edge of the study area and there are stations at Corio and North Shore. North Shore
train station is where passengers disembark from the Adelaide to Melbourne line.
Corio and Norlane contains an internal “population-driven” retail, education and
community services economy. Corio Shopping Centre is the major retail and community
facility in the study area and serves a catchment extending to the north of urban
Geelong and the township of Lara, and to the south of the study area boundaries. The
Centre includes the Barwon Health Community Centre, the only such facility north of
Geelong Hospital. The area also contains the Geelong Homemaker Centre and a bulky
goods cluster on Princes Highway that attract customers from across the Greater
Geelong region.
The study area contains many key assets including excellent community service
organisations and well placed physical infrastructure that serve a regional role.
Regional assets include Northern Bay Senior College, Waterworld, Corio Library,
Centenary Hall, Stead Park, Goldsworthy Reserve, Beckley Park and the Leisuretime
Centre, Geelong’s biggest indoor open spaced stadium.
Another key role of Corio and Norlane is as a place of affordable residence. The
suburbs that make up the study area are predominately zoned Residential 1 and contain
some of the most affordable housing in close proximity to a range of employment,
services and infrastructure in Victoria. There are significant opportunities for infill
residential development and redevelopment to absorb predicted population growth in the
Geelong region and reduce pressures to expand the urban form into rural hinterland.
The area also supports high concentrations of public housing which provides important
wider social functions.
Corio Norlane Structure Plan
Background Report - 16 - Final - March 2011