Geelong Waterfront

The Geelong Waterfront Safe Harbour Project is a major redevelopment of the heart of the Geelong waterfront precinct which lies just north of the CBD and overlooking Corio Bay. This project arose from a prior master plan work that identified problems with public access, safe harbour and major events infrastructure that should be addressed.

Geelong has many of the conflicts typical of these contexts where an increasing desire for active recreation intersects with the functional demands of those industries and organisations using the waterfront.  Here these issues were overlaid with a new layer related to sea level rise due to climate change the need for amelioration of these impacts.

The precinct is home to the Royal Geelong Yacht Club (RGYC) and marina, the Victorian Sailing School (VSS) and the Fisherman’s Basin area which includes both recreational and commercial vessels. The RGYC and VSS also provide maritime education for the community.  Central to unlocking the key access issues is the location of the RGYC which currently creates a physical barrier between the east and west waterfront precincts, obstructing the public realm.  The challenge is how, in addressing the complex logistics of the RGYC and neighbouring maritime uses, could the public realm be enhanced in a safe and accessible way?

In September 2018, Terroir were appointed Principal Consultants from an open two-stage selection process.  The Masterplan Vision will be delivered in stages, with $19.1m funding already committed.