The Public Realm Strategy will be a high level document that will help us better design and build public spaces that are relevant, engaging, in the right place and sustainable.

The proposed users of the document will be developers, consultants, the public, City of Greater Geelong departments and other stakeholders in the public realm.

An outline of the proposed document is in the following text.

• Population change and growth – leading to increased demand on public spaces, reduced availability of land to meet housing targets, pressure on maintenance and funding resources
• Land use changes – ensuring there is no loss of open space with development, and inequitable levels of embellishment of public open space in new areas vs. established areas
• Public space is delivered by multiple partners – there are currently no overarching strategies to support the City’s vision and position on the planning and delivery of public spaces
• To provide a clear vision for public realm improvements and management
• Inconsistent quality and underutilised areas
• No clear funding model for public realm projects
• Lack of greening within city infrastructure.

• Establish why Geelong’s public realm is important and future vision
• Identify public realm typologies, design principles and elements
• Holistic approach to inform investment from multiple parties
• Establish best practice management model
• Provide broader economic, social and environmental benefits.

To inform the Public Realm Strategy, we need to assess the existing character of each area. There will be a focus on the City Centre, Townships and Activity Centres.

There are many types of public realm works that we have to manage to create a holistic vision.

Some examples are:

• State Government (Malop Street Greenspine)
• Private-Public interface projects, (Nyaal Banyul Convention Centre)
• Maintenance Projects
• Upgrade Project, (Lt Malop Street upgrades)
• Temporary Projects, (Lt Malop Central).

Creating typologies for spaces is a way to classify them into a simple format that we can then apply design guidelines. This will help inform, users of the document, on how to proceed.

An example would be an Urban Space-Plaza, like Geelong West Town Hall Plaza. Typologies may be unique to Geelong.

These will be the guiding statements that outline the way to achieve good public realm outcomes. They will be developed through the draft strategy and engagement.