• National Award for Innovation in Regional Planning and Development
• The G21 Geelong Region Plan – a sustainable growth strategy for the Geelong region that looks towards 2050. Endorsed and supported by local and State Government, and involving participation of hundreds of regional stakeholders, the Plan is the agreed framework for the future development of the Geelong region.
• G21 Region Demographic Profiling and Forecasting System – through a grant from DVC, each G21 Council now operates a demographic profile and forecast system that provides easy to access, reliable data for planning and decision making by the public and private sector alike.
• G21 Integrated Public Transport Strategy
• Affordable Housing Taskforce and Public Forums
• G21 (W.H.O.) Healthy Regions Report
• Regional Marketing Strategy – developed through the collaboration of marketing professionals from Local Government, State Government, tourism authorities, media owners, business networks and private agencies.
• Regional Marketing Program 2008-2009 – funded by a range of private and government agencies and including market research, newspaper inserts, campaign website and television commercial.
• Regional Sustainability Indicators – the indicator system now underpins the new G21 Plan and will measure the progress of the region over time. The indicators have been built around extensive research .
• G21 Region Skills Taskforce- a public/private sector group of over 20 organisations formed to address critical skills, labour supply and improve processes for business.
• BioGeelong - biotechnology cluster development
• Geelong Region ICT cluster development
• Regional Community Strategy
• Roads Projects – support for funding campaigns for the Geelong Ring Road and the Princes Hwy West duplication and upgrade from Waurn Ponds to South Australia.
• Telecommunications Needs Assessment Report – highlights both the wealth of telecoms infrastructure in the region AND the need for business and the community to do more with it. Major spin off projects are now taking shape through public and private investment.
• G21 Region Energy from Waste Framework – the framework has identified pathways to use agricultural, industrial and commercial ‘waste’ for energy and has identified 9 projects for further development.
• G21 Region Exhibitions – two separate exhibitions have showcased the region in the Victorian Parliament Queens Hall Expo and the Federation Square Expo during the Commonwealth Games.
• Healthy Communities – the first ever “Planning For Healthy Communities in the G21 Region” has been endorsed by all Councils providing a common framework for Municipal Health Plans
• Healthy Ageing Forum Program – exploring the many positive facets and challenges of this world wide challenge with the findings to be implemented through public and private sector actions.
The evolution of G21
In 2002 regional leaders volunteered to lead G21 pillar groups. (Pillar leaders included CEO of Barwon Water, CEO Barwon Health, Ex CEO of Ford, Dep. CEO of Gordon TAFE, ED of Committee for Geelong, etc.)
The Pillar groups identified priority projects in their area which became the basis of the first G21 Strategic Plan (2003). Of the 24 projects identified for the first Plan, 21 have been delivered or significantly advanced. Many additional projects were (and continue to be) identified and addressed during this time.
A framework was needed to facilitate 'cross-pillar' collaboration and to ensure that projects undertaken were of the highest possible strategic value to the future of the region.
Following 2 years of extensive research and consultation G21 Geelong Region Plan – a fifty year sustainable growth strategy provides a framework for all stakeholders to work collaboratively, efficiently and strategically for the sustainable future of the region. The plan identifies short and long term regional challenges and opportunities and presents strategic responses in five Directions:
Direction 1. Protect and enhance our environment
Direction 2. Create sustainable settlements
Direction 3. Strengthen our communities
Direction 4. Refocus our economy
Direction 5. Make it happen
Each direction features regional policies and objectives for the endorsement and support of all stakeholders.
Consultation Statistics
• First round of 14 consultation forums for the Plan were held in August/September 2005 were attended by more than 200 people across more than 50 organisations. Forums included: Futures (regional leaders), State Managers, Elected Members, Education, Business, Strategic Planners, Rural & Coastal, Transport, Health, Infrastructure, Environment, Housing & Community, Indigenous and Young People.
• Second round of forums was held in March 2006 and included the Inquiry by Design Forum and a further 6 x three-hour forums attended by more than 200 people.
• The Community Survey was held in March 2006 with 600 residents from around the region responding.
• Stakeholder comment and public comment periods on the Plan attracted more than 50 written responses which impacted on the final content of the Plan.
• There was also extensive collaboration and consultation undertaken in developing the evidence and reference documents for the plan, in particular, "Report One - Regional Context", "Report Two - Influences and Challenges", "The G21 Community Survey", "The G21 Region Research Report", "The Impact of Free Trade Agreements on the G21 Region", "The G21 Region Economic Forecasts" and "The G21 Region Marketing Strategy".
“Break-through” processes
The Victorian Government has provided significant direct and financial support to G21 since inception and has embraced the recent development of the G21 Geelong Region Plan as a priority project of the South West Regional Management Forum.
For the first time ever, the State Government has establised a “G21 Interdepartmental Committee” (IDC) which offers the region a new avenue for communicating with State Government, particularly in relation to project funding applications.
The State Government recognises the potential for aligning priorities through a common frame of reference (the G21 Geelong Region Plan). This IDC pilot could lead to other regional IDCs across the State.
G21 CEO Andrew Scott will lead the delivery of the projects of the Plan over the next 3 years.
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