Editing Geelong (section)

===21st century===
[[File:Waterfront-geelong.jpg|thumb|Steampacket Quay, showing the [[Geelong Carousel|Carousel Pavilion]], opened in 2000]]

In 2000, the [[Geelong Carousel|Carousel Pavilion]] was opened as a landmark and symbol of the refurbishment of the Geelong waterfront.<ref name="Adams">{{Cite news |last=Adams |first=David |date=14 October 2000 |title=Geelong reveals its heart and soul |work=[[The Age]] |pages=17 |id={{ProQuest|2521674179}}}}</ref><ref name="Steampacket">{{cite web |title=Central Geelong Waterfront Master Plan 2011 |url=https://hdp-au-prod-app-ggc-yoursay-files.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/8216/8143/6468/D22-515366__CGW_Masterplan_Review_Final_Sept_2011.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230726182006/https://hdp-au-prod-app-ggc-yoursay-files.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/8216/8143/6468/D22-515366__CGW_Masterplan_Review_Final_Sept_2011.pdf |archive-date=26 July 2023 |access-date=19 August 2024 |publisher=[[City of Greater Geelong]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=11 October 2008 |title=City second to none |url=https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/city-second-to-none-20081011-gdsy73.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240819092201/https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/city-second-to-none-20081011-gdsy73.html |archive-date=19 August 2024 |access-date=19 August 2024 |work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]}}</ref> In 2004, [[Avalon Airport]] was upgraded to accommodate interstate passenger travel, providing a base for low-cost airline [[Jetstar]] to serve the Melbourne and Geelong urban areas.<ref name = "jetstar"/> Geelong is planned to expand towards the south coast, with 2,500 hectares of land to become a major suburban development for 55,000 to 65,000 people, known as Armstrong Creek.<ref name="armstongcreek"/> In 2006, construction began on the [[Geelong Ring Road]], designed to replace the [[Princes Highway]] through Geelong from Corio to Waurn Ponds. It opened in 2009.

More than [[AU$]]500-million-worth of major construction was under way in 2007.<ref name="gexnewsinvest">{{Cite news
  | title = Building bonanza drives city forward
  | newspaper = Geelong News
  | pages = 8–9
  | date = 2007-07-18
  }}</ref> Major projects include the $150-million [[Westfield Geelong]] expansion works, involving a flyover of Yarra Street, the city's first [[Big W]] store, and an additional 70 new speciality stores; the $37-million [[Deakin University|Deakin]] Waterfront campus redevelopment, and the $23-million Deakin Medical School; the $50-million Edgewater apartment development on the waterfront; a number of multimillion-dollar office developments in the CBD; and a new $30-million [[swimming pool|aquatic centre]] in Waurn Ponds.<ref name="gexnewsinvest" />

Major developments within Geelong are advocated by influential, non-government group the [https://committeeforgeelong.com.au/ Committee for Geelong] and the region's local government alliance, [http://www.g21.com.au/ G21 Geelong Region Alliance].

The City of Greater Geelong and four other local municipalities form part of the alliance which identifies the Geelong region's priorities, and advocates all levels of government for funding and implement the projects. G21 developed [http://www.g21.com.au/geelongregionplan/ 'The Geelong Region Plan - a sustainable growth strategy'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004080118/http://www.g21.com.au/geelongregionplan/ |date=4 October 2011 }} which was launched by [https://web.archive.org/web/20130511161732/http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/newsroom/1173.html Premier Brumby] in 2007. It was the approved strategic plan for the Geelong region. In addition, major projects such as the Geelong Ring Road Connections and duplication of the Princes Highway West obtained funding due to the combined efforts of the region's municipalities. As at May 2017, a further [http://www.g21.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&catid=14%3Aprojects&id=32%3Ag21-projects-priority-projects&Itemid=22 13 Priority Projects] are planned for the Geelong region.

The [[Government of Victoria|Victoria Government]] announced the relocation of the [[Transport Accident Commission]] headquarters from Melbourne to Geelong in October 2006, which created 850 jobs and an annual economic benefit over $59&nbsp;million to the Geelong region.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tac.vic.gov.au/jsp/content/NavigationController.do?areaID=23&tierID=1&navID=63CC12CD7F00000101A5D19311EC6AC2&navLink=null&pageID=1323 |title=Premier announces new TAC site in Geelong |work=Transport Accident Commission website |access-date=2007-07-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070720230809/http://www.tac.vic.gov.au/jsp/content/NavigationController.do?areaID=23&tierID=1&navID=63CC12CD7F00000101A5D19311EC6AC2&navLink=null&pageID=1323 |archive-date=20 July 2007}}</ref> The construction of the $80-million Brougham Street headquarters was completed in late 2008.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/move-or-move-on-tac-workers-told/2005/12/16/1134703611302.html|title=Move or move on, TAC workers told|work=The Age|date=16 December 2005|access-date=2007-07-21 | location=Melbourne|first1=Farrah|last1=Tomazin|first2=David|last2=Adams}}</ref> In November 2008, Ford Australia announced that its Australian-designed I6 engine would be re-engineered to meet the latest emissions regulations, and that consequently the engine manufacturing plant would be upgraded (however, all manufacturing of motor vehicles in Geelong and elsewhere throughout Australia ceased by 2017).

A change to the city skyline is occurring with a number of modern apartment buildings on the Waterfront and central business district planned or under construction. On 10 July 2008, approval was given for a $100-million twin-tower apartment complex of 16 and 12 floors to be built on Mercer St in the city's western edge. The towers will become the tallest buildings in the city, taking the title from the Mercure Hotel.<ref>{{cite news| author=Begg, Peter| publisher=[[Geelong Advertiser]]|title=Twin towers earmarked for Mercer Street|url=http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2008/07/10/15941_news.html|date=10 July 2008|access-date=10 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080711175047/http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2008/07/10/15941_news.html |archive-date=11 July 2008}}</ref> Further highrise developments are planned as part of the City of Greater Geelong's Geelong Western Edge strategic plan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.geelongaustralia.com.au/ct/service/article/item/8cb8fbe66d672c4.aspx|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120805104623/http://www.geelongaustralia.com.au/ct/service/article/item/8cb8fbe66d672c4.aspx|url-status=dead|title=Geelong Western Wedge - City of Greater Geelong|date=5 August 2012|archive-date=5 August 2012}}</ref> A$17-million 11-story apartment tower has also recently been proposed to be built next to the Deakin Waterfront Campus.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/07/18/1981686.htm
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071030005156/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/07/18/1981686.htm
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=30 October 2007
|title=Ford's Geelong plant to close, 600 jobs lost
|work=ABC News
|date=18 July 2007
|access-date=2007-07-19}}</ref>

In 2012, a design competition for a "city icon" was run for the City of Geelong by Deakin University and Senia Lawyers. The recipient of the prize and winning design entry was JOH Architects and their design titled "The Sea Dragon".<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.joharchitects.com.au/gallery/commercial/geelong-icon/ 
 |title=Seadragon Winning Design for Geelong Icon 
 |work=JOH Architects 
 |date=1 April 2012 
 |access-date=2012-04-01 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130410161043/http://www.joharchitects.com.au/gallery/commercial/geelong-icon/ 
 |archive-date=10 April 2013 
 |df=dmy 
}}</ref>
{{Clear}}
Geelong's new Library and Heritage Centre opened to the public in November 2015. The new addition to Geelong offers new research facilities, display areas and hosts Geelong's extensive heritage, modern and Indigenous. The new library was awarded the Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture<ref>{{cite web|url=http://armarchitecture.com.au/news/geelong-library-wins-the-sir-zelman-cowen-award/|title=Geelong Library wins the Sir Zelman Cowen Award / ARM Architecture|website=armarchitecture.com.au}}</ref> in 2016.

Currently Geelong is undergoing a major revival effort, the Green Spine Project.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Geelong |first=Revitalising Central |date=2022-09-28 |title=Green Spine |url=https://www.revitalisingcentralgeelong.vic.gov.au/projects/underway-projects/green-spine-future-blocks |access-date=2022-10-16 |website=Revitalising Central Geelong |language=en}}</ref> The Green Spine project will connect Johnstone Park to the Botanic Gardens by a continuous line of trees via Malop Street. The redevelopment of Malop street will see the installation of separated bike lanes from both pedestrians and local traffic by greenery, the design is an Australian first. This project includes the installation of art sculptures and street art throughout the city centre. Major redevelopments are also occurring at Johnstone Park, with a new raingarden installation, and Lt Malop Street is seeing more upgrades.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Planning |date=2016-12-20 |title=Revitalising Central Geelong |url=https://www.planning.vic.gov.au/policy-and-strategy/revitalising-central-geelong |access-date=2022-10-16 |website=Planning |language=en |archive-date=16 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221016024254/https://www.planning.vic.gov.au/policy-and-strategy/revitalising-central-geelong |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In the suburbs Geelong West's Pakington Street is seeing major upgrades to its street appeal, with new plantings and upgrades to many of the shops. Manifold Heights' Shannon Avenue will see redevelopment to make it more pedestrian friendly. To Geelong's north, [[Rippleside]] is undergoing major changes, with the ongoing development of Balmoral Quay which will see Rippleside Park and nearby St Helens Park connected via a waterfront footpath as well as beach restoration and a boat dock expansion.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Duncan |first=Brad |title=Maritime Infrastructure Heritage Project Stage Two: Geelong (Report of Regional Landscape Archaeological and Historical Survey - Updated to 2006) |url=https://www.academia.edu/9986060}}</ref>

Recently new high rise buildings are being built giving Geelong more jobs and housing.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-03-01|title=Not everyone benefiting from booming Geelong economy after arrival of government agencies|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-02/geelong-cbd-creates-new-jobs-while-northern-suburbs-struggle/11980364|access-date=2020-09-22|website=www.abc.net.au|language=en-AU}}</ref> Worksafe Victoria opened up a new 14-storey building on Malop St. It opened in mid-2018 and was the tallest building until it was announced that two residential high rises would be built and completed in late 2019. They are called The Mercer and Miramar Apartments.<ref>{{Cite news |last= |date=2016-02-16 |title=New 14-storey building to dominate Geelong skyline |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-16/new-worksafe-building-to-dominate-geelong-skyline/7173616 |access-date=2023-06-08}}</ref>