Colac 2050

Planning and Services Pillar

Colac 2050 is a long-range planning project that will cater for a projected doubling in Colac’s population during the next 40 years.

Previous studies had flagged modest population growth for Colac, but the G21 Regional Growth Plan suggests that Colac will have a population of about 20,000 by 2050.

Drivers for this projected growth include the duplication of the Princes Highway and the Geelong Ring Road, the rapid growth of Melbourne and subsequent spread of population into regional areas, and the growing popularity of the Great Ocean Road.

As rail services improve and Colac becomes a more viable commuter base, it is expected that population will grow, and it is important that growth planning is completed ahead of that curve.

Colac 2050 will establish a plan for the expansion of Colac’s residential housing footprint, business and industry sectors. It will also examine drainage, residential, retail and industrial land availability, flood planning, social and recreational infrastructure, traffic and pedestrian needs.

The Colac 2050 plan would take about a year to complete and require significant community engagement.

The State Government ($150,000) and the Colac Otway Shire ($110,000) have funded it.