Strategic Projects along the Waterfront - City of Greater Geelong

R. Royal Geelong Yacht Club
The Royal Geelong Yacht Club provides valuable recreation opportunities for
residents of Geelong and those from further afi eld, although it does so as the
cost of direct public access to this section of the waterfront. The enclosure
that houses the RGYC and the neighbouring Geelong Sailing School mirrors
the Western Beach marine precinct in this respect; a fenced area that prevent
public access to the shoreline.
The yacht club's facilities include those dedicated to boat maintenance,
equipment storage, club rooms, dry storage for approximately 40 boats,
marina moorings for approximately 200 recreational and commercial boats
and a small number of swing moorings. Transparent fencing of the club
enclosure allows views of the activity within the site.
The RGYC's role as host of the Audi Victoria Weeek Regatta underlines its
importance to local tourism and as a site of waterfront activity.
The 'Geelong City Foreshore: Boating Needs Strategy 2004', refers to a
number of issues associated with space, car parking, appropriate facilities,
scale of development and the potential for joint use, management and funding
of facilities that should be addressed in a more "detailed Site Development
Plan for the Yarra Street Pier, Royal Geelong Yacht Club complex and
associated facilities in this area".
Broadly though, expansion of the RGYC should be accommodated in a
seaward direction and its on-land footprint contained. As and when changes
occur, any opportunity for greater public access, including the return of
the foreshore path to a water's edge alignment through the site, should be
pursued.
Fig C48
R. Royal Geelong Yacht Club
The Royal Geelong Yacht Club can be seen as one of a pair with the western marine precinct on the western side of the central waterfront. These marine
compounds bracket the open spaces of the central waterfront and serve as thresholds to the western and eastern beach precincts.
Key recommendations
� Growth and development issues of the RGYC should be addressed in the context of surrounding future developments.
� The RGYC is a strong local institution, generating important waterfront activity and should be supported in expansion plans. However, expansion should
be encouraged over the water in a northerly direction, and not to the east or west on the adjacent land.
� Westward expansion of the marina may be possible in conjunction with surrounding future developments.
� Expansion of land-based activities needs to be accommodated by increased density within the current site.
� Any physical changes to the site should provide greater public access to the waterfront and provide an extension to the Baywalk through the site.
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Urban Initiatives
WATERFRONT GEELONG MASTERPLAN 2010