G21 & AFL Barwon Towards 2030: Strategy

Community

At its meeting on 25 May, Golden Plains Shire Council endorsed the Draft G21 and AFL Barwon Towards 2030: Strategy for public exhibition from 31 May to 11 July, 2021.

The Draft G21 and AFL Barwon Towards 2030 Strategy (Draft Strategy) aims to guide the future planning and development of football and netball throughout the G21 Region for the next 10 years.

The Draft Strategy is an initiative of AFL Barwon and the G21 Sport & Recreation Pillar and has been informed by a facilities audit, participation data and with the collaboration and engagement of stakeholders in the G21 Region including the five participating Councils – Golden Plains Shire, City of Greater Geelong, Surf Coast Shire, Borough of Queenscliffe and Colac-Otways Shire.

The key themes of the new Towards 2030: Strategy identify ways to increase diversity in participation, improve facilities and sustainability, build and retain football and netball participation, and continue to support clubs and their people.

Due to the success and growth in football and netball across the G21 region, AFL Barwon in partnership with Netball Victoria, AFL Victoria and the G21 LGAs, has undertaken a refresh of the initial G21 & AFL Barwon Regional Strategy (2015), with the new Towards 2030: Strategy realigning regional priorities. The strategy follows AFL Barwon’s 2021 ‘Play On’ Plan and serves as a precursor to the AFL Barwon 2022-2025 Strategic Plan.

Since 2015, there has been:

  • an exponential increase in female football participation, with 65 additional female football teams from 2015-2019, marking a 424% participation increase over the period.
  • strong population growth across the region.
  • $67 million worth of investment into football and netball club facilities across the region, with more than 60 projects completed.

In 2019, AFL Barwon had a higher number of players per population compared to Victorian regional averages in all age groups. Despite a challenging 2020, overall football and netball participation has increased since this time.

All submissions must be lodged directly with G21 by 11 July, 2021. To read the Draft G21 and AFL Barwon Towards 2030 Strategy and link to the online survey, visit Council's Have Your Say page. 

Rate this page

Is this page useful?