A client recently engaged our team with a proposal to repurpose and upgrade a 34-hectare rural property in Geelong for use as a dedicated kennel and dog boarding facility. The site had previously accommodated a cat boarding operation, but the new proposal required a significant reconfiguration of the land use, built form, and internal layout to properly support a dog-focused facility.
From a town planning perspective, this type of transition is not simply a change of business. It involves reassessing how the land use operates under the planning scheme, how animals are managed on-site, and how potential amenity impacts are addressed for surrounding properties. The first stage of the project involved working closely with the client to understand their operational vision. Dog boarding facilities have specific functional requirements, including separation of exercise areas, noise management strategies, safe circulation for staff and animals, and appropriate building design for housing and care spaces. These operational needs formed the basis of the design response.
At the same time, we needed to ensure the concept aligned with the relevant zoning controls and rural land use expectations within the Geelong region. This included considering how the use sits within its broader rural context, as well as how potential impacts such as noise, traffic, and animal management would be addressed in a structured and policy-consistent way.
The site’s size provided opportunity, but also required careful planning. Larger rural sites can still raise planning concerns if land use intensity is not well managed. As a result, the design approach focused on clear separation of activity areas, logical movement across the site, and integration with the existing landscape to reduce visual and environmental impact.
We also engaged early with the City of Greater Geelong planning department to ensure the proposal was being shaped in line with Council expectations. This stage is often critical in rural development projects, particularly where animal-related uses are involved. Early feedback helped refine the proposal before lodgement and reduced uncertainty during formal assessment.
Once the design and planning framework was resolved, a detailed planning application was prepared and submitted. The assessment process considered the suitability of the land use, potential amenity impacts, and the effectiveness of the proposed management measures. Through this process, we worked through Council queries and provided additional information where required to support a clear and complete assessment.
The application was ultimately supported, allowing the project to proceed.
Today, the site operates as one of Geelong’s established dog boarding facilities, reflecting both the client’s long-term vision and a planning process that carefully balanced operational needs with statutory requirements.
Projects of this nature highlight the importance of early planning input when dealing with rural land use changes. A well-structured approach at the beginning of the process often determines how smoothly the application progresses through Council and how effectively the final outcome supports day-to-day operations.
