Push to build ships, oil rigs

Hamish Heard
Geelong could become a manufacturing base for navy ships and oil rigs under a plan to attract new industries to the city.
Geelong Manufacturing Council has joined forces with State Government to explore ways to lure defence, offshore oil rig and other large construction projects to Geelong’s port.
Manufacturing council executive officer David Peart said a $40,000 feasibility study would investigate building a “dedicated facility” for the projects.
“Defence and oil platform projects need to be adjacent or very close to water because these are the types of things that can’t be moved by land,” Mr Peart said.
“In the past there has been work done in Geelong for oil platforms and there are a couple of engineering companies in Geelong that work on defence contracts, so we see this as a significant opportunity to expand on those activities,” he said.
Mr Peart said facility had potential to generate hundreds of new jobs for Geelong. As evidence of the benefits of pursuing defence contracts, he cited a $500 million contract signed two weeks ago to build navy ships at Williamstown, creating 500 jobs.
“Those sorts of activities also have high multipliers, so this is a significant opportunity for Geelong industry to capitalise on our strengths as a port and engineering centre,” Mr Peart said.
Manufacturing council chairman Patrick McCaffrey said the organisation was working with state and federal governments to ensure Geelong did not fall victim to growing competition from international manufacturers.