$30m convention bid

Andrew Mathieson
TOURISM lobbyists are seeking $30 million from State Government to build a Geelong Convention Centre within the next four years.
Victorian Tourism Industry Council has asked for the convention centre cash in a $60 million wishlist of public infrastructure funding for the region, including an interpretive centre on the Great Ocean Road.
The submission has gone to Victorian Competition and Efficiency Commission, which makes recommendations to State Government on funding priorities.
The convention and interpretive centres are two of the council’s five statewide priorities along with extension of Melbourne Exhibition Centre and development of Jolimont Station and Yarra River transport infrastructure.
Government support is integral to the commission’s review of the state’s tourism industry and a campaign to reduce the amount of red tape facing its operators.
Victorian Tourism Industry Council chairman Jeremy Johnson said spending money on the convention and interpretive centre projects would help the region keep pace with growing visitor numbers.
“Improvements in regional tourism infrastructure such as the Geelong Convention Centre and the Great Ocean Road Interpretive Centre will help with regional dispersal of visitors as well securing international airport status for Avalon Airport,” Mr Johnson said.
The council said a $30 million State Government investment would help Geelong develop a convention centre worth $80 million to $100 million.
Council chief Todd Blake said the new Baillieu Government had given fresh hope for the convention centre project, which had stalled for a number of years.
The Government’s set four-year term created a window of opportunity to get the project up and running, Mr Blake said.
“We have a plan for the project and we see an opportunity in the life of the current government for some progress on the development of it,” he said.
“But development timelines are pretty long with these sorts of projects, even if you push the button today and say we have the funding.”
A “number of options” were still under consideration for the site of the proposed convention centre.
Various tourism and business bodies were continuing to discuss the best location, he said.