Mayor attacks project ‘group’

JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
COUNCIL and business groups have drawn battle lines over calls for a new body to oversee delivery of major projects in Geelong.
Mayor John Mitchell defended council’s track record on managing major projects after Committee for Geelong called for an independent regional body to take over the role.
Committee chair Michael Betts called for a “single-purpose entity” to deliver major projects such as a Geelong convention centre.
But Cr Mitchell said council could point to a number of successfully completed projects.
“The Skilled Stadium upgrades are one example we have successfully project managed and the $31 million Leisurelink facility is another,” he said.
“We’ve lobbied long and hard on the library and heritage centre and are only awaiting one more funding announcement before that project gets underway.
“We’re moving ahead with the Yarra St pier study as well as the mineral springs and convention centre.
“All these projects need state and federal funding and it can be frustrating to lobby for funding and await the outcomes but once we get the funding we’ve shown that we can deliver. I believe the city has done as much as can be done.”
Mr Betts said local government was “not the best model” for major project delivery.
“Bodies that have some independence from local government, which are focussed on bringing all elements of a project together, might be better than allowing total control through council mechanisms.
He believed progress on the proposed convention centre was “too slow”.
“The City has a whole series of conflicting roles and responsibilities and it has to act as judge and jury on some issues,” he said.
Geelong Chamber of Commerce’s Bernadette Uzelac backed the committee.
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