By Cr Trent Sullivan
When different layers of government collaborate to fund vital community infrastructure, we all win.
On the Bellarine, there have been some fantastic examples of the City of Greater Geelong working with the state and federal governments to fund much-needed community projects.
A couple of weeks ago, the state government announced $1 million in funding for an all-abilities pavilion at Wallington Reserve through their Regional Community Sports Infrastructure Fund.
This funding is in addition to the $3.25 million that the City of Greater Geelong allocated for the project in its 2024-25 budget.
Wallington Reserve’s current clubrooms, built in 1987, urgently need upgrading.
The upgrade will include extending the pavilion to accommodate two compliant change rooms, a shared canteen, social space with internal toilets and additional storage.
The project will also include relocating the existing non-compliant public toilets and improving car parking and access roads.
Wallington Reserve is home to Wallington Cricket Club and Bellarine Bears Baseball Club, which both run highly successful all-abilities programs.
In a region as fast-growing as ours, it’s vital that we plan to build facilities to match this population growth.
Council is dedicated to delivering quality spaces and places where needed, and there are many other examples of the three levels of government working together to build vital infrastructure on the Bellarine.
Late last year, we saw the opening of stage one of North Bellarine Aquatic Centre, with the eight-lane, 50-metre heated outdoor pool opening in time for summer.
This project has seen significant investment from local, state and federal governments.
Stage two of the project, a $40 million indoor aquatic centre to be built alongside the outdoor pool, has seen $20 million in funding commitments from both the Victorian and Australian governments.
The Boronggook Drysdale Library is another fantastic example of how co-contributions work effectively.
Council contributed $8.156 million and the Victorian Government $1 million to this innovative building, which features a planted roofscape with 4300 plants including 18 different native species.
The building was recently shortlisted for the Australian Institute of Architects’ 2024 Victorian Architecture Awards.
Over in Barwon Heads, the local bowling club received a $1.2 million upgrade thanks to a collaborative effort between council and the Australian and Victorian governments.
In this case, the federal government’s $500,000 funding contribution was matched by an equal commitment from the City of Greater Geelong and $200,000 from the Victorian government.
These funding injections from all levels of government recognise the overall growth of the Bellarine population and the importance of promoting an active lifestyle.
Council prides itself on providing places and spaces that bring the community together.
When local, state, and federal governments collaborate on community projects, we can achieve more ambitious and comprehensive projects that might not be possible with a single funding source.
The City of Greater Geelong is committed to working effectively with state and federal governments to continue delivering these much-needed projects to the community.
By pooling our resources and expertise, we ensure all residents of the Geelong region have access to world-class facilities now and into the future.
