Convention ‘bomb’ risk

GEELONG should be wary of hitching its economic fortunes to its much-vaunted convention centre, according to a world expert on urban planning.
Professor Richard Tomlinson said the centre might bomb without supporting attractions such as galleries, theatres and other cultural drawcards.
“The convention centre is a formula often used to develop a town but it’s not very often successful,” Prof Tomlinson told the Independent.
“It works a lot better if you can tie it to other things going on in the city.
“For example, in Melbourne you have the National Gallery, theatres and so on. It’s the kind of city you bring your partner to and walk about and easily enjoy what’s available.’
“If Geelong doesn’t have the equivalent spin-offs – and, remember, it’s in competition with Melbourne – I’d be circumspect about the convention centre.’’
Prof Tomlinson is the chair of urban planning within Melbourne University’s Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning. He also authored Australia’s Unintended Cities: The Impact of Housing on Urban Development.
Prof Tomlinson returned last week from Rio de Janeiro, where he advised authorities on staging Olympic Games and soccer’s world cup.
He said politics, inter-governmental red tape and fractured infrastructure funding sources hampered planning for Geelong and other cities and towns across Victoria and Australia.
A convention centre for Geelong has been on the drawing board since the 1950s. Geelong council resurrected the proposal again this year when it gave the nod to an Eastern Park site and developer Lawrence Elms followed up with a $1 billion plan.
New Mayor Keith Fagg has raised the prospect of reviewing the proposed site for a shift closer to central Geelong. Business, tourism and lobby groups have rallied behind him.
Prof Tomlinson said the influence of outside factors such as “fickle” political interests and differing tiers of government made strategic planning for projects like the convention centre almost impossible.
“In my view, there are profound limits to the potential contribution of strategic planning.”
Communities should be vested with responsibility for local planning on ventures like the convention centre, he said.