Boss wanted for city centre plan

A “business-focussed” manager on a “generous salaray package” will oversee central Geelong’s revitalisation, according to council advertising
Advertisements for the new three-year contract position appeared last week before councillors voted on Tuesday to extend a committee overseeing the plan.
The moves followed an Independent report last month on federal Corangamite MP Sarah Henderson setting a 12-month deadline for action on revitalising central Geelong.
Mayor Darryn Lyons promised the following week quick action, saying revitalising central Geelong was “right up there” on his priority list.
The advertising said the manager would lead a team of project-based officers to create a “smart, vibrant, thriving, liveable and successful 21st Century city centre”.
The plan aimed to “bring transformational change to central Geelong” and “signal an open-for-business message”, the advertisement said.
Cr Lyons has previously savaged City Hall bureaucrats for putting barriers in the way of business opportunities.
Council this week added two more “independent experts” to its central Geelong taskforce special committee.
Committee members now include property developer Rory Costello, valuer Todd Devine, Faggs Mitre 10 boss Mark Edmonds, urban planner Roz Hansen, marketer Nicholas Heath and lawyer Dan Simmonds with the mayor, councillors Michelle Heagney and Andy Richards and City Hall’s next chief executive officer.