Region issues $1b state poll wishlist

Andrew Mathieson
THE region’s councils have released a state election wishlist of 12 key projects worth almost $1 billion.
Rival election candidates gave in-principle support on Wednesday to some of the list’s most urgent projects.
But they remained tight-lipped on specific policy to match the funding demands.
G21, an alliance organisation representing the region’s five councils, released the wishlist with six weeks to go until the November 27 poll.
Major projects on the list included $412 million for infrastructure at Armstrong Creek, $257.5 million to duplicate the Princes Highway from Winchelsea to Colac, $122 million for Corio and Norlane regeneration projects and $45 million for Geelong’s cultural precinct. Other items included state commitments to a proposed Geelong convention centre and to helping Avalon Airport develop an aviation training academy and an international terminal.
Member for Geelong Ian Trezise said the G21 projects were already on Labor’s radar.
“I’m well aware of the vast majority of these projects and, in fact, have probably advocated for them within government over the past four or five years.”
Mr Trezise said upgrade projects for cultural precinct was the “number-one priority” in his electorate.
Geelong-based Liberal Member for Western Victoria Region David Koch said a coalition government would commit to spending more across the region.
“I don’t think there’s any doubt there are a lot of sensible considerations that G21 is putting forward,” he said.
Mr Koch said Geelong should put in a “bigger claim” on the proposed convention centre to boost auditorium capacity to more than 1500 seats.
He believed the state could not ignore funding for the Princes Highway connection to Colac as a main transport and passenger corridor into western Victoria and South Australia.