Central Geelong could be the big winner of a new “City Deal” to fund local projects, according to a lobby group.
G21 Geelong Region Alliance nominated a convention centre, a waterfront safe harbour and ongoing revitalisation of the city centre as projects it would “like to think” were in line for funding under the deal.
G21 joined Geelong Chamber of Commerce as the first local lobby groups to welcome the deal after Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Acting Premier James Merlino signed a memorandum of understanding in the city on Wednesday.
The bipartisan agreement to support Victoria’s first City Deal would be a boon to Geelong, both leaders said in a joint statement.
“The agreement paves the way to establish Victoria’s first City Deal in Geelong, which will involve all three levels of government working with the private sector as part of the Commonwealth’s Smart Cities Plan to grow jobs and boost investment,” their statement said.
“A Geelong City Deal will help to deliver new jobs and make the area an ever better place to live and work with world-class infrastructure projects and a tourism offer that is second to none for Victoria’s second city.”
G21 chief Elaine Carbines called the agreement “an historic day for the city” that promised delivery of long-awaited projects, particularly in central Geelong.
“It heralds visionary investment of many millions of dollars in major projects across years, driving growth and employment,” she said.
“We would like to think a Geelong City Deal would include investment for projects including Geelong convention and exhibition centre, the Shipwreck Coast Master Plan and Great Ocean Road, Geelong CBD revitalisation, Geelong waterfront safe harbour and the continued growth of advanced manufacturing.”
The chamber of commerce also looked forward to a bonanza for central Geelong.
“I look forward to seeing many of the projects earmarked as part of this deal begin to come to fruition, including the long-awaited Geelong Convention and Exhibition Centre and continued investment in revitalising central Geelong,” said chamber chief Bernadette Uzelac.
Geelong has been pushing for a convention centre since the 1950s, Royal Geelong Yacht Club needs $12 million in funding for the first stage of its safe harbour project, and efforts to revitalise the central city area have been ongoing for over a decade.
Geelong will be the fifth City Deal in Australia, with Townsville, Launceston, Hobart and western Sydney already tapping into the program.
Mr Turnbull also announced on Wednesday a separate package of $20 million for 21 local projects, forecast to deliver 1200 jobs.
Allocations from the Geelong Region Investment Fund included $5 million for a LeMond Composites advanced carbon fibre manufacturing at Deakin University, $3 million for a proposed Cape Otway Road Australia (CORA) elite sports and wellbeing centre at Modewarre, and $2 million for the yacht club’s harbour project.
