Deakin University’s waterfront car park will be the “focus” of a business study for a 1000-seat Geelong convention centre, according to the State Government.
The announcement confirmed the car park as the convention centre site after the Indy last month revealed confusion about local leadership of the project.
MPs had been calling since last year for an arrangement to acquire the car park but Deakin told the Indy in June it had yet to see any plans for the convention centre.
The Deakin revelation exposed a lack of leadership on the centre, with local business and government groups unable to identify a project leader.
The project was thrown further into confusion earlier this month after a media report that Deakin had lodged plans to build student accommodation on the site. Deakin said the report was wrong and that the accommodation project was announced in April for a separate car park on Brougham Street.
The government said today it would spend $1 million on the business plan to build a convention centre worth $350 million on the waterfront car park.
“Previous work” indicated the facility would be worth $50 million annually to Geelong’s economy and create 270 ongoing jobs as well as 600 during construction, the government said.
The centre would include a 3000 square metre exhibition space, a business centre and shops.
The centre was part of Labor’s “10-year agenda to renew central Geelong”, the government said.
“People have long talked about a convention centre for Geelong. The time for talk is over,” Premier Daniel Andrews said.
“We’re getting the crucially needed planning and business case done, so we can consider it ahead of the next budget.”
Geelong MP Christine Couzens said the convention centre would help “renew the CBD, strengthen tourism and create crucial jobs”.
However, the government might have to come up with a car parking trade to acquire the waterfront land.
The convention centre plan would have to satisfy Deakin “principles” governing development of its waterfront landholdings, the university said.
The principles included finding “solutions for our existing student car parking”.
“Our car park sits at the centre of the natural waterfront beauty and the governing council of the university has established principles that would govern any development of this significant asset,” the university said.
Vice-chancellor Professor Jane den Hollander said Deakin’s “partnership” with the government would include development of a master plan for the university’s waterfront precinct.
“We are committed to supporting the communities we serve and are delighted to work with the Victorian Government to create a strong vision for the future of Geelong’s waterfront, along the lines of Brisbane’s Southbank, the Gold Coast’s Parklands, and the re-invigoration of the Townsville Esplanade,” Prof den Hollander said.
“What we have that most other Australian regions don’t is a north-facing bay; a stunning natural landmark that is the perfect base for our city to become one of the country’s most thriving community and tourist attractions.”
