$2.7b election ‘wish list’

A $2.7 billion wish list will confront candidates for the region’s two federal seats at this year’s election.
$1.5 billion for improving Geelong’s transport links with Melbourne is the biggest-ticket item on the G21 list, ahead of $892 million for community infrastructure at Armstrong Creek.
About $100 million for revitalising central Geelong and $30 million for a Yarra Street pier to berth cruise liners also made the cut, while un-costed priorities for commitments include an international terminal for Avalon Airport.
G21, an alliance body lobbying on behalf of the region’s five municipalities, identified the projects among a list of 12 requiring federal support ahead of this year’s election.
G21 said it was putting candidates “on notice” that it would keep a tally of their commitments to each project.
Voters could track a tally sheet at g21.com.au, the organisation said in its E-news bulletin on Wednesday 30 March.
“When you cast your vote in the upcoming federal election you deserve to know which of the region’s priority projects political parties and their candidates support, or don’t support,” it said.
“That’s why G21 is again producing a tally sheet of the major parties’ commitments against relevant G21 2016 Priority Projects in the run-up to the election.
“They are projects the G21 board has previously short-listed as being most beneficial to the economic and social health of the entire region.”
G21 said it would regularly update the tally sheet as candidates announced commitments.
“We urge you to lobby your local candidates on behalf of the G21 Priority Projects and to follow the candidates’ commitments through the G21 tally sheet.”
The organisation said it would soon launch a social media campaign to support the push for funding commitments.
The Turnbull Government has yet to set a date for the election but pundits expect voters will go to the polls in July.
The Government has a marginal hold on the seat of Corangamite, which has won the lion’s share of local funding commitments at recent federal elections.
Labor holds Corio as a safe seat, although commentators have speculated that the possibly nomination of Geelong Mayor Darryn Lyons as a candidate could make the electorate marginal.
G21 is a formal alliance of government, business and community bodies in the City of Greater Geelong, Borough of Queenscliffe and the shires of Surf Coast, Golden Plains and Colac Otway.