By Luke Voogt
A new soccer stadium, protecting aged care services from privatisation and vouchers to help the hospitality industry rebound have emerged among this week’s council election pledges.
Current Windermere and Brownbill ward councillors Kylie Grzybek and Eddy Kontelj promised to advocate for funding for a regional soccer stadium in Geelong’s north.
“This will be the biggest step forward for Geelong soccer in generations, and it will firmly place Geelong on the Australian soccer map,” Cr Grzybek said.
The councillors met with former Socceroos Steve Horvat and Josip Skoko at Leisuretime Sports Precinct, Norlane, on Tuesday to promote the concept.
Presidents of various local soccer clubs also attended to support plans for the stadium, to which council has already allocated $50,000 for a business plan.
“We will encourage council to include all Geelong clubs and stakeholders in the setting of the requirements of the new stadium,” Cr Kontelj said.
“This stadium will be used for all things from A-League games, attracting major tournaments to Geelong, Miniroos galas, elite training and coaching facilities, and everything in-between.”
Kardinia ward candidate Andrew Alexander campaigned for council to issue vouchers to Geelong households to spend on local hospitality, music or arts small businesses.
“These small businesses have been significantly affected by COVID-19 restrictions,” Mr Alexander said.
“The key to getting them reopening is to encourage spending.
“These venues give our city its culture, but they are also a key driver for employment, investment and tourism in our local economy.”
Mr Alexander pledged to lobby for state and federal funding for the initiative.
He also took aim at “uncompetitive commercial rates” saying small businesses were “frustrated” at “council impediments that make doing business in Geelong unnecessarily challenging.”
“The value that the council delivers back to them does not stack up,” he said.
While Mr Alexander acknowledged council’s COVID-19 support packages, he said this did “nothing” to address the long-term issue of rates.
Fellow Kardinia ward candidate Andy Richards pledged to increase funding for council’s aged care services including in-home care, property maintenance, meal deliveries and respite care.
“[Council aged services] are under threat of being contracted out and privatised, with a resulting decrease in service levels,” Mr Richards said.
“If elected, I’ll support an increase in Geelong council’s aged care funding, along with an extension of the services offered, and sufficient council oversight so that services do not slip.
“I’ll also make sure these services stay in council hands, and standards are improved.
“Local residents would be aware that no-one has done it tougher during the COVID-19 lockdown periods than elderly residents.
“Given the evidence coming out of the Aged Care Royal Commission, it’s essential that council does everything it can to keep elderly residents in their own home for as long as possible.”
Mr Richards encouraged Geelong Regional Library to call to check-up on the city’s elderly residents, saying libraries in many other Victorian municipalities done so during COVID-19.
