Cook commits
Geelong Cats chief Brian Cook has agreed to a one-year contract extension, the club has announced.
Brian Cook, also chair of Barwon Health, was now committed to running the club until the end of 2021 as the Cats entered the next stage of their home stadium’s redevelopment, said president Colin Carter.
Fat fight
Almost two thirds of greater Geelong adults are obese or overweight, according to latest statistics.
Victoria University’s Mitchell Institute highlighted the figures this week with a call for action on a weight disparity between residents of “wealthy” Melbourne suburbs and other areas of the state, which had higher obesity rates.
Spill exercises
Geelong’s refinery operator has begun a series of exercises to practice containing oil spills on Corio Bay.
Viva Energy said the exercises, which began on Thursday and continue weekly until 7 November, involved the deployment of a containment boom from the beach as well as on-water activities.
Hub boost
Barwon Heads is a step closer to its new arts hub after councillors this week agreed to make a publicly-owned site available for development of the facility.
The project already had a $1 million funding commitment from State Government but Tuesday’s vote would allow design and construction to proceed on the Clifford Pde block, City Hall said.
Wheel leader
A new business development executive will spearhead a high-tech Geelong wheel manufacturer’s push into Europe, the company has announced.
Waurn Ponds-based Carbon Revolution said the appointment of Adrian Smith, who previously worked with international brake manufacturers in Italy and North America, reflected the company’s confidence in the European market’s potential.
Water falls
Geelong’s water storages have slipped to 70.5 per cent of capacity despite 18mm of rain in the seven days, according to official measurements.
Barwon Water recorded a .4 per cent decline in storage levels on Wednesday after consumption of 633 million litres since the same time last week.
Tailing breakthrough
Geelong research could help “dramatically reduce” the use of toxic tailing dams in the mining industry, according to Deakin University.
The university’s work would deliver a faster and better way of separating mineral particles from water to help reduce “devastating” impacts from tailing dams releasing into the environment, Deaking said.
Mosque visit
Twenty police have visited Geelong’s mosque for a “cultural awareness day”.
Police said the visiting officers sought to “establish any issues” between the force and local Muslims and gain insights into “dealing with the community”.
