Geelong council endorsed formal relationships with two municipalities vital to our region.
City of Greater Geelong will enter into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with both the City of Wyndham to the north and the City of Devonport in Tasmania this week.
Wyndham, which encompasses 17 western Melbourne suburbs including Hoppers Crossing, Laverton, Little River, Werribee and Wyndham Vale, borders Geelong to the northeast, while the Spirit of Tasmania travels between Geelong and Devonport.
The MOUs will serve as frameworks for cooperation and collaboration with the two cities, including tourism, advocacy, growth, economic development and procurement.
Councillor Trent Sullivan, who helped build the relationship with City of Devonport during his term as Geelong mayor, said the MOU presented “fantastic opportunities” to collaborate on tourism and economic development.
“The Spirit of Tasmania has been a fantastic upgrade to our region, with over 400,000 travellers coming through our region now annually,” Cr Sullivan said.
“By signing an MOU with Devonport, ultimately, that means the whole of Tasmania as well. There are so many opportunities that will open up for Geelong… because we are the point of entry onto the mainland for most Tasmania people.”
Councillor Anthony Aitken said the MOU with Wyndham was “a really significant strategic change for Geelong”.
“Our centre geographically in terms of our population, with the new 110,000 people over the next 30 years in the north and western growth zone, will be shifting back to the north,” Cr Aitken said.
“So we have to work with Wyndham to make sure that we take advantage of all of these opportunities and, importantly, create the employment opportunities that Geelong is going to need.”
