MP ups ante on centre

Ramsay calls for progress report on convention facility

WESTERN Victoria Liberal MP Simon Ramsay has called for an update on the Geelong convention centre project.

The Coalition MP took to state Parliament this week to ask Regional Development Minister Jaala Pulford when the Government would announce the site and building plans for the convention centre and what funding would be committed to the project.

“Geelong Labor MPs Lisa Neville, Christine Couzens and John Eren have long heralded the fact that the Andrews Government would deliver a convention centre for Geelong, but all we have heard is empty promises and hollow commitments,” Mr Ramsay said.

“We have projects banked up waiting to develop in Geelong and maximise the land on the Eastern foreshore, but the dithering by the Andrews Government is having a serious impact on many other infrastructure projects in the pipeline.

“Despite noises about reworking the plans developed by Regional Development Victoria . . . it appears this project has stalled before it even gets started, despite all the rhetoric by the Premier and his Labor MP Mouseketeers.”

Ms Pulford failed to respond yesterday.

Mr Ramsay’s comments come amid uncertainty over the viability of a proposed convention centre on Geelong’s waterfront.

The State Government has issued a ban on development in the area as it worked on a master plan for the longawaited convention and exhibition centre on the adjacent Deakin University waterfront carpark.