DAN TOLD: FUND CONVENTION CENTRE

Convention Centre, health hub top funding wishlist

THE body created by the State Government to advise on the Geelong region’s priorities has released its funding wishlist.

The Barwon Regional Partnership has presented its major projects ahead of the 2018-19 budget, which will be vital for the Government as it seeks reelection in November.

Funding for the Geelong convention centre, construc- tion of the Northern ARC health hub and support for regional tourism initiatives sit atop the pile of priorities.

Others include funding for an entrepreneurial ecosystem pilot project and a range of initiatives to help improve education achievement rates of the region’s youth.

Partnership chair Kylie Warne said the short-list was part of a wider matrix of short to long-term actions addressing policies and services.

“Our advice to government is timed to coincide with the 2018/19 State Budget cycle, and will land in what is a state election year in 2018,” she writes in today’s Geelong Advertiser.

“Our Partnership acknowledges the finite nature of the annual budget, and that deliv- ery of large, catalytic projects can be a long game.

“Nevertheless, we believe the delivery of these projects will drive us towards a more prosperous future for our region, where every person can reach their potential.”

The convention centre project has stalled since the Andrews Government did not allocate any funding for it in the 2017-18 budget.

But Premier Daniel Andrews previously promised the project would go ahead even if the state had to fund it alone.

The City of Greater Geelong has committed $20.6 million towards the $61.6 million Northern ARC hub, but it needs Government funding to realise the project.

It would be sited next to a new $33 million Governmentfunded health facility, which is due to open in mid-2019.

The Andrews Government created eight regional partnerships across Victoria, which aim to address the most important local issues and opportunities.

The Barwon partnership takes in four local council areas.

Golden Plains is the one G21 council not included in the Barwon region.