City needs that money
Stadium funding must go elsewhere
ABOUT $100 million in government funding for the GMHBA Stadium redevelopment would be better used elsewhere, claims the former boss of Barwon Health.
The funding being requested to finish the project should be spent on the Geelong hospital’s “desperate” need for more operating theatres, the long-awaited Geelong Convention Centre or on other small community groups, former Barwon Health chairman John Stekelenburg (pictured) said.
“At the Geelong Football Club AGM we learned from (chief executive) Brian Cook that the Geelong Football Club is lobbying for $100 million to finish the Kardinia stadium,” Mr Stekelenburg said.
“However, their priorities are at a community cost. The cost is that other projects in Geelong and Victoria may miss out.
“No one is arguing that the stadium should not be finished, just that is it the highest priority for our area at the moment?”
Mr Cook said that the revamped stadium was a benefit to the community, not a cost.
“The benefit from the development of Stages 1-4 to the region’s community and economy has been enormous,” Mr Cook said.
“Up to 90 per cent of the $193 million project expenditure has been invested within the region, directly generating many hundreds of jobs and regional growth.
“The Geelong Cats believe that the redeveloped stadium is now a highly visible symbol of revitalisation for a region that suffered a series of economic shocks affecting social wellbeing, employment and opportunity over the past decade.”
Kardinia Park Stadium Trust chief executive Michael Brown said that the State Government would make the decision on what range of projects are funded.
“I obviously understand the importance of a whole range of community activities that seek funding,” Mr Brown said.
“Obviously, education, schools, hospitals and things, the government makes all of those considerations, and there’s no guarantee we’re going to get stage five funding.
“We will host and home a significant number of com- munity groups and community activities, which will make sure the stadium gets more use than just as a sports stadium.”
Mr Brown also noted that the trust managed the stadium, not the Geelong Football Club.
Mr Stekelenburg said that among the city’s other projects that would need to see State Government funding was the Geelong hospital’s need for infrastructure to keep up with surging demand.
“It is difficult to tell the 8000 people waiting to see a specialist at Barwon Health’s outpatients or the 1500 people awaiting for their surgery that another $100 million is more important to a football stadium than their health, comfort and dignity,” he said.