CONVENTION TENSION
Our pollies square off over waterfront location
A GEELONG MP has labelled calls for Geelong’s long-awaited convention centre to be built on the city’s waterfront as ‘out of touch’, standing by the Deakin University carpark location.
Geelong Labor MP Christine Couzens rubbished suggestions by Liberal MPs that the convention centre be built on the water’s edge — not across the road on the university carpark.
Corangamite federal Liberal MP Sarah Henderson and South Barwon state Liberal MP Andrew Katos made the suggestion in yesterday’s Geelong Advertiser, including possible locations at Limeburners Point or Western Beach.
“Sarah Henderson and Andrew Katos are out of touch with the community when it comes to retaining public space,” Ms Couzens said.
“The Limeburners and Western Beach options would both mean the loss of valuable community space that should be shared by everyone — something locals have told us they don’t want.” THE Bellarine Peninsula welcomed a wave of tourists yesterday when passenger ship the Norwegian Jewel came to town.
The 294m cruise ship, travelling from New Zealand to Sydney, dropped anchor at Portarlington about 7am, giving visitors the day to explore the region before a 6pm departure.
Carrying almost 2400 passengers and 1069 crew, the 15-deck vessel hosts four times as many travellers as the
Ms Couzens said the Deakin Waterfront option, where the carpark is currently located, was her preferred location for a convention centre.
“We’ve done a huge amount of work engaging with stakeholders and the community, and we will ensure these view are respected in the location of the new convention centre,” Ms Couzens said.
“The Liberals need to start listening to the Geelong community and get out of the way while we deliver this significant project in Geelong.” Seabourn Encore, which h stopped in Geelong last week.
It is the largest passenger nger ship to anchor in the Geelong region.
About 600 people travelling on the cruise had pre-booked excursions for the stopover, with tour buses, and shuttle buses to central Geelong — along with a friendly costumed kangaroo — ready and waiting on shore.
Ms Couzens’ comments come just days after both State and Federal Governments signed a City Deal agreement to work together on funding a raft of major projects, with the convention centre expected to be included.
The State Government completed a $1 million business case for the construction of the convention centre at the site of Deakin’s carpark last year, but is still yet to make the results public, prompting fears the report found a convention centre would not be viable on the site.
Ms Couzens yesterday did not directly respond to questions regarding the business case.
Ms Henderson and Mr Katos said a convention centre would need to be built on the water, not on the carpark.
“It’s critical we get this right,” Ms Henderson said.
“We do not think putting this on the Deakin site will cut the mustard.”
Mr Katos said the convention centre was a once-in-alifetime opportunity.
“This could be the catalyst to completely transform the waterfront, to put that convention centre there would be one of the biggest transformational projects Geelong has ever seen.”
Both MPs also stressed the importance of working closely with the private sector to attract a hotel along with retail development and restaurants and cafes.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said community input would play a key role in deciding the priorities of the City Deal.