One site, one vision

A NONDESCRIPT carpark near Deakin University’s Waterfront Campus is set to be the location of the most important investment in Geelong in a decade.

If only our politicians were all on the same page.

While there’s internecine battles at the state and federal levels, our City Hall has presented a united front.

Geelong Mayor Bruce Harwood as well as top bureaucrats Brett Luxford and Roger Grant say there’s only one site for the centre.

It’s the same site determined by the council more than a decade ago in a special report on the viability of the multi-million dollar project.

“There was an extensive search for the right site and that was found to be next to Deakin. All roads led and still lead to the Deakin University carpark site,” the mayor said in today’s edition.

Geelong is Australia’s 13thlargest city yet regional cities with smaller populations have had convention centres for many years.

Townsville, in 14th spot, secured its convention centre back in 1993. Cairns, in 15th place, gained its tourist magnet in 1997.

Mackay, which has less than half the population of Geelong in 21st position, opened its convention centre doors a few weeks after the 1988 Bicentennial celebrations.

It may be argued these Sunshine State cities are meccas for tourism due to their warmer climes. But Tourism Geelong and The Bellarine chief Roger Grant says Geelong is just as well placed due to our proximity to Melbourne.

We have a state election set for November. A federal election may well be held later this year. Premier Daniel Andrews said the time for convention centre talk was over.

We agree. So why, after the tough talk, did he decide to put the project on the back-burner? It’s time for Mr Andrews and Opposition Leader Matthew Guy to present their vision and tangible schedules to make this happen.

The Geelong Advertiser will ensure they remain the centre of attention.