Build it, they will come
Centre on waterfront
THE Geelong convention centre will be built on Deakin University’s waterfront carpark site, the State Government has revealed.
The site of the long-awaited convention and exhibition centre was revealed yesterday after $153.2 million in City Deal funding was included in Tuesday’s State Budget, much of which will go towards the major project.
Lara state Labor MP John Eren said the Federal Government needed to match the $153.2 million to live up to its side of the City Deal, a promise between state, federal and local governments to work together on delivering major projects.
“We’re shovel-ready almost, and we want the Federal Government to come on board and not drag their feet,” Mr Eren said at the Deakin carpark site yesterday.
“We want to wrap this up at the latest by September, so unless the Federal Government puts in dollar for dollar to what we’re contributing, this unfortunately doesn’t happen.”
Mr Eren also revealed the State Government expected to see a return of $3.50 for every dollar spent through the Geelong City Deal — a forecasted windfall of more than $1 billion — and the creation of 1000 new jobs each year during and after the project for the foreseeable future.
State Treasury and Finance parliamentary secretary Daniel Mulino revealed the Federal Government had received a copy of a business case report for the City Deal projects last month, but Liberal MPs have raised concerns with a lack of details shared.
Corangamite federal Liberal MP Sarah Henderson said the Commonwealth was still waiting on an individual business case for the convention centre.
“It is regrettable that a consolidated business case for these projects was only provided to our government a week-and-a-half ago,” Ms Henderson said.
“I understand the individual business case for the convention centre is not strong which is why the state has not been transparent.”
South Barwon state Liberal MP Andrew Katos also criticised the State Government for providing too little detail on the project.
“The Andrews Government has got a habit of demanding money from the Commonwealth and not submitting business cases to the Commonwealth,” Mr Katos said. “For some reason Daniel Andrews wants to play a cat-andmouse game.
“My understanding is the business case has been com- pleted for both of them but they haven’t been handed over.”
Ms Henderson and Mr Katos had previously lobbied for the convention centre to be built on the water rather than the Deakin site.
Yesterday, Ms Henderson again said the Deakin carpark was not the best location, and claimed a waterfront site should remain on the agenda.
Geelong state Labor MP Christine Couzens said it was time for Ms Henderson to back the project and stop complaining about a lack of detail from the State Government.
“It’s now time for Sarah Henderson to get on with it, and stop throwing up these furphies,” Ms Couzens said.
“We need this thing to happen, the whole community is behind it apart from one or two people, so let’s get on with it.”
The proposed convention centre is set to include 3700 sq m of multipurpose space with an exhibition hall and banquet room, a plenary hall with at least 1000 seats, breakout rooms and circulation spaces with views of Geelong’s waterfront and natural light throughout.
The majority of state funds will go towards building the convention centre, along with delivering on the Shipwreck Coast Masterplan, revitalising the city centre and transforming the Geelong Waterfront Safe Harbour Precinct.