Opposition: Geelong’s ‘Greek’ makeover plans progressing
EARLY planning has begun for the Geelong waterfront’s big fat Greek makeover.
Visiting the city recently, state Opposition Leader Matthew Guy confirmed he had seen potential designs for a Greece-inspired overhaul of Geelong’s extended waterfront precinct.
Mr Guy last year confirmed Barwon South state Liberal MP Andrew Katos would become the Minister for Geelong if the Coalition won the next election, and would be tasked with overseeing the major project. Mr Guy said the city needed to make the most of its unique north-facing waterfront.
“We’ve looked at a couple of designs about where we’d start it and where we’d finish it,” Mr Guy said. “The reason we want to do that is to activate Victoria’s only city with a north-facing waterfront.
“It’s the best asset for this city. And now that we’ve got potential urban renewal land as far around as Point Henry, right around to the CBD, this could be a major opportunity for Geelong.”
Mr Guy and Mr Katos went on a partially taxpayer-funded trip to Greece last year to see how Greece’s second city Thessaloniki has rejuvenated its 5km, 240,000sq m waterfront.
Taxpayers kicked in $25,000 for the Coalition delegation’s trip to Greece and Israel, which included meetings with Thessaloniki’s mayor, the city’s regional governor and other dignitaries.
Announcing the project last year, Mr Guy said he would commission Mr Katos to take charge of the full redevelopment of the Geelong waterfront in his role as the first-ever Minister for Geelong.
“Thessaloniki waterfront isn’t a few hundred metres long, it isn’t just a dozen or so metres wide, it’s huge,” Mr Guy said.
“Five kilometres in length, designed by internationally renowned architects Nikifioridis-Cuomo, the 240,000 sq m project was worthwhile taking the time to visit and to learn about.”
Mr Guy said the Thessaloniki design contained 2353 new trees, 118,432 new plants, 58 acres of green spaces and 11,600 sq m of playgrounds.