INNER-CITY BOOMTIME

But Libs say red tape stalling big projects

GEELONG’S soaring construction boom is still on the rise, with several major projects preparing to take off.

Three proposed developments, with a combined construction value of $55 million, are being reviewed by the Geelong Authority.

Pre-application talks are being held on a further 14 sites in central Geelong.

The forecast activity comes amid conjecture over the future of the Geelong Authority, which is tasked with overseeing larger applications in the CBD.

The State Opposition has questioned the advisory body’s effectiveness at fast-tracking works, and has committed to reviewing its operation if it wins the November election.

“There has been a sort of a development go-slow,” Coalition planning spokesman David Davis said. “I don’t think there has been enough happening.”

The State Government created the Geelong Authority almost three years ago to assist Planning Minister Richard Wynne, who assumed oversight of major developments in central Geelong.

Since the authority’s establishment, Mr Wynne has approved nine major planning permit applications, worth a total of $359 million.

The latest of those was Franze Developments’ $150 million mixed-use high-rise on Ryrie St, which will deliver the first Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites in Australia.

“The Geelong Authority has provided critical advice to Government on new development in Geelong,” a spokeswoman for Mr Wynne said.

“It has formed a strong part- nership with the City of Greater Geelong and successfully delivered a number of projects that are boosting local business, jobs and housing supply.”

The body has also contribut- ed to the creation of the Government and council’s blueprint, the 10-year Revitalising Central Geelong Action Plan.

Members of the body have recently been reappointed for a three-year term, running to June 2021.

But Mr Davis said the creation of the Geelong Authority had added further complexity to the planning process.

“The council, Geelong Authority, Victorian Planning Authority, planning minister and the (planning) department — it is quite a matrix,” he said.

“We haven’t formed a view on the authority … but it could have moved things forward more quickly.

“We intend to strip out the blockages to growth.”

Federal Liberal MP Sarah Henderson has previously called for the Geelong Authority to be abolished, describing it as “nothing more than a ministerial advisory council”.

She wanted it to be replaced with an independent development corporation, as part of the much-lauded City Deal. But the three-tiered City Deal is yet to be finalised, with the Federal Government yet to announce its commitments.