Tuning the big picture

FAST rail, the Northern ARC project and the rollout of the NBN will be high on the agenda when the chief executives of five Geelong region councils visit Canberra next week.

The team, to be led by G21 CEO Elaine Carbines, will meet high-level Federal Government officials on Monday.

“The delegation is especially timely, with work on the coming Budget already under way in Canberra departments and an election due in the new year,” Ms Carbines said.

“It’s in our region’s interests to ensure department heads and senior officials fully understand our region’s issues.”

Ms Carbines said discussions would focus on the way forward for a number of major initiatives.

“A particular focus will be on gaining clarification around the projects, and the next steps, for a City Deal for Geelong and Great Ocean Road,” she said.

The Morrison Government announced in late December that it would contribute $154 million to- wards the City Deal.

Money would be directed to tourism ventures and the long-awaited convention centre under the threetiered government agreement.

Federal Labor has previously said it would match a $153 million State Government budget commitment towards the landmark deal. But there is still uncertainty over the timing of the rollout.

Other items for discussion include: THE relocation of Comcare to Geelong, THE Apollo Bay Harbour Precinct, Geelong Gallery extension and GPAC redevelopment AVALON Airport; and GEELONG Economic Futures proposal.

Ms Carbines said the delegation wasn’t expecting to gain funding commitments during their “whirlwind” schedule of wall-to-wall meetings with heads of departments or senior executives.

“The aim is to ensure our region’s needs are top-of-mind as Canberra’s most senior bureaucrats provide advice to their ministers,” she said.

A G21 Board delegation met ministers and shadow ministers last May.