HOW FUTURE-SHAPING $370M CITY DEAL IS TRACKING

IT is three years since the Geelong City Deal was signed to encourage collaboration between local, state and federal governments on region-shaping projects.

CHAD VAN ESTROP looks at what the $370.2m deal that aims to revitalise central Geelong and the Great Ocean Road region has achieved.

MORE than 30 projects aiming to boost population, jobs, business, tourism in Greater Geelong and along the Great Ocean Road are due to be completed when the 10-year Geelong City deal signed in 2018 wraps up.

So far it has delivered the $10.1m, 440m wave attenuator doubling as Wangim Walk into Corio Bay that opened late last month, and sensors and other devices to track the movement of people through the Geelong CBD.

Planning work for the $10.45m redevelopment of Point Grey at Lorne, and designs for the $12m Apollo Bay Harbour redevelopment are expected to be completed before July.

By year’s end, the City Deal is due to deliver the second stage of the Green Spine between Gheringhap and Moorabool streets on the northern side of the road.

By the end of next year, the $15.9m Queenscliff ferry terminal redevelopment is due to be completed.

The state government was this week unable to list one project the $108.15m Shipwreck Coast Master Plan, funded under the City Deal, had delivered.

Lobby groups are also concerned the $174.2m Geelong convention centre is progressing too slowly.

Committee for Geelong chief executive Jennifer Cromarty said the organisation was in “regular” contact with governments about the progress of the City Deal.

“However, we have consistently advocated that the community, and particularly the private sector, needs stronger engagement so there is opportunity to leverage government investment with private capital,” Ms Cromarty said.

“Notwithstanding the large amounts of work that has occurred behind the scenes, the progress regarding the convention centre appears to be slow.”

G21 lobby group chief executive Giulia Baggio and Senator Sarah Henderson raised concerns about its progress.

Ms Baggio said: “A business plan for the centre was due last September, but we’ve had no announcement yet about next steps.”

Senator Henderson said: “For the sake of our economic recovery, the state must lift its game.”

A state government spokeswoman said last month: “We continue to engage with Deakin (University) as the owner of the preferred site of the future Geelong Convention and Exhibition Centre.”

Corio Labor MP Richard Marles said: “The Geelong region needs an immediate boost for job creation, so we don’t see more people lining up for JobSeeker. The City Deal projects should be fast-tracked as soon as possible.”

The City Deal consists of $183.8m from the federal government, $172m from the state government and $14.4m from the City of Greater Geelong.