THE PROJECTS
REVITALISING CENTRAL GEELONG (RCG) ($20.85m federal govt, $7m state govt, $10m Geelong council)
GREEN SPINE (part of RCG)
The second stage of the $15m Malop Street Green Spine — from Gheringhap Street to Moorabool Street — is due to add another piece into a linear park between Johnstone Park and Eastern Park.
This week a spokesman for the state Department of Planning said work on the second stage, on the WorkSafe building side of the street, started on January 27 and was due to be completed by the end of the year.
But it is unclear when work on the southern side of Malop Street will be completed to accommodate buses turning into and from Malop Street.
The spokesman said the design of the southern side would accommodate buses turning into and from Malop Street.
The third stage of the project between Yarra and Bellarine streets is being designed and consulted on, and the project is likely to extend dedicated bike lanes on Malop Street.
Malop Street remains under the management of the state government because Geelong council wanted to spend $2m last year to rip up parts of the Green Spine already completed.
The state Department of Transport has appointed a project manager to oversee the Green Spine construction.
GHERINGHAP STREET DRAIN (COMPLETE)
Some 450m of drain flowing into Corio Bay from central Geelong was expanded in 2019 to better deal with storms.
ARTS AND CULTURE PRECINCT PUBLIC REALM IMPROVEMENTS
The state government has ticked off on the redevelopment of the Geelong Arts Centre building facing Little Malop Street. It will include indoor and outdoor areas. The Little Malop Street section is due to open in 2023.
LANEWAY PROJECT
The project to connect Little Malop and Malop streets via Dennys Place after the demolition of the former
Guf internet cafe building is yet to be complete but work has started.
BARWON RIVER
Establishment of planning controls to protect the Barwon River are due in October.
GEELONG WATERFRONT SAFE HARBOUR PRECINCT ($7.5m state govt, $5.5m federal govt, $3m City of Greater Geelong, $3m Royal Geelong Yacht Club)
THE $19m project that will see upgrades to the Royal Geelong Yacht Club, Fishermen’s Basin and the Victorian Sailing School has so far delivered the $10.1m, 440m wave attenuator doubling as the Wangim Walk into Corio Bay.
The walkway between Cunningham Pier and the Eastern Beach sea baths, features 23 floating concrete pontoons, fastened by 58 piles, and has 370 lights.
GEELONG CONVENTION CENTRE ($30m federal govt, $141.2m state govt, $3m Geelong council)
CONSTRUCTION is on track to start early next year, the state government says.
But details of a lease for the preferred Deakin University carpark site have not been made public.
The state government and Deakin University remain tight-lipped on discussions about the lease — Deakin has twice chosen not to answer recent questions from the Geelong Advertiser on the topic.
The project is expected to include a 1000-seat plenary hall and at least 3700sq m of multipurpose space that can be configured to incorporate an exhibition hall, breakout rooms and a banquet room.
Detail design work for the project is due to take place this year.
The project is expected to create 600 jobs during the estimated threeyear construction period and another 270 ongoing jobs once completed.
SHIPWRECK COAST MASTER PLAN ($88.15m federal govt, $20m state govt)
THE plan, funded through the City Deal, which aims to deliver an allweather amphitheatre and viewing deck and refurbish a visitor pod at the Twelve Apostles, improve Gibson Beach access and improve infrastructure, services and amenities on the Shipwreck Coast, has yet to deliver any results.
This week a spokeswoman for the state government, which is leading the plan, said it was “working closely with Commonwealth government counterparts” to “progress” priority projects under that plan.
Before the outbreak of COVID-19, the Great Ocean Road region attracted almost six million tourists a year — more than two million more than the Great Barrier Reef, according to federal government data.
The spokeswoman said all levels
of government wanted the implementation of the plan sped up.
POINT GREY, LORNE REDEVELOPMENT
($8m federal govt, $2m GORCC, $450,000 Lorne Aquatic and Angling Club)
MORE community engagement is due to take place on this project this year.
The $10.45m redevelopment will include a new building for the Lorne Aquatic and Angling Club, a restaurant with al fresco seating, a covered community meeting space a scenic lookout across Lorne Pier, upgraded foreshore walking paths to connect with Lorne township, and add 1.7ha of public space.
A state government spokeswoman said construction was expected to start next year after a planning permit was approved by Surf Coast Shire council in June last year.
The project is due to be completed in late 2023.
The redevelopment is due to create 30 jobs during construction and another 14 roles in hospitality once completed.
QUEENSCLIFF FERRY TERMINAL REDEVELOPMENT
($10m federal govt, $5.9m Searoad Ferries)
THE project is on schedule for completion late next year, the state government says.
Essential berthing pile repairs and maintenance on the pier were completed last year.
Construction of a rock groyne is complete, and a boardwalk is under construction.
Work on the roof, lift and gantry, and other outdoor elements of the terminal are due to be completed this year, according to an implementation plan for the project.
APOLLO BAY HARBOUR REDEVELOPMENT
LATE last year, Colac Otway Shire Council approved the harbour development plan, paving the way for the $12m federal governmentfunded project.
Colac Otway Shire has appointed a project director, and detailed designs are expected to be completed in the first half of this year.
The project aimed at growing the area’s visitor economy is due to add a new harbour boardwalk, extend the Fisherman’s Co-operative building, and a new port operations depot, public room and amenities.
The project will also include an upgrade to the boat trailer parking area, Mother’s Beach carpark, harbour entry road, Breakwater Road, and add a pedestrian and bike path to connect the harbour to the town centre.
Construction is due to start between January and March next year, and be completed by the third quarter of 2023.
The project director will also oversee improvements to tourism infrastructure in Kennett River, and construction of the $5m Apollo Bay to Skenes Creek Coastal Trail.
SMART CITY INITIATIVES FOR CENTRAL GEELONG (Geelong council $1.15m)
GEELONG council’s investment acting director Tim Ellis said the
City of Greater Geelong had spent $180,000 on technology, identified through the Geelong City Deal, to monitor movement through the city.
Mr Ellis said smart city initiatives in operation included:
TWO cameras attached to patrolling council vehicles able to read licence plates to determine vehicle parking times;
SIXTEEN pedestrian counters across the city that counted mobile phones and provided information to help the council understand the movement of people; and,
TWENTY EIGHT sensors in carparks across central
Geelong collecting occupancy data to help the council plan for the future. Mr Ellis said these initiatives provided data, such as the location of vacant carparks, for the community to view at geelongdataexchange.com.au
He said the city was working to determine the best locations for more community safety cameras in central Geelong.
The trial of 30-minute free parking in two hour zones in the Geelong CBD will run until June 30.
GREAT OCEAN WALK STAGE 1 (led by the state government)
A CONTRACT to design and plan a walking track between Wild Dog Creek (Apollo Bay) and Skenes Creek has been awarded and construction is due to start late next year.
According to the City Deal implementation plan, most of the construction of the project is due to be completed by early 2024, with cantilevered walkways and long span bridges due to be completed between July and September 2024.
FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR GREAT OCEAN WALK STAGE 2 – SKENES CREEK TO CUMBERLAND RIVER
THE state government said this project was in the planning stages and remained on schedule.
GEELONG FUTURE ECONOMY PRECINCT INFRASTRUCTURE ($3.8m federal govt, $3.8m state govt, $3.9m Deakin University)
ROAD upgrades to pave the way for an expansion of Deakin University’s Waurn Ponds campus were complete early last year including extensions of Nicol Drive, and upgrades of two intersections on Pidgons Road.
A further 14ha of land can now be developed following the extension of Nicol Drive North.
The City Deal aims to expand the knowledge precinct in the area and add hundreds of jobs.
DRIVING SAFETY EDUCATION CAMPAIGN — GREAT OCEAN ROAD ($250,000 federal govt)
THE project aims to reduce the number of accidents along the Great Ocean Road by conducting a 12month education campaign targeting visiting international drivers.
The campaign is set to include driving information displays at Avalon Airport, and other safety materials distributed through vehicle rental companies, visitor information centres and tourism businesses.
Due to COVID-19, the project has been postponed for 12 months and will start when international tourists return to the region in pre-pandemic numbers.