Our city snub
“People have long talked about a Convention Centre for Geelong. The time for talk is over.”
That was Premier Daniel Andrews in July last year.
Well what a difference a few months make.
It now emerges, having commissioned and received what is understood to be a positive business case report on the Convention Centre, it is off the agenda for now.
A few short months ago Mr Andrews was appearing on the foreshore promising Geelong action on this long-awaited project.
A few short months ago he was voraciously pledging Victoria would go it alone if it had to — it would fully fund what would be a nine figure project — even if the Federal Government didn’t contribute a dollar.
A few short months ago the Premier said very pointedly: “We’re getting the crucially needed planning and business case done, so we can consider it ahead of the next budget.”
Yesterday Regional Development Minister Jaala Pulford had to come out to walk a lot of that back: Geelong would still get attention, it would still get this project, it would still get action — just not yet. Not this budget. Not a red cent.
So what has happened in the interim? There are a few suggestions.
One: The business case inquiry was based on a 1000 seat convention centre which is not big enough.
Two: The business case failed to sufficiently probe the prospects of a private hotel on the same site.
There are also now rumours problems with the site have been discovered.
This screams of a cock up. It seems like amateur hour. It is certainly a disappointment.
This Government was uniquely placed to push this project through — it has billions from the port sale and the largest public service in Victorian history. But instead, it has squibbed it.