$15M FERRY ROADBLOCK
GET ON BOARD: City leaders’ urgent call for funds to help prepare Spirit of Tasmania’s new Geelong base
ROAD upgrades are needed for the Spirit of Tasmania’s new base in North Geelong next year, but the state government is resisting calls to spend $15m on the works in its budget next month.
ROAD upgrades are needed for the Spirit of Tasmania’s new base in North Geelong next year, but the state government is resisting calls to spend $15m on the works in its budget next month.
With GeelongPort investing $135m in the ferry terminal, the region’s key advocacy groups have united in a call to make the works a funding priority.
A year on from the Spirit of Tasmania’s decision to relocate its Victorian terminal from Port Melbourne’s Station Pier to Geelong, they say government support is urgently needed to unlock the massive tourism potential for the region.
The $15m is needed for major works, including traffic lights on Corio Quay Road that will create a welcoming and functioning terminal with dedicated passenger car and freight access points.
However, the state government has told the Geelong Advertiser the issue is a matter for GeelongPort, which is developing the dedicated 12ha facility so the ferry can start docking there next year.
A government spokesperson said the Department of Transport was working closely with all key agencies and stakeholders, including GeelongPort, on the relocation.
But the spokesperson did not offer any encouragement that funding would be considered for the state budget to be handed down on May 20.
“This is a matter for GeelongPort, which is a private authority and responsible for financing and infrastructure,” the spokesperson said.
GeelongPort is also hoping the federal government will back the project, which promises to accommodate major tourism and economic benefits for the region.
Chief executive Brett Winter said the relocation of the terminal to Geelong was forecast to benefit Victoria’s tourism sector through increased expenditure of $174.1m by 2029-30.
“This presents as a terrific opportunity for the federal government to back tourism businesses to recover from the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic with a project that will turbocharge tourism in the Geelong region,” Mr Winter said.
The Committee for Geelong, G21 Geelong Region Alliance,
Geelong Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Greater Geelong and the Bellarine, Geelong Manufacturing Council and the City of Greater Geelong are all pushing for government support for the roadworks.
G21 chief Giulia Baggio said the relocation of the Spirit of Tasmania was a tremendous opportunity for Victoria to attract new visitors and grow the struggling tourism industry as it recovered from the impacts of COVID-19.
“A safe and welcoming gateway for visitors arriving in Geelong will play an important part in helping our hospitality, accommodation and events businesses get back on their feet as quickly as possible,” Ms Baggio said.
Committee for Geelong chief Jennifer Cromarty said the road upgrades were crucial to ensure safe access to all users of the port and for everyone using the regional road network, which was owned by the State Government.
Tourism Greater Geelong and the Bellarine executive director Brett Ince said the relocation of the Spirit of Tasmania and investment to upgrade the precinct would continue to raise Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula’s profile as a world-class inclusive destination and key gateway to Victoria.”
City of Greater Geelong deputy mayor Trent Sullivan said the relocation of the Spirit was an enormous opportunity to grow Geelong’s economy as the region continued to recover from the pandemic.