TACKLE THE BIG ISSUES

WE are into the final week of campaigning ahead of Saturday’s federal poll and for many the end cannot come soon enough. But fatigue aside, there is a lot at stake for the future direction of the country. It is also worth examining what the past five weeks of campaigning means for the region.

From what we have seen, there is plenty of money for a pool, a stadium and sporting clubs, but the depth of discussion around some of the more important, but less photo-worthy issues, appears to be lacking if our front page is anything to go by.

Both the Committee for Geelong and the G21 Geelong Region Alliance have identified key issues and needs for the region that they would like to see addressed.

They include a national approach to housing and population growth, policy to address skill shortages, a Geelong Gallery redevelopment and upgrades to roads servicing the Geelong Port, a train station at Avalon Airport and a redevelopment of Northern Bay College in Geelong’s north.

As G21 boss Giulia Baggio said: “It’s been pretty quiet to date. It’s been a very piecemeal approach ... There’s been no real kind of recognition of what’s happening in our region.”

Let us hope the candidates take note. There is still a week left to deliver on the needs of the region.