WTF: CBD rooster, pricey water-slide, Grovedale roadworks

There are those that say Geelong’s CBD is nothing to crow about, but try telling that to the rooster that has apparently taken up residence somewhere in the city’s central laneways.

They’re the little – and sometimes not so little – things that can really irk us … and they’re back! A new slot, on a new page with the same old problems that have us all saying, woah, that’s frustrating!

Corangamite candidate Darcy Dunstan and state Liberal leader Brad Battin were sighted sharing a beverage at Kardinia Park on Thursday night.

BATTIN’S NOT BALD

Last week we brought you a story about the Victorian Liberal leader enjoying a beverage with our very own Darcy Dunstan at GMHBA stadium.

Well, the story seems to have made an imprint on Spring St.

Somewhere between dealing with Nepean MP Sam Groth’s interesting use of taxpayer money, and an impending Moira Deeming legal action, Brad Battin has found the time to respond to clap back at one of our readers.

Under a post asking if our followers could pick who the pair were, given the horrific quality of the supplied image.

“Tom Harley and Paul Chapman?” someone commented.

Mr Battin couldn’t help but respond.

“And neither of us are bald- #justsaying,” the Victorian opposition leader said.

ROOSTER’S CROW HEARD IN CITY’S HEART

There are those that say Geelong’s CBD is nothing to crow about, but try telling that to the rooster that has apparently taken up residence somewhere in the city’s central laneways.

Over the past week, multiple city-goers have reported hearing the animal in and around Little Malop St near Market Square.

The bird hasn’t been sighted yet, but its call is unmistakeable and – in truth – far easier on the ear than the squawks and cries emanating from the CBD’s human menagerie.

The crowing does add a certain bucolic charm to the streets, but officials are probably hoping to inject a slightly more cosmopolitan feel to the city’s struggling heart.

As it turns out, the cockadoodle-doo may in fact be a cockadoodle-don’t, with the WTF team pretty sure this wouldn’t fly with city officials. A quick check of council rules suggests authorities would cry fowl at any attempt to get a permit for a farm animal in the heart of our commercial district.

The waterslide at Geelong Aquatic Centre is being dismantled.

WATER FUN TOO PRICEY FOR CITY’S NUMBER CRUNCHERS

An outdoor water-slide at Kardinia Aquatic Centre was being dismantled on Monday, after reaching “the end of its usable life”.

But the slide, loved by children since it was first installed in the 1980s, won’t be replaced with another slippery dip.

City of Greater Geelong’s executive director of city life, Anthony Basford, said investigations revealed a new water slide would cost about $1.3m.

While some say you can’t put a price on fun, it seems this figure was too high for the city’s number crunchers.

Mr Basford said the city had “carefully considered” how to replace the water-slide and decided to offer something different – a giant, inflatable obstacle course.

“We know families and schools love Kardinia Aquatic Centre, and fun water activities are important to our community,” he said.

“We have also taken into account the longer-term implications to the site through the Kardinia Park Master Plan and potential funding avenues in the future.”

Those wanting to slide into the water are instead encouraged to visit pools at Leisurelink, Splashdown and the new Norlane ARC.

It’s not yet known which pool the obstacle course will be located in.

“The new course will promote fun and fitness and be operated at times similar to that of the water-slide,” Mr Basford said.

“It will be available for the coming 2025/26 summer season.”

Traffic Chaos. Traffic congestion on Torquay Road, Grovedale at 8:45am. (looking across to Reserve Road) Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

HOW LONG? SIX MONTHS FOR ROAD UPGRADE

A notorious intersection in Grovedale will be getting a major upgrade but drivers tired of waiting at the bottleneck won’t be getting a reprieve any time soon.

The installation of signals and pedestrian crossings at the intersection of the Surf Coast Highway and Reserve and Felix roads will take six months, which is subjectively how long it feels like it takes to actually get onto the highway from one of those side streets

It’s been an issue for years and traffic has continued to surge at the site, particularly on Reserve Rd, as hundreds of vehicles from expanding estates attempt to get onto the main drag.

There have been multiple collisions as drivers attempt to zip across and onto the highway, with gaps in the traffic closing quicker than stores in Market Square.

Some cars stop midway but the narrow median usually means bonnets and boots hang into the lanes, causing more bingles, snags and near misses.

The banked-up traffic along Reserve Rd sometimes stretches so far back that fire trucks struggle to get out of the nearby CFA station.

Drivers might be tempted to leave their car idling and duck into the church on the corner and send a plea skywards that the traffic might part like the Red Sea. The long-time trouble spot certainly feels like it’s been waiting for action since Moses’ day.

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Originally published as WTF: CBD rooster, pricey water-slide, Grovedale roadworks