Geelong councillors call on Premier to make Geelong visit, more than a year after he last came to town

It’s been over a year since Premier Daniel Andrews last came to town, now Geelong councillors are throwing down the gauntlet.

Geelong councillors have laid down the gauntlet to Premier Daniel Andrews, calling on him to return to the city for the first time in more than 12 months.

While COVID-19 has made a visit difficult for a large part of 2020, it is understood the Premier hasn’t set foot in Geelong’s CBD since September, 2019 – besides travelling through the region to get to the 13th Beach Golf Club in February to watch the Vic Open.

City of Greater Geelong councillors this week called on the Premier to return to Geelong after the State Budget failed to include direct funding for the city’s much-wanted Northern Aquatic and Community Hub (NACH).

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews at the National Gallery of Victoria for a major arts announcement to transform the arts precinct. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ David Crosling

“I can’t even remember when the last time the Premier came down and had major announcements or commitments in Geelong,” Northern suburbs councillor Anthony Aitken said.

“I would actually like to invite the Premier to come down to Geelong, and one of the questions we really do need to ask him is ‘why is this (NACH) not worthy of funding?’.”

Cr Aitken also accused the Premier of not being engaged with regional Victoria to the same degree as previous premiers.

“Previous state premiers used to have meetings with Geelong council. And state cabinet meetings used to be held in Geelong too, and at those state cabinet meetings Geelong council used to have an opportunity to speak directly to the premier and to the ministers and the treasurer to actually lobby and put forward projects,” he said.

“We’ve never had that opportunity under the Andrews Government to do that, and I actually think that’s a failing of the present Premier, in that he’s not engaged with the regions to the same degree previous premiers used to be.”

Councillor Ron Nelson also voiced his disappointment in the lack of funding for the NACH this week, joining the call for the Premier to come to Geelong.

“Everyone in Geelong knows it [is an important project], so hopefully we can get the Premier down and show him,” Cr Nelson said.

On Thursday the Addy put questions to the Premier, with a government spokeswoman responding that he would visit regional Victoria when he was able to.

“This is a Budget that well and truly puts the people of Geelong first – delivering better housing, better health, better transport and a better city for all Geelong locals,” the spokeswoman said in response to the councillors’ claims.

“Whether it be getting on with the Geelong Fast Rail – which will mean less time travelling and more time with loved ones, better schools, new social housing and getting people back into work, this is a Budget like no other.”

Mr Andrews was last in the Greater Geelong region in February to visit the Vic Open golf event at Thirteenth Beach, but was last in the Geelong on September 26, 2019 open the newly refurbished Gordon TAFE and the new Vestas renewables hub at former Ford factory.

Mr Andrews’ office was unable to confirm if he had been in Geelong since September 26, 2019.

The Premier has made one regional visit since the ‘ring of steel’ separating Metropolitan Melbourne from the rest of the state was lifted earlier this month, heading to Wangaratta.

During COVID-19 restrictions Mr Andrews held at least three Zoom meetings with regional journalists, including Geelong Advertiser.

MORE NEWS:

MORE DETAILS EMERGE ABOUT DOC RAPE ALLEGATIONS

WHY COVID COULD BE IN CORIO WASTEWATER FIND

GEELONG MUM’S COVID CANCER NIGHTMARES

Originally published as Geelong councillors call on Premier to make Geelong visit, more than a year after he last came to town