State budget confirms Geelong CBD laneway will come 12 months later than originally planned

Construction of a $2.3m laneway in Geelong’s CBD will commence long after two businesses were forced to find a new home so the project could proceed.

A project that will see two Ryrie St buildings demolished to allow for construction of a pedestrian laneway through to Market St has been pushed back. Picture: Mark Wilson.

Two buildings earmarked for demolition will sit idle for longer than anticipated after the state government confirmed a delay in its plan to construct a new central Geelong pedestrian laneway.

Budget documents show the $2.3m project that will see the former homes of Noodle Box and Curls & Swirls at 184-186 Ryrie St knocked down to create a link between Union and Market streets has been delayed by 12 months.

Both businesses vacated their respective properties in January, with Noodle Box moving just down the road to 105 Ryrie St.

Originally slated to be finished by June 30 this year, its completion is now expected between April and June next year.

This sign remains in the front window of Curls & Swirls' former Ryrie St premises.

No reason was given for the delay other than for “a revised project schedule”.

Of the $2.3m allocated to the project, $900,000 is expected to be spent by June 30, however it is unclear on what.

The government, which was contacted for comment, earlier acquired the properties to enact the recommendation that was contained within the 2018 Laneways Action Plan (LAP).

Coming from the south, there is currently no access to Ryrie St between Yarra and Moorabool streets, and the new connection could be the first stage of a much bigger project.

The LAP said future development should provide for a continuous link between Market St and Little Myers St, which would require the removal of the Haymarket car park.

Building new laneways and improving existing ones is a priority for both the government and City Hall as they seek to improve the walkability of central Geelong.

The government’s Central Geelong Framework Plan, released in February last year, promoted an “emerging laneway culture”.

“The regeneration of Little Malop Central into a thriving restaurant and cafe precinct demonstrates the potential of central Geelong’s historic laneways,” it said.

“The Laneways Action Plan 2018 identifies a priority network of laneways to improve cross-city linkages and create economic opportunities.”

Meanwhile, the state government, alongside its federal counterparts, has provided an update on its controversial $108m plan to redevelop the Twelve Apostles precinct along the Great Ocean Road.

At the heart of the plan is a visitor centre, while a welcome garden will celebrate the rich bio-cultural heritage of the Eastern Maar community, as per a recommendation from the Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation.

An early render of the Twelve Apostles’ visitor centre. Picture: Supplied.

The tender for short-listed candidates to submit proposals to build the centre will open in early June.

“We’re supporting development that is sustainable with as little impact on the precious natural coastline as possible,” Victorian Regional Development Minister Gayle Tierney said.

The compulsory acquisition of 32ha of land was required for the project to become a reality.

Tourism operator 12 Apostles Helicopters, owned by Richard Nesseler, slammed the acquisition in a February social media post.

“Our family has farmed this land since the 1970s, and the potential loss of a segment where we run our sheep and operate helicopter tours is heart-wrenching, leaving us with limited space to safely conduct our scenic tours,” it said.

The project forms part of the Geelong City Deal – a partnership between all three levels of government.

Originally published as State budget confirms Geelong CBD laneway will come 12 months later than originally planned