Federal Government’s Geelong City Deal commitment a win for future, tourism

A LONG-AWAITED Geelong convention centre and tourism initiatives along the Great Ocean Road are among the projects set to benefit from the Federal Government’s $154 million City Deal cash splash, it can be revealed.

Geelong’s City Deal has been done, including millions for the Great Ocean Road.

A LONG-AWAITED Geelong convention centre and tourism initiatives along the Great Ocean Road are among the projects set to benefit from the Federal Government’s $154 million City Deal cash splash, it can be revealed.

Tourism is at the heart of the Federal Government’s Geelong City Deal commitments, with the Federal Government committing $10 million to construct a new ferry terminal at Queenscliff.

Cash will flow to Shipwreck Coast and Great Ocean Road tourism projects, with major commitments including $20.2 million for a Glenample Visitor Experience Centre and $23.35 million for a business enablement fund, including funding for infrastructure upgrades.

In his first visit to the region since becoming Prime Minister, Scott Morrison will today unveil a raft of projects set to receive Federal Government funding under the deal.

The lengthy list of Federal Government commitments includes:

$30 MILLION for a state-of-the-art Geelong Convention and Exhibition Centre;

$20.85 MILLION for Revitalising Central Geelong, including the Green Spine and streetscape upgrades;

$3.8 MILLION for the Deakin University Future Economy Precinct, with funds to help upgrade access to the precinct at the Waurn Ponds campus; and,

CASH for upgrades at the Twelve Apostles, with $3.3 million for viewing infrastructure; $1.1 million to refurbish the existing visitor centre as a “visitor pod”; and, $1.4 million for an interim car park to manage demand during the delivery of the Shipwreck Coast Master Plan upgrades.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said: “this deal will be a game changer from Geelong all the way along the Coast”.

“When it comes to tourism in Australia it doesn’t get much more iconic than the Twelve Apostles and the Great Ocean Road,” Mr Morrison said.

“Every year, 6.2 million people drive along the Great Ocean Road and two million visit the Twelve Apostles.

“But we don’t want people just day tripping from Melbourne, we want them staying the night at a local hotel, eating dinner at the local pub, and buying coffee in the morning at a local cafe.

“Our significant investments in Geelong infrastructure will mean more jobs and a better quality of life for hard-working families, giving local businesses a real boost.”

Corangamite Liberal MP Sarah Henderson said “today we are delivering almost $100 million to the Geelong region and Great Ocean Road communities in the Corangamite electorate in this beautiful part of Australia”.

“Apart from $5 million for a new coastal walk connecting Apollo Bay with Skenes Creek, our City Deal includes funding for a feasibility study to link Skenes Creek via Lorne to the Surf Coast Walk,” Ms Henderson said.

“We recognise the need for world class tourism infrastructure to support one of Australia’s

most iconic tourist destinations.”

“This is a very significant funding boost for the people of Corangamite.

“This is a big win for Geelong, Queenscliff and the Great Ocean Road.

“I am extremely proud that the Morrison Government’s City Deal is providing so much direct investment into the Corangamite electorate.”

Wannon Liberal MP Dan Tehan said Geelong’s City Deal would include $58.1 million

to deliver priority tourism infrastructure projects as part of Stage 2 of the Shipwreck Coast

Master Plan.

It comes after the Addy on Saturday revealed the Federal Government would splash up to $8 million on the Point Grey project in Lorne and the $12 million on the redevelopment on Apollo Bay harbour as part of the City Deal.

The Federal Government has also already put $3.5 million towards the Geelong Safe Harbour Project.

All three levels of government came together in January to sign a memorandum of understanding that they would work to deliver major projects in the region through the City Deal.

The State Government has budgeted $153.2 million for the Geelong City Deal, with funds going towards building the convention centre, delivering on the Shipwreck Coast Masterplan and revitalising the city centre.

The City of Greater Geelong has also contributed City Deal funding, chipping in a further $15 million.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GEELONG CITY DEAL COMMITMENTS

GREATER GEELONG

Geelong Convention and Exhibition Centre - $30 million

Revitalising Central Geelong - $20.85 million

Deakin University Future Economy Precinct - $3.8 million

Geelong Waterfront Safe Harbour project - $3.5 million

Queenscliff Ferry Terminal Upgrade - $10 million

SHIPWRECK COAST AND GREAT OCEAN ROAD TOURISM PROJECTS

Glenample Visitor Experience Centre - $20.2 million

Glenample Homestead Refurbishment - $3.4 million

Business enablement fund - $23.35 million

Twelve Apostles viewing infrastructure - $3.3 million

Twelve Apostles visitor pod - $1.1 million

Gibson’s Steps visitor pod and beach access - $2.2 million

Car parks - $1.5 million

Interpretative visitor information - $100,000

Land acquisition, revegetation and demolition - $2.3 million

Apollo Bay - $12 million

Point Grey Lorne Redevelopment - $8 million

Great Ocean Walk, Stage 1 - Wild Dog Creek to Skenes Creek - $5 million

Great Ocean Walk, Stage 2 – Skenes Creek to Cumberland River - $350,000

Kennett River public realm improvements - $1.9 million

Improving international driver safety - $250,000

Originally published as Federal Government’s Geelong City Deal commitment a win for future, tourism