City Deal wishlists touted

TWO leading Geelong lobby groups have praised the progress towards a City Deal for Geelong, and are again touting their lists of what projects should be in it.

Last week, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Acting Victorian Premier James Merlino signed a memorandum of understanding for the deal.

A City Deal for Geelong has been under discussion between its stakeholders for months, though there is yet to be universal agreement on what it should include.

When fully signed, the deal will be the first in Victoria and the fifth in Australia.

The federal government initiative sets out the specific investments and reforms needed from all levels of government as well as industry and communities to unlock business and industry development. G21 chief executive officer Elaine Carbines said the formalising of the deal would “unlock a transformative era for the Geelong region”.

“G21 has been at the forefront of lobbying for a City Deal, including talks with Mr Turnbull in Canberra last March. We look forward to accelerating discussion on projects to be included, and their far-reaching impacts.

“We would like to think a Geelong City Deal would include investment for projects including Geelong convention and exhibition centre, the Shipwreck Coast Master Plan and Great Ocean Road, Geelong CBD revitalisation, Geelong waterfront safe harbour and the continued growth of advanced manufacturing.”

Geelong Chamber of Commerce chief executive officer Bernadette Uzelac said the chamber had actively supported a City Deal for Geelong and the Great Ocean Road.

“I look forward to seeing many of the projects earmarked as part of this deal begin to come to fruition, including the long-awaited Geelong Convention and Exhibition Centre and continued investment in Revitalising Central Geelong.”

She said she was delighted that many hours of hard work by key stakeholders had paid off.

“I congratulate the federal and state governments for collaborating together to achieve this outcome that will continue to advance our region forward as one of Australia’s leading investment hotspots.