Delivering projects for the community

CONSTRUCTION has begun on stage 2 of the North Bellarine Aquatic Centre – what a way to cap off a fantastic 2025!

Earlier this week I joined Member for Corangamite Libby Coker, Member for Bellarine Alison Marchant and fellow Councillor Rowan Story to celebrate this important milestone for our community.

Many people in our community have worked towards this project, including residents who advocated passionately for a year-round pool in the north Bellarine.

The new indoor facility will include a 25-metre pool, a warm water pool, gym, café, and accessible ramps and change rooms, so everyone can enjoy the water safely and comfortably.

The Australian and Victorian governments provided $20 million each for the project, with the City of Greater Geelong contributing another $300,000.

I can’t wait to see this pool benefit both the Leopold and Murradoc ward communities when it opens in 2027.

Another local project I’m proud of this year is the upgrade of Leopold Memorial Reserve, thanks to a $3.25 million Australian Government investment.

The City managed this project, upgrading the car park with new asphalt and drainage, and building a new changeroom at oval two, giving cricket and football players modern facilities that match the needs of our growing community.

The multipurpose courts now have new fencing, and we’ve renewed the court surfaces, installed new sports lighting and built a new netball warm up court.

And in great news for the community, savings we made during these upgrades will allow us to complete further works.

Planning is now underway for a major upgrade of the cricket nets, CCTV for the reserve and new AFL-compliant shelters and a new electronic scoreboard at oval 1, with completion anticipated for mid-2026.

Across Greater Geelong, I’m proud of the work we’ve done in 2025 to support our region’s economic development, tourism and major events.

In the 2024-25 financial year, 12 events sponsored by Geelong Major Events generated $93 million for our local economy and together attracted almost half a million spectators and participants.

The City of Greater Geelong invested $1.5 million in these events – that’s a return on investment of 56:1.

As a representative on the Geelong Major Events, and Tourism Greater Geelong and The Bellarine committees, I was thrilled to read these figures.

I look forward to the Bellarine Peninsula again featuring prominently in several world-class major events next year, including the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, the National Celtic Festival and the Victorian Open.

There were plenty more highlights throughout 2025.

The inaugural ROAM Geelong transformed our cultural precinct into a kaleidoscope of art and colour, attracting 16,000 attendees, while the Geelong City Market has proved a resounding success, drawing thousands into our CBD and boosting local trade every Saturday.

I was pleased in November to join our Regional Export Roadshow, which connected our local businesses to global markets, and attend the annual Australia-New Zealand Creative Cities Network Meeting in March, strengthening regional ties and bolstering our reputation as Australia’s first City of Design.

As 2025 draws to a close, enjoy the festive season, stay safe and be kind to one another – I can’t wait to see you all again for another exciting year in 2026.

Merry Christmas and a happy new year.