Matthew Guy visits Grove

VICTORIAN Liberal Leader Matthew Guy visited Ocean Grove earlier this week to discuss issues concerning local business owners and residents.

Mr Guy, joined by Liberal Candidate for Bellarine Brian McKiterick, Western Victoria MP Simon Ramsay and Member for South Barwon Andrew Katos, visited the Olive Pit, Hayden Real Estate and Rolling Pin Pie and Cake Shop.

When speaking to the businesses, Mr Guy and Mr McKiterick heard about common concerns, which were the state of local roads, a lack of infrastructure and planning for the individual townships in the Bellarine and soaring energy prices.

One business in Ocean Grove said their electricity prices had gone up 30 per cent in just one year.

Hayden Real Estate sales agent Penny Dawson said traffic management around Ocean Grove was a major issue, as the roads were too busy and not designed for it.

Mr McKiterick said the people in this region felt as though they were not being represented properly.

“I am committed to fighting hard for infrastructure and projects that residents within the Bellarine are fighting for,” he said.

Mr Guy said if elected in November, he would introduce a Minister for Geelong to represent the Bellarine’s interests in Parliament.

“That Minister would be representing this region’s interests in the cabinet room, putting the Greater Geelong community’s interests first, which includes the Bellarine and Ocean Grove – so you’ve got someone in cabinet advocating for your infrastructure requirements, advocating for education,” Mr Guy said.

“We’ve never had anyone with direct authority like that in cabinet before so I hope that would bring more attention to the issues facing the Bellarine.”

The Liberals have also committed to fixing two major bottlenecks in Geelong at two Settlement Road intersections if elected in November, including one at Settlement Road and Barwon Heads Road, which receives much of its traffic from the Bellarine.