Tracking progress on 2022 election commitments

FROM better mobile coverage to much-needed sporting infrastructure upgrades, incumbent Corangamite Labor federal member Libby Coker made seven promises for the Bellarine Peninsula ahead of the 2022 federal election.

With the community set to return to the polls on May 3, the Bellarine Times takes a look at the progress made on each of these local funding commitments.

Sports facilities

In 2022, Ms Coker pledged $600,000 to help kick off the first stage of the Portarlington Recreation Reserve masterplan, a commitment which was delivered in August last year and saw the installation of new electronic scoreboards at the site’s football ground and netball courts.

A further $750,000 was committed to the Ocean Grove Memorial Reserve, to support a lighting upgrade that would allow the Ocean Grove Football Netball Club to improve the training environment for its junior players and begin hosting night-time games at the ground.

This project was officially completed in December last year.

Works are also under way at the Leopold Memorial Reserve, where a $3.25 million commitment from the federal government is funding the upgrade of the site’s car parking, female-friendly changerooms and a new netball half-court.

A $1.2 million extension to Barwon Head’s Howard Harmer Reserve is also progressing.

Meanwhile, the City of Greater Geelong last month celebrated the recent progress on the stage two expansion of the North Bellarine Aquatic Centre, after schematic designs for the works received approval.

Ms Coker committed $20 million to the project, which would deliver two indoor swimming pools at the facility, alongside its existing 50-metre outdoor swimming pool. These works are on track for completion in late 2027.

Mobile coverage

Construction is set to begin on a new telecommunications tower in St Leonards to improve mobile coverage across the township.

It follows a $600,000 election commitment in 2022 and advocacy from Ms Coker and the local community to the City of Greater Geelong that called for the approval of the development application to be prioritised.

“The telcos are ready to go, and the City of Greater Geelong as provided approval for the development,” Ms Coker said.

“I understand how important this issue is for people in St Leonards – it’s been a hard-fought journey but I’m so pleased that construction is now ready to commence.”

School upgrades

Equipment upgrades for schools was a strong focus for Ms Coker in the lead-up to the 2022 poll, with Drysdale Primary School named the recipient of $9,800 in funding to provide new IT equipment in its classrooms.

This promise had been delivered along with several other funding commitments to local schools across the region by April last year.