The little things are starting to add up

Being a regular columnist can be a tough gig. You often find yourself gravitating to commentary on things that aren’t going well and/or perceived problems in our world that we want to get fixed. This advice is usually levelled (rightly) at our elected leaders at all levels of government; we assume they are in a position to make a difference.

But as we come to the end of the year, I want to recognise some positive actions that are starting to impact our city and region.

Last week, I was invited, along with 15 other business leaders in Geelong, to an informal working lunch with newly appointed State Liberal Leader Jess Wilson and Senator Bev McArthur to discuss the things Geelong needs to get going again. Assembled were representatives from GMHBA, Deakin, Avalon Airport, KPMG, URBIS, Geelong Ports, Costa Asset Management, local builders and developers, representatives from both small and large businesses, and both the mayor of Geelong and Queenscliff.

I have been to a lot of working committees and lunches to discuss Geelong issues over the years, but never have I been in a room with such a broad representation and high level of talent. This group of people were aligned with a single purpose: make sure Jess leaves with a clear mandate to fix what ails Geelong – transport, planning, jobs and of course Market Square.

This two-hour session was efficient, well-managed and direct. Most impressive was Jess Wilson herself. She was not in a room of bolted-on Libs; she found herself in a room full of people who genuinely want action, regardless of the politics.

She spoke with conviction, and then she actively listened. She brought along four policy writers, who took notes and offered to work with a representative group to translate Geelong’s needs into real policy for the upcoming election. Impressively, she didn’t come to tell us what we needed. Instead, she came to learn. She never once took cheap shots at the current government; she was respectful but put it simply – ‘It’s time for a change’.

The start of 2025 didn’t fill me with confidence that our economic, social and community standards would improve. Our state is the worst-performing economically in the country across every metric, and as a business owner, the yoke of new taxes is making life hard. But for the first time in a long time, I will enter 2026 with hope.

It’s obvious we have turned a corner in the property market: demand is creeping back and normal market conditions are beginning to prevail. Late-season rains have brought relief to many of our farmers, and for many, it perhaps saved their bacon. Avalon is bouncing back, with new flights, new locations and more travellers through our region.

Some new age manufacturing has returned to Geelong, with ‘Cube Pilot’ and ‘Quickstep’ both announcing significant investments and expansions, creating new jobs. Likewise, GeelongPort is gearing up for expansion and more new jobs. Development is back too, with two separate residential apartment projects announced in the last few weeks.

The Barwon Health build is also well underway, and it will bring over 1,000 new jobs upon completion. We have also seen announcements about significant re-development of Cunningham Pier and Osborne House, which could really change Geelong. And last, but not least, the opening of the Convention Centre will not only create new jobs but also attract more visitors to our city.

And while I am reflecting on this wave of hope, let’s have a round of applause for our mayor, who I believe is doing a remarkable job. 2025 has been a big year for our council, and they are finally getting some small wins. When Stretch was first elected, like many, I was perhaps unconvinced he could have an impact. How wrong I was. Under his strong leadership, the council has started identifying the small things and making a real difference by making decisions and taking action.

Some recent examples include: The Saturday Market, business Christmas decorations, free parking in two-hour spots in the CBD, and significant wins such as ROAM and the Archibald Prize exhibition. And we have plenty of great stuff to look forward to in the next few months.

I have mentioned in previous articles that if our Geelong CBD is to be revitalised, it must be a welcoming, attractive, safe and a fun environment for people to live, work and shop. Finally, with strong leadership, we are taking some steps in the right direction. Let’s hope 2026 is the “turnaround” year where the little wins yield big outcomes.

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