HAPPY New Year!<\/p>\n
I hope you enjoyed New Year\u2019s Eve in style with friends, family and loved ones.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m very excited about this year, as we have plenty to look forward to in Greater Geelong for 2026.<\/p>\n
We\u2019re set for an action-packed summer, with the Portarlington Mussel Festival, Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, the Victorian Open golf tournament and the Festival of Sails all happening in\u00a0 the next few weeks.<\/p>\n
Our world-class line up of events will continue throughout the year, drawing hundreds of thousands of spectators and participants, and generating millions of dollars for our
\nlocal economy.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m particularly excited for our inaugural marathon in September, as part of the Geelong Running Festival.<\/p>\n
This event \u2013 led by local former Olympian Lee Troop and seven years in the making \u2013 could draw thousands of competitors to run the streets of Geelong and take in our spectacular waterfront views.
\nIn October Geelong Design Week returns, celebrating our reputation and history as a global leader in creativity and design.<\/p>\n
The event celebrates Geelong as Australia\u2019s first UNESCO City of Design, and in 2024 attracted 40,925 attendances across 86 events, generating an estimated $1.4 million in economic benefits for our region.<\/p>\n
Geelong Design Week will alternate on a yearly basis with ROAM Geelong, which made its highly successful debut last year.<\/p>\n
But it\u2019s not just our major events and hundreds of smaller community events that I\u2019m excited about.<\/p>\n
The long-awaited Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre is set to open in July, in what will be a tremendous boost for our entire region.<\/p>\n
The centre will draw tens of thousands of visitors annually and raise Geelong\u2019s national and international profile as a premier location for conferences and major events.<\/p>\n
Already several events are booked in for 2026, including The Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative NAIDOC Week Dinner, the Business Managers Victoria Conference and The Victorian Principals Association Conference.<\/p>\n
The Victorian and Australian governments and the City of Greater Geelong contributed $416.1 million, $30 million and $3 million respectively, bringing the total funding for this project to $449.1 million.<\/p>\n
The centre will feature 3,700sqm of flexible event space, a 1,000-seat theatre and cutting-edge audiovisual technology, and will support hundreds of ongoing jobs once complete.<\/p>\n
With the state election approaching in November, we\u2019ll be ramping up advocacy to secure even more game-changing commitments to help our region power forward.<\/p>\n
Last September Council endorsed its 2025-26 Priority Projects, which features a range ambitious and visionary but achievable proposals to reach our full potential as a clever and creative city-region.<\/p>\n
These include a $1 billion Regional Infrastructure Fund to support the growth of central Geelong and the Greater Avalon Employment precinct, key road and rail upgrades and
\npolicy reforms.<\/p>\n
Over coming months you\u2019ll read, see and hear more about our Priority Projects as we work closely with our local MPs and candidates to shape our future.<\/p>\n
As a Council we\u2019ve already made fantastic progress in revitalising our CBD \u2013 with the Geelong City Market proving a smash hit \u2013 and in delivering crucial infrastructure across our municipality.It\u2019s been a thrilling ride representing you as City of Greater Geelong Mayor so far and I can\u2019t wait to continue our momentum, together, in 2026.<\/p>\n
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