Call for Geelong to become renewables construction leader

LIBERAL South Barwon candidate Andrew Katos says he wants Geelong to become a manufacturing powerhouse for green energy infrastructure by dipping into a promised billion-dollar investment fund.

The Victorian Liberals have proposed a $2.5-billion manufacturing fund – of which $1 billion is set aside for regional Victoria – if it wins this month’s state election.

The kitty would be open to a competitive grants application process from private businesses to boost and accelerate manufacturing projects with the aim of keeping more jobs in Victoria and bolster the state’s economy.

Liberals say the fund has a broad scope with potential to boost “strategically important” sectors including health, zero emissions and recycling, food, resources and transport.

Mr Katos has targeted clean energy manufacturing as a potential local growth area.

The South Barwon candidate said he believed Geelong was perfectly placed to earn a chunk of the regional funding that he said had potential to pump hundreds of millions of dollars into the local economy.

“We’ve got major highways, we’ve got rail, we’ve got an airport, we’ve got a deep-water port – all the things manufacturers need. It’s a huge advantage for Geelong,” he said.

“We’ve also got a rich manufacturing history and a large skillset of workers that have manufacturing experience.

“Not everyone is going to be a white-collar worker. It gives opportunity for apprenticeships and hands-on skills.

“The federal government has their policy around investment in renewables, so why not harness all of those skills and the infrastructure advantages that Geelong has, to be the epicentre for renewables manufacturing for Victoria, or even Australia?”

Mr Katos suggested viable projects could range from large-scale solar storage and wind farms, down to manufacture of batteries for electrical vehicles of household storage.

“I’m sure the people of Geelong would rather have a wind turbine or solar panels manufactured here than in China,” he said.

The party had launched its Rebuilding Jobs and Bringing Manufacturing Home program in December last year as one of its blue-ribbon plans boost the state’s economy.

“Regional Victoria is an integral part of our rebuild and that’s why our plan will put $1 billion into projects in rural areas, helping to drive our state’s recovery,” Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said.