Henderson hails City Deal works at Queenscliff ferry terminal

VICTORIAN Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson has hailed the progress of works at the Queenscliff ferry terminal as part of the Geelong City Deal.
The $370 million, 10-year deal between local, Victorian and federal governments has more than a dozen commitments and about 30 separate elements.
One of these is the $16 million redevelopment of the Queenscliff ferry terminal, which was the first of the City Deal projects to go to tender (in November 2019).
Senator Henderson met with Searoad Ferries chief executive officer Matt MacDonald to inspect the project last week.
“Backed by $10 million from the Morrison Government under the Geelong City Deal, the installation of the marine pilings is underway with construction of the new $15.9 million
ferry terminal to begin in the first part of
next year.
“This project will create 63 local jobs and comes at a crucial time for tourism operators like Searoad Ferries, which have been hit hard by COVID-19 restrictions.”
Senator Henderson also used her visit to urge the state Labor Government to ease the coronavirus restrictions on the Mornington Peninsula, which sits on the outskirts of metropolitan Melbourne but is subject to the same Second Step restrictions. Regional Victoria is now in the Third Step of the coronavirus roadmap.
“Searoad is a major tourism gateway to the Geelong region and the Great Ocean Road. The lockdown of the Mornington Peninsula has had a catastrophic impact on its operations with revenues falling by some 90 per cent,” she said.
“I reiterate my call for the Mornington Peninsula to be treated like regional Victoria where there has been only one new case in 28 days.”