Henderson doubts timing of GCEC’s construction

THE state Labor Government’s prediction that the Geelong Convention and Exhibition Centre (GCEC) will start construction in early 2022 is “not remotely credible”, according to Victorian Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson.

The project plan for the $174.2 million centre has been approved, with “land negotiations to be completed for the site of the GCEC” and “detailed planning work to commence” listed as the next steps in the latest progress report on the Geelong City Deal.

Earlier this month, a state government spokesperson said land negotiations on GCEC – which has its preferred site in the car park at Deakin University’s Waterfront campus – were “currently under way and early construction works (are) expected to start next year”.

Last week, Senator Henderson said she was extremely concerned about the slow progress on GCEC, and state Labor was “solely responsible” for the project.

“In February 2021, I called on the state government to urgently finalise its waterfront leasing agreement with Deakin University. It is untenable that this agreement has not been concluded.

“In discussions with Regional Development Victoria, I raised concerns about this timeline including the ‘early 2022’ construction start date which I said was not remotely credible, given the detailed design work is expected to take between 12 and 18 months.

“Now we see more fudging of the state’s timeline with a commitment that ‘early construction work’ will begin next year. Given the appalling lack of progress on this project, it is hard to believe that any credible construction of the GCEC will commence in 2022.

“Why, after three years, is there still no land use agreement with Deakin? Where is the work which was promised this year on the detailed design? We have not even seen a tender to appoint architects, let alone a final concept design.”

GCEC will include a 1,000-seat plenary and at least 3700sqm multi-purpose space that can be configured to incorporate an exhibition hall, breakout rooms and a banquet room.

It is one of the flagship projects of the Geelong City Deal, a $370 million agreement between local, Victorian and federal governments.