Nyaal Banyul tops out

THE Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre precinct is now a fixture of the Geelong Waterfront’s skyline, with its Crowne Plaza hotel section topping out, or reaching its highest point.

Topping out is a traditional construction milestone, with a symbolic tree lifted onto the roof to mark the occasion.

The precinct’s highest point is the top of the 200-room Crowne Plaza hotel, which is one of Geelong’s most significant private sector tourism investments and is supported by significant government investment in the Nyaal Banyul precinct.

Crowne Plaza will be Geelong’s biggest hotel once finished, and is being developed and funded by Plenary Group and operated by IHG Hotels and Resorts as part of the Nyaal Banyul precinct partnership

The hotel is expected to revitalise Geelong’s waterfront, along with Nyaal Banyul’s two exhibition spaces, food retail spaces, and public plaza, located within the precinct.

The precinct is expected to be completed in 2026, and will boost visitation to Geelong and support hundreds of ongoing jobs.

It is also supporting local jobs throughout construction, including Geelong jobseekers working in a range of apprenticeship skillsets and opportunities for women in construction.

The project is supported by the federal ($30 million) and Victorian ($416.1 million) governments and the City of Greater Geelong ($3 million) through the Geelong City Deal.

Victorian Minister for Regional Development Gayle Tierney and Corangamite federal member Libby Coker were among the dignitaries who attended the topping out ceremony last month.

“This is such an exciting development, and I’m pleased to see Nyaal Banyul continuing to take shape and become part of the Geelong skyline,” Ms Tierney said.

“The precinct will be an incredible boost for tourism and visitation in Geelong, and is already creating jobs with more to come when construction is complete.”

Ms Coker acknowledgted the workforce at the precinct, including local TAFE students, who were bringing the development to life.

“The Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre is a game-changing, forward-looking project that will attract so many visitors to our region and serve as a catalyst for more tourism on the Surf Coast and Bellarine.”

The Plenary Conventions consortium has been contracted to finance, design, construct and maintain the facility for 25 years.

“It’s heartening to see such strong progress being made on the hotel and surrounding retail precinct,” Plenary Group chief investment officer Paul Crowe said.

“In Crowne Plaza we have brought a world-renowned hotel brand to Geelong.

“This whole precinct is fast becoming the marquee development on the Geelong waterfront, and one that will help strengthen and grow the tourism and major events industry in the region.”