Sense of optimism returns to our region

JUST six months ago, Greater Geelong was emerging from the haze of yet another lockdown.

We joined the majority of Victoria in lighter restrictions while Melbournians ploughed on in the thick of their five-kilometre radiuses.

Greater Geelong was thrilled to be back open for business (to regional Victoria at least).

Council joined the business community in encouraging community members to enjoy everything our region has to offer, to ‘think local’ when purchasing goods and services, and to invite loved ones from other regional areas to visit.

Being able to appreciate a meal at your local cafe or restaurant, seeing a show or returning to classes at a community centre felt new and exciting all over again.

The latest data from Spendmapp not only reflects this eagerness to get out and shake off lockdown, it shows Greater Geelong’s economy is actually bouncing back from the pandemic.

Spending in our municipality reached a new peak of nearly $1.5 billion from October to December 2021, up 39.1 per cent on July to September period last year.

In fact, local residents were behind $1.03 billion in spending, representing a 30 per cent rise on the previous quarter.

The welcome return of visitors played a significant part too, who forked out $432.4 million, an increase of 67.8 per cent on the previous quarter.

Obviously, the festive season had a helping hand but these figures are remarkable, nonetheless.

And to see that unemployment in Greater Geelong, Queenscliffe, the Surf Coast and the majority of the Golden Plains has fallen to its lowest rate in the last two decades to 2.4 per cent is heartening.

That’s not to say that COVID isn’t still having a significant impact on our lives or that our region doesn’t have difficulties.

This jobless rate is concentrated in certain pockets of our region, in our northern and some of our eastern suburbs.

The cost of living continues to rise, unaided by skyrocketing petrol prices, and housing affordability is worsening.

Online shopping doesn’t seem to be slowing down, with this type of spending by locals now 50 per cent higher than pre-COVID levels at $620 million.

This is an issue that brick-and-mortar retailers are facing not only in Geelong, but across Australia.

Clearly, we have long-term challenges that require collaboration from all levels of government.

But after some very difficult times, it’s so encouraging that our economy is recovering faster than expected as confidence improves.

There are so many exciting things happening in Geelong at the moment that will have a positive effect on our economy.

Footy’s back with a vengeance, another successful Geelong Design Week has just wrapped up and the Easter long weekend is set to bring an influx of holidaymakers to the region.

Soon the month-long Surrounds Sounds Festival will kick off, showcasing dozens of musicians including Crowded House, Kasey Chambers and Busby Marou, and the Geelong Symphony Orchestra.

And the council group continues to work towards recovery through key targets aimed at setting Greater Geelong up for an economically, environmentally and socially sustainable future.

The Sustainability Performance Report 2021, which reviews the city’s progress annually against the Sustainability Framework Action Plan, outlines the steps we’ve taken in this regard.

For example, council’s $502,049 worth of COVID-19 Business Recovery Grants has assisted small businesses re-establish or adapt their operations to the ever-changing COVID situation.

Food insecurity in the region is unfortunately a growing problem, and so to counter that, our $1 million contribution led to the Geelong Food Relief Centre opening its large-scale emergency food hub in North Geelong.

We’re supplying a further $700,000 over five years to support operating costs.

In terms of the environment, the city slashed its carbon emissions by 30 per cent in the four years to June 2021.

The first report provides some optimism in where we’re making a difference, but there’s no doubt that we have so much more to do.

I think community members have a lot to look forward to overall and I thank them for their efforts to reinvigorate the Geelong region.

I hope that the sense of optimism I’ve noticed will continue, as we build a thriving and sustainable region together.

Cr Trent Sullivan,
Deputy Mayor