The simple big-ticket game changers that can transform Geelong

BY GARETH KENT

Director, Preston Rowe Paterson Geelong

With a mind to the coming state election, what can the Geelong, Lara, Bellarine and Surf Coast regions ask of our politicians that could positively change the landscape of lifestyle, affordability and opportunity?

I have highlighted four items that could significantly impact our residential and commercial property markets and are of great importance to our region.

The first and most critical piece of legislation that the state government can enact immediately is to sign off on the Central Geelong Framework Plan.

This plan will give developers the confidence in planning and constructing buildings in the Geelong CBD, which is overdue by three years! Geelong languishes behind every other major city in Australia, with only 1 per cent of our population living in the CBD limits (Newcastle has 11 per cent and Adelaide 5 per cent).

This is due to the lack of residential apartments; the affordable housing solution is also linked to this issue, and more apartments are required in our property mix.

Shane Quinn from Quintessential (the developer who constructed the New Civic Building, WorkSafe and GMHBA) said at the launch of 20 Gheringhap Street last week that ”the company’s ambition is to spend over $500 million in development in the Geelong CBD, over the next five to 10 years”.

If you add this to the Gurner project in Brougham Street, the Morphy Group projects and many others, we can expect over $1 billion of private investment in the Geelong CBD.

This will create jobs, allow retail and restaurants to flourish and create affordable housing options for first home buyers, low income workers and investors alike.

If Hanwha (South Korean defense manufacturer) wins the Land 400 phase 3 defense contract, this would be amazing for Geelong! Noting this is federal not a state tender, it is worth $18 billion-$27 billion.

Hanwha has promised to build its facility in Geelong/Avalon.

This investment would reinvigorate our manufacturing and create a defense industry in Geelong that would rival any in the developed world.

The job creation and ripple efffect for local manufacturing to supply to the project would be next level. Massive game changer! Please King Richard, bring it home!

An Integrated Transport Plan. Many advocacy groups have called for this, and it is beyond belief that one doesn’t already exist. Certainty from the State Government around transport is badly needed.

There is currently no link between Kardinia Park and Geelong CBD, limiting the impact the hundreds of millions of taxpayer money invested in this precinct can have on the rest of the community.

The buses on Moorabool Street are a mess and prevent the CBD retail precinct from flourishing.

The proposal for trackless trams, put forward by the Committee for Geelong, would be an ideal solution to connect Deakin Waurn Ponds, Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre, Highton Village and High Street to the Geelong CBD. Currently, there are no connections between these main activity areas.

High-speed rail connection between Geelong and Melbourne, trucks off Ryrie Street, even the parking issues in central Geelong cannot be solved if our local government cannot support a clear State Government plan.

An integrated transport plan would combine all these ideas and provide a strategy that the local government, transport authorities and the community can get behind.

Lastly, infrastructure has to be the big-ticket item; having linkages and services close by greatly impacts lifestyle and livability.

Getting to work without waiting in traffic jams, being able to access freeways, rail networks or recreational areas is vital to the lifestyle and well-being of our community.

Our population has expanded enormously, yet there have been minimal infrastructure upgrades.

Politicians must commit to completing the Barwon Heads Road duplication, the Ring Road connecting through to Portarlington Road, the Rail network extending to Torquay and a plan to solve the Latrobe Terrace nightmare.

Good luck to all those that are seeking election to represent Geelong in the state election.

We often say it is a privilege to serve the community, but the community should also recognise that these people put aside family and broader opportunities to represent us in what is not a glamorous job.

So, thank you pollies, and again, good luck to all those running!

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