THE state Labor Government\u2019s prediction that the Geelong Convention and Exhibition Centre (GCEC) will start construction in early 2022 is \u201cnot remotely credible\u201d, according to Victorian Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson.<\/p>\n
The project plan for the $174.2 million centre has been approved, with \u201cland negotiations to be completed for the site of the GCEC\u201d and \u201cdetailed planning work to commence\u201d listed as the next steps in the latest progress report on the Geelong City Deal.<\/p>\n
Earlier this month, a state government spokesperson said land negotiations on GCEC – which has its preferred site in the car park at Deakin University\u2019s Waterfront campus – were \u201ccurrently under way and early construction works (are) expected to start next year\u201d.<\/p>\n
Last week, Senator Henderson said she was extremely concerned about the slow progress on GCEC, and state Labor was \u201csolely responsible\u201d for the project.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn discussions with Regional Development Victoria, I raised concerns about this timeline including the \u2018early 2022\u2019 construction start date which I said was not remotely credible, given the detailed design work is expected to take between 12 and 18 months.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow we see more fudging of the state\u2019s timeline with a commitment that \u2018early construction work\u2019 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy, 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
It is one of the flagship projects of the Geelong City Deal, a $370 million agreement between local, Victorian and federal governments.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THE state Labor Government\u2019s prediction that the Geelong Convention and Exhibition Centre (GCEC) will start construction in early 2022 is \u201cnot remotely credible\u201d, according to Victorian Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson. The project plan for the $174.2 million centre has been approved, with \u201cland negotiations to be completed for the site of the GCEC\u201d and \u201cdetailed […]<\/p>\n