Ramsay wants more state funds for harbour

LIBERAL Member for Western Victoria Simon Ramsay says the state government has short-changed the Geelong Safe Harbour Project.
Last week, the state government announced it would contribute $4 million to the project, days after the City of Greater Geelong voted to put in $3 million of its own.
The Royal Geelong Yacht Club hopes to make up the rest of the estimated $19 million cost with an application to the National Stronger Regions Fund.
However, Mr Ramsay said the Andrews government was “again expecting the federal government to pick up the bill to co-fund this important project”.
“The Premier thinks it is realistic to expect the has only provided $4 million, despite the fact that I called for $6 million of state government funding in harbour parliament last week.
“Labor ministers including Lisa Neville, Jaala Pulford and Christine Couzens have talked up the importance and value of the project, yet they’re telling the yacht club its request is unreasonable.”
The upgrades will include a new RGYC building, a maritime education hub, an international standard media centre, a proposed circular wave attenuator, facilities for visiting boat users, and improvements to the public access areas.
Mr Ramsay said key projects in Geelong were being underfunded or ignored.
“The government is yet to act on major projects that have been promised or crying out for support, including the Geelong Convention and Exhibition Centre, the Geelong Art Gallery extension, upgrades at the Geelong Performing Arts Centre, the Drysdale sports precinct and the Leopold Football Netball club pavilion.”