Geelong’s City Deal is done

THE deal has finally been done for Geelong’s City Deal, with both the state and federal governments agreeing on a joint list of projects with an increased budget.

The co-operative spirit between Spring Street and Canberra is not quite universal yet, as the Victorian and Commonwealth representatives held separate media events an hour apart to tout the deal.

Originally to comprise $153 million contributions from both the Victorian Labor and Coalition federal governments, the final $355 million deal is estimated to generate an extra $1.1 billion into the economy over 10 years and deliver nearly 1,000 jobs in each of those years.

The agreement now includes an extra $45 million joint investment in the Shipwreck Coast Master Plan (taking it to $108.15 million) and Revitalising Central Geelong Action Plan (taking it to $27.85 million).

The biggest of the projects is the long-awaited Geelong Convention Centre, which after considerable debate will have a funding split of $140 million from the Victorian government and $30 million from the federal government.

Other City Deal projects include $27.5 million for Great Ocean Road infrastructure projects and $10 million for the Queenscliff Ferry Terminal.

Bellarine MP Lisa Neville and Corangamite federal member Sarah Henderson, at their respective events, acknowledged the difficulties of getting the deal done and praised the hard work of everyone involved to bring the deal to completion.

Ms Neville spoke at the Royal Geelong Yacht Club at 11am alongside local mayors Rose Hodge (Surf Coast Shire), Bob Merriman (Queenscliffe), and Jason Schram (Colac Otway), G21 chief executive officer Elaine Carbines, Geelong MP Christine Couzens, Geelong Authority chair Roz Hansen, Deakin University acting vice-chancellor Kean Selway and Barwon Regional Partnership chair Kylie Warne.

Ms Neville said Prime Minister Scott Morrison was originally supposed to be at her event with Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas (who was also a noshow on Monday) but had pulled out.

An hour later, on the Geelong waterfront alongside Ms Carbines, Cr Hodge, Cr Merriman, Cr Schram and Mr Selway, Ms Henderson said the Prime Minister and Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews had jointly announced the final City Deal by media release earlier that morning, and her event was not an announcement but a celebration.

Labor candidate for Corangamite Libby Coker welcomed the announcement and said an incoming Labor government would match the elements of any signed City Deal if the money was in the budget.