Premier presses PM on City Deal

Premier Daniel Andrews speaks at the Barwon Regional Assembly last month.

THE Victorian government is pushing the federal government to make haste on Geelong’s City Deal, with Premier Daniel Andrews writing to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull about funding it as a priority.

The local, state and federal governments have signed a memorandum of understanding on working together to develop the projects and initiatives in the City Deal, which is not expected to be finalised until at least next month.

In its 2018-19 state budget, Labor committed $153 million towards three City Deal projects – the convention centre, the Shipwreck Coast Master Plan, and central Geelong revitalisation works.

However, the federal government remains tight-lipped about what will and will not be part of the final deal, and has yet to commit funding to explicit projects.

Mr Andrews sent his letter last month, and raised the City Deal in his remarks at the Barwon Regional Conference, held in Wallington.

“I don’t make the point in a political way, but I would really hope that we could send a message in any way possible to the Commonwealth government that they need to match that funding, and we need to get on and get these important projects built,” he said.

“Our money’s on the table – let’s stop talking about these things, and instead get them done.”

In response, Corangamite federal member Sarah Henderson said she was very concerned about state Labor’s management of the conference centre.

“Since our City Deal was announced, Premier Daniel Andrews repeatedly refused to hand over its business case to the Commonwealth. This contains essential financial information required to assess the project for funding.

“I first raised the need for a business case 18 months ago and this has only just been received by the Commonwealth. Labor’s secrecy and obfuscation have dramatically delayed this project.

“It is also very concerning that the Victorian government has attempted to conceal the true cost of the convention centre, including the project’s low cost-benefit ratio, by developing a combined business case of four projects.”