THE Victorian Tourism Industry Council (VTIC) has included several major projects for the Geelong region in its election platform that it is spruiking ahead of November\u2019s state poll.<\/p>\n
The peak body for Victoria\u2019s tourism and events industry has created a five-point plan of well over half a billion dollars\u2019 worth of investment, \u201cTourism is Victoria\u2019s Business\u201d and is discussing it with members, tourism bodies and councils at roadshows across the state, including in Warrnambool on Monday and in Geelong on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The platform\u2019s second point, \u201cInvest in our natural assets and regions\u201d, includes requests to invest $150 million for phase 2 of the Shipwreck Coast Masterplan and another $150 million to support the Geelong Convention Centre.<\/p>\n
Point four, \u201cDeliver Tourism Transport Solutions and Connectivity\u201d, asks for another $5 million to upgrade the ferry terminals at Queenscliff and Sorrento.<\/p>\n
The state government committed $153 million towards the Geelong City Deal in its May budget but the federal government has not yet explicitly matched the figure.<\/p>\n
A document was leaked earlier this week that included $150 million for Geelong\u2019s City Deal as part of $7.6 billion of federal funding towards projects in marginal seats, but VTIC chief executive officer Felicia Mariani said to this newspaper yesterday (Wednesday) that the money was not guaranteed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve all seen the so-called leak, but at the end of the day, there has been no formal announcement. We have no control over the timing of this; it could happen at any time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Mariani said Victoria\u2019s tourism industry had done \u201cextremely well\u201d in May\u2019s state budget and VTIC had to recalibrate its election platform as a result, but the number and scale of the requests in the platform \u2013 including $200 million over four years for the Regional Tourism Infrastructure Fund, $160 million over four years for Visit Victoria and $43 million for the Sovereign Hill Beyond 50 Project \u2013 were not unreasonable.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is a history of governments making significant investments in infrastructure, because they realise it creates jobs and improves the economy.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THE Victorian Tourism Industry Council (VTIC) has included several major projects for the Geelong region in its election platform that it is spruiking ahead of November\u2019s state poll. The peak body for Victoria\u2019s tourism and events industry has created a five-point plan of well over half a billion dollars\u2019 worth of investment, \u201cTourism is Victoria\u2019s […]<\/p>\n