Pillar activities

A large variety of activities will take place in 2011 as individual Pillar Groups and cross-Pillar groups work together. Below is a list of those activities. For specific details on G21 Pillar activtities, contact the relevant Pillar chair.

Arts & Culture

2010 has seen the production of the Regional Arts Directory and continued support and development of the Geelong Future Cities - a G21 Priority Project.

The Economic Benefits of Arts & Culture project has been identified as a Pillar priority and is currently in its early stages of development.

2011 will also see further progression of the Arts & Culture Assets Register, Arts Event Coordination and continued cross-pillar collaboration.

Economic Development

In 2010 the Pillar strongly advocated for an Aviation Training Academy to be located at Avalon Airport, and supported the Airport in its bid to fly internationally. 

The Geelong Ringroad Employment Precinct (Stage 1) and Regional Economic Development Strategy successfully gained funding, while the Australian Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases continues to advance.

The facilitation of key economic development projects will continue in 2011.

Education & Training

The Pillar has identified three priorities in 2011:

• A Regional Career Development and Skills Service,
• The development of an Integrated Education and Health Strategy plan for Armstrong Creek, and
• A Regional Workforce Development Strategy, which will initially focus on workforce plans for the health and community services sector and the advanced manufacturing sector.

Planning & Services

The Pillar had major success in 2010 with the State Government fully funding the G21 Regional Land Use Plan.  Two new precincts were unveiled within the Armstrong Creek Urban Growth Area, which are anticipated to attract more than $3 billion in investment and generate more than 13,000 jobs, while the Apollo Bay Harbour project is progressing well with a recent funding commitment.

In 2011 the Pillar will continue to identify and develop projects that focus on accommodating future urban growth in a sustainable way.

Health & Wellbeing

In 2010 the HWB Pillar has worked to strengthen the range of services in the health & community services system whilst influencing initiatives that will positively impact the community’s health & wellbeing.

The Pillar has successfully delivered a range of health promotion and service coordination projects valued at $500k. The Regional Research & Information Centre  is progressing well in partnership with the Alfred Deakin Research Institute, whilst a G21 regional framework for improving mental health and wellbeing is in development.

Cross-Pillar collaboration to address disadvantage, social and health inequities and sustainability has intensified, with opportunities to strengthen this in 2011.

Transport

Outcomes for 2010 included the establishment of the G21 Bicycle Infrastructure Group and Public Transport Planning Steering Group, and major funding commitments towards G21 Priority Projects: Geelong Ring Road (Stages 4B and 4C) and duplication of the Princes Highway from Winchelsea to Colac. The Pillar strongly advocated for an Aviation Training Academy to be located at Avalon Airport, and supported the Airport in its bid to fly internationally. 

In 2011 the Pillar will review the G21 Integrated Public Transport Strategy (2006) and further develop Pillar projects.

Environment

During 2010 the Pillar has successfully expanded and consolidated its membership base and established itself as a body for sharing regional information and resources between participants.  

The Pillar received funding to complete the G21 Scenario 3 Development, which will develop a new scenario for the future of the G21 region based on environmental factors, and has also recently completed a ‘Directions Statement’ which was developed to assist broader planning processes in the G21 region.

In 2011 the Pillar aims to obtain funding to develop the strategies initiated under the Scenario 3 project, as well as focus on environment projects that are relevant to the region.  The Pillar will continue to collaborate with other G21 Pillars and advise them of environmental impacts to their projects.