Launching Kitjarra-Dja-Bul Bullarto Langi-Ut

Earlier this week the Fyansford Common came alive with a Welcome to Country, smoking ceremony and Wadawurrung storytelling, as the Kitjarra-dja-bul Bullarto langi-ut – Place of many stories project and masterplan development was launched.

Kitjarra-dja-bul Bullarto langi-ut is an initiative to increase the visitor experience of the unique environmental, cultural, and recreational values of the Barwon and Moorabool Rivers and is one of the actions supported by the Victorian Government through the Rivers of the Barwon (Barre Warre Yulluk) Action Plan.

The project encompasses an extensive corridor of river frontage on Wadawurrung Country, including the internationally recognised Lake Connewarre wetlands and the spectacular Barwon River estuary. Kitjarra- dja-bul Bullarto langi-ut is the Wadawurrung name for the project previously known as the Barwon River Parklands.

The natural assets of project area and its ongoing enjoyment are increasingly under threat from rapid growth in population, tourism pressures and changes in environmental conditions. Alongside these threats, fragmented management across the Kitjarra-dja-bul Bullarto langi-ut complicates and delays efforts of responsible bodies to implement improvements to visitor experience, connectivity and natural amenity.

The Masterplan is an opportunity to increase amenity and public access to the unique environmental, cultural and recreational values along this important river corridor.

The project is a partnership between the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation, Corangamite CMA, along with a number of state government agencies and local governments.

The Victorian Government provided $1.65 million in funding for the development and partial implementation of the masterplan.

Golden Plains Youth Hub Officially Open

Golden Plains Youth Hub has officially opened and is set to support improved health, social, education and employment outcomes for young people.

Located next to Bannockburn YMCA and across from Bannockburn P-12 College, the youth hub has undergone a significant exterior and interior renovation to create a purpose-built, accessible and inclusive youth facility that will help provide stronger connections between the local community and services young people need.

The hub has been a priority project for G21 which has helped to advocate for a revamped space to build a strong, resilient youth culture connected to its community.

After several come and try sessions held last month, the hub will now hold regular activities, and serve as a meeting space for the Youth Activation Committee, the Pride LGBTIQA+ group, and the FReeZa Youth Events Crew.

The youth hub was funded with over $271,000 from the State Government, $100,00 from the Federal Government alongside $100,000 from Bannockburn and District Grants and over $90,000 in-kind contribution from Golden Plains Shire.

DAL sets clearer planning controls for Surf Coast

A line has been drawn on growth in Torquay’s Spring Creek valley, with the area to remain outside the town’s protected settlement boundary in the final Statement of Planning Policy (SPP) for the long-awaited Surf Coast Distinctive Area and Landscape (DAL) program.

The SPP is based on expert advice and was developed in collaboration with the Traditional Owners the Wadawurrung, the local community, the Surf Coast Shire, the City of Greater Geelong, responsible public entities and government agencies.

Ensuring prized Surf Coast landscapes and environmental features are protected from inappropriate development, the SPP outlines protected settlement boundaries for Torquay-Jan Juc, Bellbrae and Breamlea.

The protected settlement boundaries confine most new development to activity centres, tourism precincts and designated settlement areas where growth and more housing is appropriate.

Growth in greenfield areas will be restricted, protecting areas of high biodiversity value, Aboriginal cultural heritage, state-significant landscapes and township character.

The Spring Creek area is outside the protected settlement boundary, forming a vital part of the important green break between Torquay–Jan Juc and Bellbrae.

These planning controls are in line with public comment received by G21 during its extensive consultation when developing the 2013 G21 Regional Growth Plan and will protect the coastal villages and towns that make our region unique.

Geelong Regional Hub Prepares For Victoria 2026

Geelong has been officially confirmed as one of four regional hubs for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, with the state’s regions set to shine on the world stage.

Geelong’s Kardinia Park Stadium will host T20 cricket matches as part of Victoria 2026.

In addition, Geelong will also host aquatics, para swimming, beach volleyball, gymnastics, hockey, table tennis, para table tennis, triathlon and para triathlon, with the venues for each sport to be determined as part of the Games’ final sport program.

Work on Kardinia Park’s $142 million Stage 5 redevelopment is already underway, delivering a 14,000 capacity, two-tier northern stand that replaces the old Ford Stand and Ablett Terrace and boosts the stadium’s capacity to more than 40,000 people. Previous stages of the redevelopment have delivered new stands, broadcast-quality lighting and function rooms.

A process to assess what further infrastructure upgrades will be required to host these events as part of the 2026 Commonwealth Games has commenced.

Victoria 2026 will deliver significant economic and social benefits to the Geelong region, including housing and world-class sports facilities. With up to 2,950 athletes and officials set to be housed in Geelong’s athlete village, the region will benefit longer term from more affordable housing following the Games.

Currently, the G21 region needs enormous investment in infrastructure to keep pace with the incredible growth we are ­experiencing.

Housing, initially for athletes, sporting facilities, ­improved transport networks are all urgently needed and the Commonwealth Games would provide the impetus to quickly get on with this work.

An athletes’ village or vill­ages would provide a brilliant opportunity to build affordable and key worker housing in central Geelong and around the region.

We currently have a severe housing shortage, which is one of our biggest economic and social challenges.

An athletes’ village could be converted to meet Geelong’s ambition to have 12,000 more residents living in the CBD.

Geelong is also expected to benefit greatly from the influx of visitors and sporting fans travelling to watch the Games be played at Kardinia Park and other venues across the region.

Northern Aquatic and Community Hub construction underway

Construction is underway on the Northern Aquatic and Community Hub (NACH) project in Norlane. This is a major milestone in the progress of the landmark community facility that has the capacity to change lives and outcomes for the residents in Geelong’s northern suburbs.

Co-located with Barwon Health North, there will be a unique opportunity for the NACH to produce state-of-the-art aquatic and fitness facilities along with complementary health and wellbeing services.

Contractor Kane Constructions has started clearing the ageing Centenary Hall site.

The major community facility will feature a 25 metre pool, hydrotherapy pool, Learn to Swim pool, water play area, water slide, spa, sauna, and steam room, gym, program rooms, occasional care facilities, cafe and 1000sq metre of multipurpose community space.

The NACH is anticipated to attract 600,000 visits every year, providing $111 million in preventative health benefits during its first decade of operation alone.

This is a long-term G21 priority under its Addressing Disadvantage project. It will also support future growth and demand in the Northern Geelong growth corridor.

Construction of the NACH is expected to start early this year and will be finished by late 2023. It will be delivered through $44.84 million from the City of Greater Geelong, a $8.5 million commitment from the state government and $8.262 million in federal funding.

Construction is expected to be completed by late 2023.

Queenscliff Ferry Terminal sailing ahead

The $15.9 million redevelopment of the Queenscliff Ferry Terminal is taking shape with the foundations and cement poured for the ground floor and level one.

The project is on track for completion later this year and will improve services between Queenscliff and Sorrento offering passengers a world class, enjoyable experience with modern facilities and bathrooms, safer access, improved car parking and opportunities for retail such as cafés and tourism ventures.

The project will not only improve services across Port Phillip Bay to Sorrento, it will generate local employment opportunities by supporting up to 85 new jobs during construction and an additional 25 new ongoing jobs within the ferry operations.

The development of a new ferry terminal at Queenscliff offers significant benefits to visitors, including safer access for pedestrians, high quality experiences and improved disability access.

Green Spine continues to take shape

The revitalisation of Geelong’s CBD is one step closer to completion, with another stage of the Green Spine project delivered. The section on the north side between Gheringhap and Moorabool Streets is complete, providing a grand entry to the Green Spine from Johnstone Park and the Geelong Station Precinct.

It features almost 3,000 new trees and shrubs, bluestone paving, seating and tables, improved stormwater drainage and filtration and a single-lane bike path.

A steel decking designed in consultation with Wadawurrung Traditional Owners has also been incorporated to provide a cultural learning opportunity for the community.

The work of BJ O’Toole, a young Wadawurrung artist, has been translated into the design which was then reproduced by the steel fabricators.

The Green Spine is one of the key projects of the 10-year Revitalising Central Geelong Action Plan, which will provide a new pedestrian-friendly park along six blocks of Malop Street to deliver major environmental and economic benefits for the CBD.

Detailed planning work to revitalise the remainder of Malop Street is underway, with community and stakeholder consultation on the concept designs to begin this month.

Tent towns: councils turn to camping permits to combat housing and labour crisis

Workers will be able to camp in tents on private property this summer as the accommodation and labour shortage facing our region reaches crisis point.

Temporary worker accommodation permits will allow workers camp or reside at homes and businesses within Colac Otway Shire between 1 November and 30 April each holiday season, while in the Surf Coast Shire, seasonal workers have been given the green light to camp in backyards for up to 120 days.

The plan is one of the many short-term initiatives to attract hospitality workers to tourist hotspots such as Lorne and Apollo Bay, where a lack of affordable housing is forcing some hospitality businesses to restrict opening hours just as they are trying to get back on their feet after nearly two years interrupted by the pandemic.

G21 is calling for state and governments to step in a provide temporary housing this summer as well as a long-term plan to address the shortage of affordable key worker and social housing across the region.

Listen to G21 CEO Giulia Baggio being interviewed by Patricia Karvelas on RN Drive.

G21 rapidly becoming Victoria’s clean energy region

It has been an exciting fortnight for clean energy investment in G21 with three major projects getting underway. The Big Battery at Moorabool was turned on, approval was granted for the largest wind farm in the southern hemisphere and GeelongPort showed ambition and leadership by announcing a $100m investment in a new green hydrogen hub.

Big projects such as these are making it clear to Australia and the world that G21 is open for business and is actively seeking partners to invest in a decarbonised economy.

Big Battery switched on

The Big Battery at Moorabool has been switched on to safeguard the power supply as the state heads towards a fully decarbonised economy by 2050. The 300-megawatt battery is one of the world’s largest. Energy Minister Lily D’ambrosio said 80 per cent of its capacity would be reserved for moments when the state’s power supply was under high stress, when it would be able to power more than 650,000 homes for an hour.

More: https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/in-a-field-near-geelong-switch-flicked-on-australia-s-biggest-battery-20211208-p59fq8.html

GeelongPort announces $100 million facility to produce and export green hydrogen

GeelongPort is expanding its current operations to establish the Geelong Hydrogen Hub, a production and distribution facility for Green Hydrogen that will accelerate Victoria’s transition to a clean energy future. Having partnered with CAC-H2 as the Hub’s foundation green hydrogen developer, GeelongPort is seeking further expressions of interest from energy manufacturers and retailers and local businesses. GeelongPort recently became Australia’s first bulk port to receive carbon neutral certification.

More: https://geelongport.com.au/development/geelong-hydrogen-hub/

Golden Plains Wind Farm gets final nod

Construction on the biggest wind farm in the southern hemisphere will start in Victoria next year after the state’s Planning Minister gave the final tick of approval to the $2 billion facility.

The site at Rokewood will be home to more than 200 turbines and cover 167 square kilometres. The construction phase is expected to bring 700 jobs to the area.

Under the plan, WestWind will give annual payments to neighbours, starting at $1000 per turbine to those who live within two kilometres of them.

More: https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/state-to-host-biggest-wind-farm-in-southern-hemisphere-as-turbines-win-final-approval-20211124-p59bnm.html

G21’s manufacturing strength secures historic $1b defence contract

G21 congratulates the Federal Government on the announcement of a $1 billion contract with Hanwha Defense Australia to establish operations in Geelong. Our region’s advanced manufacturing credentials played a key role in securing this significant project.

The government will partner with Hanwha to create an Armoured Vehicle Centre of Excellence, creating 300 jobs in our region and establishing a further strategic defence industry hub and export opportunities.

Work on the new facility is expected to commence in 2022.

Read more: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-12-13/australia-and-south-korea-billion-dollar-defence-contract/100694638