Bellarine Peninsula’s historic railway will be given a facelift to encourage more visitors to the region with assistance from the state government.

Victoria’s Minister for Regional Development Mary-Anne Thomas today (15 May 2021) visited Drysdale Railway Station to inspect the early works taking place to revitalise this nationally-significant destination, which has received more than $3.4 million funding through the Regional Tourism Investment Fund – Stimulus Round.

The new investment will support stage two of the project, following the government’s previous investment of $300,000 for the first stage.

Stage one will include development of the Turntable Paddock at Drysdale Railway Station and improvements to community access and will provide a base for the award-winning dining experience The Q Train, which travels along the historic Bellarine Railway.

Stage two will include an upgrade of 16.5 kilometres of track between Drysdale and Queenscliff. This project aims to establish Drysdale station as a gateway for the Bellarine Railway in Geelong and transform it into a tourist destination for locals and visitors to enjoy.

Other unique visitor attractions will benefit from upgrades to the heritage line including The Blues Train, Day Out with Thomas, train driver experiences and group charters, as well as family and special events.

The works will ensure the longevity of the railway line, improve the visitor offering, support tourism and boost jobs in the Bellarine Peninsula.

The $46 million Regional Tourism Investment Fund – Stimulus Round forms part of the Visitor Economy Recovery and Reform Plan, which is underpinned by an investment of $633 million.

For more information on the Regional Tourism Investment Fund – Stimulus Round and the VisitorEconomy Recovery and Reform Plan visit djpr.vic.gov.au

Source: A state government media release

The 2021 Federal Budget investment in training, jobs and social repair will benefit Geelong and the G21 region says G21 CEO Giulia Baggio.

Social repair

“Following the dislocation and disruption caused by the COVID pandemic, the wellbeing of people must come first, and it is heartening to see that the Federal Budget is focused on the many needs across our communities,” Ms Baggio said.

“Measures to rebuild skills and jobs, long-overdue reforms to aged care, investment in mental health care, childcare support, improvements to women’s economic security, a spotlight on domestic violence and funding for the NDIS are all significant and welcome.

“The funding from each of these initiatives has the potential to stretch widely across our region to the benefit of G21’s diverse communities. Our challenge is to make full use of these opportunities over the months and years ahead.

Housing Affordability

“However, the Budget largely fails to address the structural economic and social issues of rapidly increasing housing prices versus lower or stagnant wages over coming years,” Ms Baggio said.

“The high cost and lack of availability of rental housing is already impacting many parts of our region.  Support services are reporting increased numbers of families unable to find affordable housing.  Employers, such as those in Colac, are unable to fill jobs due to a local lack of rentals or other accommodation.

“Although the Budget includes a package to allow eligible single parents to buy a home with as little as a 2 per cent deposit using a government guarantee, the scheme will be limited and will do little to alleviate the housing affordability crisis within much of this region.

Tourism

“The lack of a targeted Jobkeeper-style program is a double whammy for the region’s visitor economy.  A significant slice of our regional economy is visitor-based.  Many businesses, like those along the Great Ocean Road, depend largely on international visitors.

“Borders are projected to remain closed well into 2022; possibly not fully opening until much later.  This will further compound a chronic shortage of workers for the tourism and hospitality sectors which traditionally employ international students, skilled workers and migrants.

“G21 does, however, welcome the economic stimulus to come from Geelong City Deal funding increasing by $18 million to $64 million in the next year.

Environment – Clean energy

“The Budget allocates $275.5 million for hydrogen initiatives, including four hydrogen production hubs in regional areas.  Geelong must position itself to host one of those hubs.  The region is ideally located and has substantial existing infrastructure,” Ms Baggio said.

“This is an opportunity for the region to be part of the growing global hydrogen export market, bringing jobs and new business opportunities.”

International education

“The lack of funding for a largescale quarantine facility in Victoria, as proposed by the state government, is disappointing,” Ms Baggio said.

“International students are important contributors to our local economy and community, and especially in our tertiary institutions such as Deakin University.  Without vastly improved high-volume quarantine facilities, our universities remain in a dire situation.

“Given the Budget assumption of borders remaining closed until 2022, and then only transitioning to full opening, this is concerning.”

Skills Training

“New apprenticeships and training places for jobseekers and young people are welcome and especially relevant to a region such as ours which is growing rapidly.  Diverse skill sets are needed to drive the residential, manufacturing and business growth the region is experiencing,” Ms Baggio said.

“It must be noted that apprenticeships have been in decline in recent years and the Budget measures will start to arrest this decline. However much more is required in this space.”

Gender equity

“The package of measures to address inequities and discrimination affecting Australia’s women is particularly welcome,” Ms Baggio said.

“It is encouraging that the federal government is responding to advocacy in recent months drawing attention to a range of matters that need to be addressed in this regard.

 

Note: G21 will continue to analyse the detail of the Federal Budget and its ramifications for the region over the coming days.

 

The next generation of food and hospitality professionals will soon train at a multi-million-dollar state-of-the-art facility at The Gordon TAFE in Geelong.

The school will feature cutting-edge food training kitchens, a bakery training facility, a barista academy and café, and an alfresco dining area.

The Gordon’s existing training facility, the Davidson Restaurant, will also undergo a renovation.

Four hundred jobs will be created during construction, 70 per cent of which have been allocated to workers from regional Victoria. Development of the facility will also provide experience for plumbing and electrical students.

The new facility will be available to students studying Commercial Cookery and Patisserie. The Gordon will also offer short courses, including barista training, to create a pipeline of skilled hospitality workers for the region.

The state government has invested $13.5 million towards the project with The Gordon investing $10 million.

Kane Constructions has been appointed as the builder of the project, which has been designed by Gray Puksand architects.

Works will be undertaken in stages to minimise disruption on campus and are expected to be completed in 2022.

A new community bulk-buying solar initiative will help G21 residents and businesses take up solar panels and battery systems.

The Geelong+ Community Solar Program, the largest in Victoria, aims to fast-track renewable energy uptake in the G21 region, to help Victoria achieve its renewable energy target of 50 per cent by 2030.

It will also give homeowners and businesses access to clean, affordable energy from quality solar and battery systems.

Community not-for-profit group Sustainability Geelong, which is leading the initiative, has chosen RACV Solar and energy services provider Mondo to deliver the project.

Participants can make money when they install a battery through the program – even if they already have solar panels. The Geelong+ Virtual Power Plant will connect a participant’s battery to others in the community to form a larger “virtual battery” that delivers renewable energy to both the home and the grid.

The scheme will help stabilise electricity supply, support more renewable energy and reduce prices across the board. It is also a 100 per cent opt-in program, with no lock-in contract.

Local communities are also set to benefit. For each system installed through the program, one solar panel will be donated towards the installation of a solar system on a local community facility. Up to five not-for-profit organisations will be selected by Geelong Sustainability to receive a donated system in collaboration with local program partners.

The program will hold information sessions around the region, click here for upcoming dates.

You can find out more about the program here: geelongcommunitysolar.com.au