Parliament House Canberra

Federal election outcome benefits the G21 region

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With the election of the new Albanese government, we look forward to the fulfilment of pre-election commitments supporting seven of our Priority Projects:

G21 Regional Growth Areas

  • $6 million towards a highball centre for basketball, netball, badminton and volleyball at Armstrong Creek.
  • $20 million towards an indoor aquatic centre with allied health facilities at Drysdale.

Regional Road Connections

  • $125 million for the Barwon Heads Road duplication Stage 2 (Reserve Road to Lower Duneed Road).

Clean Energy, Clean Tech & Circular Economy

  • $500,000 for a community battery at The Sands, Torquay.
  • $500 million Driving the Nation Fund – which will allow the Commonwealth to co-invest in electric vehicle chargers, as well as hydrogen and biofuel refuelling infrastructure (nationally).
  • $39.3 million to build EV charging network with charging stations at an average interval of 150km on major roads (nationally).
  • Target: net zero by 2050, reduce emissions by 43 per cent by 2030.

Addressing Disadvantage

  • $450,000 for expansion of the Bannockburn Family Services Centre (BFSC).

Social Housing

  • $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund – which will build 30,000 new social and affordable housing properties in its first five years (nationally).

Affordable Housing & Worker Accommodation

  • Help to Buy – a ‘shared equity’ scheme that will allow eligible home buyers to get a government contribution of up to 40% towards the purchase price of their property. Home buyers will need at least a 2% deposit.
  • Regional First Home Buyer Support Scheme – which will provide a government guarantee of up to 15 per cent for eligible first home buyers, so locals with a 5 per cent deposit can avoid paying mortgage insurance – saving up to $32,000.

Regional Digital Connectivity & Upskilling

  • $600,000 for better mobile coverage in St Leonards.
  • $2.4 billion to Boost the NBN and secure more Australian families and businesses quality, high speed internet by expanding full-fibre NBN access to 1.5 million premises (nationally).

G21 advocated strongly for these projects in the long lead up to the election, well before party campaigning commenced. We are looking forward to their implementation.

At a local level, G21 would like to congratulate Richard Marles MP, who becomes Deputy Prime Minister of Australia after his win in the Federal Seat of Corio.

We would also like to congratulate Libby Coker MP in Corangamite, Catherine King MP in Ballarat and Dan Tehan MP in Wannon after their re-election to the House of Representatives.

G21 will continue to work closely with all our local members on projects of regional significance.

Convention Centre conceptual

Bigger and better Geelong Convention Precinct

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The much-anticipated Geelong Convention and Exhibition Centre (GCEC) will receive an additional $120 million to include a luxury 200-room hotel, retail and commercial outlets.

The extra funding builds on the existing $141 million commitment from the Victorian Government, $30 million from the Australian Government and $3 million from the City of Greater Geelong – bringing the total project value to $294 million.

Early works, including geotechnical investigations, are currently being undertaken to prepare the site for major construction.

The precinct will also include a 1,000-seat plenary venue which will be developed with 3,700 square metres of flexible multipurpose space to allow large and small events to run concurrently.

The GCEC will support 600 jobs during construction and an additional 270 ongoing jobs once complete. The hotel will further boost employment opportunities and strengthen the region’s visitor economy.

The Victorian Government and Deakin University have agreed on a sale process to enable the transfer of ownership of Deakin’s waterfront car park site to the state, subject to approvals.

Annual General Meeting: a year to remember

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Over 80 members and stakeholders attended G21’s Annual General Meeting via Zoom on Thursday, November 11.

CEO Giulia Baggio reflected on her first year in the role, noting that when she started in February, people were looking forward to 2021, believing the covid pandemic to be over and that our world would regain some sense of normality.

While that sunny outlook didn’t quite eventuate, and Victorians were consigned to another disrupted year, G21 got on with the enormous effort over a six month period of creating refreshed Priority Projects for 2022 and beyond.

Giulia spoke about how growing well, rather than just growing, would determine our future liveability, particularly considering that the pandemic has turbo-charged an extraordinary rate of population growth, with thousands of new residents to the region in the last 18 months.

She spoke about how the COVID lockdowns had revealed inequities and weaknesses in our region, including social disconnection, a gender imbalance, unaffordable housing, labour shortages and poor digital coverage.

As a result, the G21 Board and pillar leaders took the first steps towards mapping a refreshed direction for the years ahead, identifying new areas of opportunity and emerging roadblocks, and solidifying long-term goals to guide immediate priorities.

This refreshed vision will play a crucial part in G21’s advocacy in 2022, when we will outline the region’s priority projects to an attentive audience in the lead up to both federal and state elections.

See Giulia Baggio speak here.

A highlight of the evening was keynote speaker Tracey Slatter, Managing Director of Barwon Water who spoke about how as a society we underestimate the importance of access to water.

When she started at Barwon Water five years ago, she was challenged to address two of the most significant issues our region faces, climate change and the equity divide.

Under her leadership, Barwon Water has developed and launched Strategy 2030, marking a paradigm shift for the organisation from utility provider to an enabler of regional prosperity and sustainability.

Planning is underway for a new 50-year strategy “Water for our Future” which will aim to keep water accessible and affordable as our climate becomes drier.

Barwon Water has also pioneered the Renewable Organics Network, an innovative waste system that will transform food, garden and commercial organic waste into clean energy and soil fertiliser in a big step forward for the circular economy in Victoria.

The organisation is also working to address the equity divide in our region, providing employment for people facing challenges through their traineeship program, and placing significant value on creating a diverse and inclusive work environment.

See Tracey Slatter speak here.

We welcome new Board Director Melissa Stephens (General Manager Organisational Performance at Barwon Water) and congratulate Rowena Clift (CEO at Western Victoria Primary Health Network) and Brett Winter (CEO at GeelongPort) on their re-election to the G21 Board. All will serve a two-year term.

G21 Chair and Geelong Mayor Cr Stephanie Asher made special mention of several people who have made a significant contribution to G21.  Awards went to former G21 Directors, Cr Owen Sharkey and Peter Brown. Also acknowledged were former G21 CEO Elaine Carbines, and staff members David Finlayson, Nada Malinac and Kate Smith.

See G21’s recognition awards here.

See the entire AGM here.

Conceptual image Regional RON

Regional Renewable Organics Network – a big step forward for G21’s circular economy

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Barwon Water has joined forces with six local councils to transform food, garden and commercial organic waste into clean energy and nutrient-rich products for agriculture, in a big step forward for the circular economy in our region and Victoria.

The project has received support from the Victorian Government with funding for a business case, and Barwon Water has signed a Heads of Agreement with Colac Otway, Greater Geelong, Golden Plains, Queenscliffe, Surf Coast and Wyndham Councils to explore opportunities for a Regional Renewable Organics Network (RON) at its Black Rock Water Reclamation Plant in Connewarre.

The Regional RON, which is a G21 priority under the Clean Energy, Cleantech & Circular Economy project, will deliver significant environmental, economic and community benefits for the region.

Local councils will be able to send 40,000 tonnes of commercial, industrial and household organic waste to Barwon Water every year, where it will be processed into 8000 tonnes of nutrient-rich compost to support local agriculture. Greenhouse gas emissions captured from rotting waste will be converted into clean energy.

This will generate enough renewable electricity to power the equivalent of 500 homes and reduce the region’s carbon emissions by between 10,000 to 15,000 tonnes, the equivalent of taking more than 4,000 cars off the road.

It will provide a lower cost, environmentally positive waste solution for councils and ratepayers, while cutting Barwon Water’s energy costs by helping to power the Black Rock Water Reclamation Plant.

The Regional RON will lead our region’s transition to a circular economy where materials are continually reused and recycled to increase their lifespan, add value and reduce waste.

The facility will operate under the same clean energy principles as the RON at Barwon Water’s Colac Water Reclamation Plant, which converts gas produced by organic matter into renewable electricity.

The Colac RON, created in partnership with Australian Lamb Company and Bulla Dairy Foods, powers itself and is no longer on the grid, saving money and reducing carbon emissions.

The Regional RON will be up and running by mid-2024.

Barwon Water is inviting the community to learn more about the project and provide input into early stages of the project’s design at https://www.yoursay.barwonwater.vic.gov.au/rron

Gallery expansion a step closer

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Plans are underway to double the current footprint of the Geelong Gallery in a major expansion of one of our region’s most popular cultural assets.

The Victorian government will join forces with the City of Greater Geelong and the Geelong Gallery Board to update the business case to expand the Gallery into Town Hall, with a $125,000 grant from the $10 million Enabling Tourism Fund.

The gallery’s ambition to lead the delivery of Geelong’s “clever and creative” 30-year vision for economic and cultural renewal is seriously hampered by the current lack of adequate space for large-scale, drawcard exhibitions.

Restricted space also limits the display and storage of, and public access to what is regarded as a nationally important collection owned by the people of Geelong. The gallery holds around 6,000 works of art but only has the capacity to show 2 per cent of this.

The innovative revamp will feature a cultural, learning and social space that honours the civic and ceremonial heritage of the Town Hall – a striking model for regional art galleries in the 21st century.

The Gallery presented the Archibald Prize in 2017, and again in 2018, welcoming 276,000 visitors to the gallery across the two years and injecting $14.25 million into the local economy.

Earlier this year, the Gallery hosted RONE in Geelong, its evocative and ghostly roomscapes attracting almost 47,000 people and contributing $7.8 million to the economy.

With expanded and upgraded facilities the gallery will be able to attract 200,000 visitors annually and strengthen Geelong’s designation as a UNESCO City of Design.

Geelong Gallery’s expansion is a central element of Geelong’s Cultural Precinct Masterplan, a G21 Priority Project that has propelled the successful redevelopment of the Geelong Library and Heritage Centre and the Geelong Arts Centre.

It will also a play a key part in the Revitalising Central Geelong Action Plan delivering huge flow-on benefits for the growing arts, culture and hospitality precinct on Little Malop Street.

The gallery will partner with Aalto and John Wardle Architects to deliver the Business Case by the end of 2021.

Meanwhile, COVID restrictions are playing havoc with upcoming exhibitions. The highly-regarded Frederick McCubbin exhibition, due to open in early September, has been postponed. The gallery team is hoping for an October opening, with the possibility of extending the exhibition over summer.

Assuming no further restrictions, Archie 100: A Century of the Archibald Prize will open in November. The 100th anniversary exhibition will present an eclectic selection of Archibald portraits from the 20th century. Geelong Gallery is the exclusive Victorian venue for Archie 100 – don’t miss out!

Tickets for both events are available here: https://www.geelonggallery.org.au/whats-on/exhibitions#upcoming

Integrated transport plan essential to creating healthy, connected communities

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G21 has begun work on an integrated transport strategy to address gaps and weaknesses in the intra-regional transport network which are becoming increasingly apparent as the population continues to grow year-on-year.

The G21 Region Integrated Transport Strategy (ITS), funded by Regional Development Victoria, Department of Transport and the five G21 municipalities, will shine a light on active and public transport options, the road network and freight movements, clean energy transport and rail connections in busy corridors. The strategy will update existing plans and guide investment in the transport network across the region for the short term and decades ahead.

The G21 region is one of the fastest growing regions in Australia and rapidly outgrowing its transport infrastructure.

Commuters are experiencing worsening road traffic congestion, a lack of public transport options, a patchwork of cycling and pedestrian connections, a lack of dedicated routes for the growing freight industry, a need for new transport corridors to link growth areas outside central Geelong and an over-reliance on road vehicles which is feeding into inactivity, higher emissions, congestion and a drag on productivity in the regional economy.

A fresh understanding and collaborative response is needed to arrest the slide in the region’s highly-prized liveability. The next five to ten years will be critical in setting up the region’s geographically-dispersed communities for long-term social and economic prosperity.

A modern, multi-modal transport system will be fundamental in delivering:

  • development of a strong, interconnected economy which provides a diverse range of logistically accessible job opportunities;
  • stronger health and well-being outcomes by enabling people to move with ease to access services, to participate in the activities of the region and to connect socially;
  • greater opportunity to access education and skills training to ensure more equitable outcomes for G21’s diverse cohorts, no matter what life-stage or socio-economic background;
  • a healthy environment with low or no carbon emissions;
  • the preservation of G21’s highly valued natural assets and indigenous cultural heritage.

The region is a significant contributor in the Victorian and Australian economies. Improved transport connectivity across the region and links to ports, airports, inter-modal terminals and other regional and metropolitan centres will enable G21’s growing and emerging industries to fully realise their potential.

The G21 Integrated Transport Strategy team will be consulting widely across the region in coming months and will deliver its findings and recommendations in the second half 2022.

Chisholm Road jobs exceed GROW target

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The new Chisholm Road Prison under construction in Lara has surpassed local employment goals with more than 45,000 labour hours completed by Geelong and Colac workers, exceeding the project target by 50 per cent.

The project has now injected $200 million into the local economy – $126 million for services and supplies from businesses in Greater Geelong and Melbourne’s western suburbs, and $74 million to employ local sub-contractors and workers living within 30 kilometres of the project site.

Specific employment targets for workers in the Geelong suburbs of Corio, Norlane, Whittington and parts of Colac were set prior to the start of construction in February 2020.

These postcodes were identified as focus areas for targeted recruitment in consultation with the G21 Regional Opportunities for Work (GROW) initiative. GROW is a joint initiative of G21 and the Give Where You Live Foundation which aims to address disadvantage and maximise investment in the region’s workforce by increasing local job opportunities.

The Chisholm Road Prison Project is continuing to recruit from targeted postcodes, after exceeding an initial offering of 30,000 labour hours to workers in these areas.

The project entered its peak construction phase last month. More than 1,200 workers are now on-site to construct the new prison near the existing Barwon Prison Precinct. Workforce numbers are expected to top 1,400.

At least 10 per cent of labour hours on the project are allocated to young workers including apprentices, trainees and cadets. An extra $16.3 million has been directed to social enterprises that support Indigenous and disadvantaged Victorians and people with a disability in gaining employment.

Construction of the prison is being managed by John Holland, overseen by the Community Safety Building Authority, which delivers infrastructure on behalf of the Department of Justice and Community Safety.

The project is scheduled for completion in 2022.

New fountains quench thirst for water and knowledge

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New cultural water fountains at Deakin University will provide free access to fresh drinking water and reduce plastic waste while also quenching students, staff and visitors’ thirst for knowledge about Traditional Owner culture and history.

A joint initiative between Deakin University, Barwon Water, and Wadawurrung Traditional Owners, the fountains feature Aboriginal artwork and inscriptions created by Wadawurrung artists Billy-Jay O’Toole and Corrina Eccles, designed to facilitate storytelling and an understanding and appreciation of Traditional Owner culture and history.

The fountains are designed to teach, inspire and raise awareness of Wadawurrung values while also expressing gratitude and thanks to the Traditional Custodians for nurturing and caring for Country, which sustains us all.

They also reduce the need to purchase single-use plastic bottles and the amount of waste generated on campus. This will bring the university one step closer to its goal of achieving zero waste by 2030, a target that aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Mental health building blitz begins in Geelong

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Residents in Greater Geelong will soon have access to better local mental health support with a construction blitz now underway on two major projects thanks to the state government.

Work on a new world-class 16-bed acute mental health facility at Barwon Health’s McKellar Centre will create and sustain more than 230 local construction jobs when Victorians need them most. It will also deliver on a key recommendation made by the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System.

The facility’s frame will be constructed as individual modules off-site, then transported and completed on-site – reducing disruption to the operational hospital and local residents while construction is underway.

Designed in consultation with people with lived experience of the mental health system, the facility will deliver more than 5800 days of care – which equates to approximately 355 people each year.

The facility will reduce pressure on University Hospital Geelong’s emergency department, delivering inpatient acute mental health services and community-based care in a contemporary, safe and high-quality hospital setting.

Geelong-based Lyons Construction has also begun work on the $16 million Mental Health and Drug and Alcohol Services Community Hub in Moorabool Street, in central Geelong, with construction on track to be completed in late 2022.

Operated by Barwon Health, the five-storey hub will provide better access to treatment and support services for people experiencing mental ill-health and addiction – further supporting them on their recovery journey.

The hub will consolidate existing services onto one contemporary, fit-for-purpose site. Clinicians will provide telephone, online, walk-in, at-home and outreach services over extended operating hours – and the facility will also include space for clinicians and researchers to collaborate to improve mental health outcomes across the region.

The state government invested $3.8 billion in the Victorian Budget 2021-22 to transform Victoria’s mental health system, in the single largest investment in mental health by any state government.

Source: A state government media statement

Golden Plains adopts social housing plan

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Golden Plains Shire Council recently (27 July) adopted the Golden Plains Social Housing Plan to work with the Victorian Government on addressing the lack of social housing in the municipality.

As part of its participation in a regional Social Housing Planning project facilitated by the G21 – Geelong Region Alliance, the Golden Plains Social Housing Plan has been developed to sit alongside similar plans for each G21 council and a combined regional plan.

In Golden Plains Shire, there are currently only eight social housing properties and there is unmet demand for an additional 113 homes. Unmet demand statewide has been recognised by the Victorian Government through its $5.3 billion Big Housing Build to build thousands of new dwellings and update existing social housing across the state, including a $15 million guaranteed minimum spend in Golden Plains Shire.

The Golden Plains plan outlines the need for more subsidised social housing properties and provides local information and perspectives to help shape the Government’s $15 million commitment and support Council to work constructively with the government, developers and housing providers to increase access to local social housing.

The plan commits Council to working with these partners on identifying, assessing and developing underutilised state- and Council-owned land, as well as where developers can include provision for social housing in greenfield sites. Council will maintain a public register of opportunities, and undertake a rigorous planning, assessment and consultation process before finalising proposals on Council-owned land.

With renewed government interest in tackling the lack of social housing across the state, Mayor Cr Helena Kirby says Council was pleased to adopt the plan following participation in the G21’s regional social housing project.

“The Golden Plains Social Housing Plan commits Council to constructively working together with our neighbouring councils, the Victorian Government, housing associations and developers to increase social housing in Golden Plains and support local economic recovery and jobs,” Cr Kirby said.

“The data shows we have higher rates of rental stress in and around Bannockburn and Smythesdale and a startling gap between the current supply and demand for social housing in our Shire.

“The Plan positions Golden Plains and the Geelong region to work constructively with the state government on its Big Housing Build, which includes a $15 million commitment to developing social housing in Golden Plains. This investment is one of the largest single government investments in Golden Plains Shire and will make a big difference,” Cr Kirby said.

The G21-facilitated project was funded by philanthropic grants from the Percy Baxter Trust and the Anthony Costa Foundation.

The Golden Plains Social Housing Plan is available on Council’s website at: goldenplains.vic.gov.au/strategies.

Source: A Golden Plains Shire media statement