Geelong Gallery needs help to grow

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The Geelong Gallery is seeking vital government investment to allow detailed design and planning for a significant expansion of the Gallery into City Hall to proceed.

A Business Case delivered late last year provides a strong case for the gallery’s expansion, but urgent funding is now required so that this transformative project can progress, developing a visitor attraction in time for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

The opening of the Wurriki Nyal precinct means that City Hall will be reserved for civic and ceremonial events and the remaining space could be shared with the Gallery to deliver drawcard exhibitions for the Geelong region.

As well as delivering major national and international touring exhibitions, the expansion would enable the Gallery to exhibit more of its nationally significant collection. Currently the Gallery can only exhibit two per cent of its impressive collection.

The Gallery is already a popular drawcard for the region. It presented the Archibald Prize in 2017, and again in 2018, and welcomed 116,000 and 160,000 to the Gallery across the two years respectively. The economic impact of the Archibald Prize in Geelong over the two-year period was $14.25 million.

In 2021, the Gallery hosted RONE in Geelong, its evocative and ghostly roomscapes attracting almost 47,000 people and contributing $7.8 million to the economy.

In 2021-2022, the Gallery hosted Archie 100 attracting 47,300 visitors (63 per cent from outside the region) and contributing $7.72 million to the local economy, a much-needed boost following the challenges of COVID-19.

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.

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.

Let’s Build the Surf Coast Cultural Centre!

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Let’s Build the Surf Coast Cultural Centre!

Show your support and send a message to local politicians

Surf Coast Shire Council is encouraging community members to email MPs and candidates via its web portal to highlight what the Surf Coast Cultural Centre would mean for the community.

Surf Coast Shire Council hopes a surge of community support will help secure funding for the new Surf Coast Cultural Centre planned for Torquay.

The centre will provide new and expanded homes for the Australian National Surfing Museum, Torquay Library and Torquay Visitor Information Centre, integrating with the redeveloped Multi Arts Centre, MAC.

The Surf Coast Cultural Centre will help drive recovery from the pandemic by helping a tourism sector hit hard by restricted travel.

It will provide a new and invigorating hub for one of regional Australia’s most creative regional communities, and a place for lifelong learning and social connections while celebrating the region’s First Nations cultural history and proud surfing heritage.

Surf Coast Shire has approved concept plans and a business case for a two-stage development of the centre.

Stage one, anticipated to start in 2024, will cost $36.8 million and includes an expanded surfing museum with its internationally-significant collection, expanded library and visitor centre, café, and rehearsal and maker spaces, with the new building integrating with the existing redeveloped Multi Arts Centre, MAC.

Surf Coast Shire has committed $8 million as well as the site, and is actively pursuing state and federal government grants and pledges to attract the $29 million needed to commence stage one.

Stage two of the project is expected to start in 2030 and cost $20 million, involving construction of a new 250-seat studio and purpose built gallery with technical and backstage areas for performers.

A completed project will bring lasting economic benefit, injecting an additional $173 million in direct and indirect economic impact in the Great Ocean Road region, supporting more than 750 longer term jobs.

Launching Kitjarra-Dja-Bul Bullarto Langi-Ut

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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.

Northern hub to go renewable

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The Northern Aquatic and Community Hub will to be powered by renewable energy, slashing carbon emissions and delivering substantial operational savings.

The City of Greater Geelong will invest $4 million to convert the Norlane hub site from gas to electricity. The existing aquatic facilities in Waterworld are run on gas.

Switching to electricity in the new Northern Aquatic and Community Hub – allowing it to be powered by wind energy – would deliver an estimated $150,000 per year in operational savings.

It would also cut emissions by about 1700 tonnes per year, and help the new facility achieve a 5 Star (Australian Excellence) Green Star rating.

The emissions reduction is equivalent to the annual energy use of more than 300 Victorian households.

Construction of the transformative Northern Aquatic and Community Hub is underway, and the project is a long-term G21 priority under its Addressing Disadvantage project.

Golden Plains Youth Hub Officially Open

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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

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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

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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.

Funding announced to help ease Colac’s residential housing crisis

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A major water project at Elliminyt to help unlock hundreds of urgently needed residential lots has received a $3 million boost.

The State Government has announced funding for the Elliminyt Wetlands project and upgrade of the Irrewillipe Road Retarding Basin, which will support the release of approximately 300 residential lots for new residential land.

Affordable housing is a major barrier to drawing workers to Colac, with rental vacancies at 0.03 per cent and some local businesses resorting to bussing in staff. Opening up this area for residential housing will have a significant impact on the local Colac community with positive flow-on effects for the wider region.

The upgrade of the Basin will also deliver much needed amenity to the community with the development of a natural parkland setting providing open space for recreation, improving the liveability of the area.

In addition to unlocking housing lots in Elliminyt, the project will have positive environmental impacts, improving the quality of stormwater entering Lake Colac and potentially providing water to nearby sporting facilities including Colac Racecourse, Colac Golf Club and Elliminyt Recreation Reserve.

Faster internet for Geelong suburbs

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Twelve suburbs across Geelong have been identified for National Broadband Network improvements and will receive an upgrade from Fibre to the Node (FTTN) to Fibre to the Premises (FTTP).

The improvements were announced under the second stage of a landmark co-investment agreement between NBN Co and the Victorian Government that will see fibre built deeper into more parts of metropolitan and regional Victoria.

The project will see over 1,000km of fibre installed across the state, allowing internet download speeds of up to 1GB per second.

Locations identified for upgrades are Belmont, Corio, Drumcondra, East Geelong, Geelong, Geelong West, Grovedale, Highton, North Geelong, Ocean Grove and Rippleside.