Queenscliff Ferry Terminal sailing ahead

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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.

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.

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

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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.

New home for Great Ocean Road Authority

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The Great Ocean Road Authority has a new home in Torquay, with its headquarters officially opened by Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio last Wednesday.

The Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority has already started delivering upgrades to caravan park facilities, new beach access stairs, walkways, ramps, and lookouts. A dedicated parks manager has also been established for the coast and parks along the Great Ocean Road − a key part of reforms to improve management of the area.

Previously, management was fragmented across multiple agencies, with no over-arching plan or single authority covering the entire length of the road.

G21 has advocated for better management and funding of the Great Ocean Road for many years and included the Great Ocean Road as one of its priority advocacy projects.

A coordinated approach to managing investment, conservation, visitation numbers and community engagement will protect this special part of the world for decades to come.

 

G21 rapidly becoming Victoria’s clean energy region

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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

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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

Breathing Life Back Into Barre Warre Yulluk

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A State Government action plan will better protect the Barwon River and other important rivers in the region in an innovative approach to waterways management.

The Barre Warre Yulluk Action Plan (the Rivers of Barwon) identifies seven directions and 30 actions to protect the region’s waterways.

Over the next five years the action plan will guide protection and improvement of community access, amenity and environmental health of the Barwon, Moorabool and other waterways. The plan will improve parkland trails, increase revegetation, repair fencing and manage weeds to strengthen the resilience of these systems.

The Geelong region is transforming rapidly, and with this comes opportunity to protect and enhance our waterways and surrounding land so our growing communities can continue to enjoy their natural environment.

Regional planning policy and new planning controls will be implemented to protect these waterways from inappropriate development.

Barre Warre Yulluk includes the whole network of creeks and rivers from the Barwon (Parwan), Moorabool (Murrabul), Yarrowee (Yarowee) and Leigh (Waywatcurtan) rivers and their tributaries.

Temporary worker accommodation permits to be introduced to ease short-term housing shortage

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Colac Otway Shire Council have agreed to flexibility in administering a temporary worker accommodation initiative for local businesses, which will see workers able to camp with a valid permit on land outside those normally designated as campgrounds.

The permit will be issued under Colac Otway Shire General Local Law No. 2 and will allow a business trading in Colac Otway Shire to accommodate workers to camp at a site, such as private land, where they have access to amenities, for a continuous period of employment up to 30 April 2022. Consent from the landowner will be required and there should be no adverse amenity impact.

“We’re coming into the busiest season for our businesses, particularly on the coast, and with an Essential Worker Housing Crisis already declared for our shire, we see this as a necessary short-term measure to aid already pressured businesses to house workers,” said Colac Otway Shire Council Mayor, Cr Kate Hanson. “This approach has been supported by the Apollo Bay Affordable Worker Housing Taskforce.”

The permits will allow workers to access continuous accommodation to the end of April 2022, where conditions such as local employment and access to bathroom amenities can be demonstrated.

Reviews of the effectiveness of the permit system in supporting business through key worker housing accommodation will be undertaken at the end of the peak period.

Sponsor businesses are encouraged to apply when the online application portal goes live on Council’s website on 1 December 2021, so they can enter into negotiations with landowners to secure a peak season workforce for the upcoming summer tourist season.

www.colacotway.vic.gov.au

Geelong raises curtain on Australia’s biggest regional arts centre

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The Geelong Arts Centre will become Australia’s biggest regional arts centre, with innovative designs for a $140 million redevelopment revealing state-of-the-art facilities and two flexible performance spaces to host local, national and international performers.

The striking design brings together elements drawn from the history of Geelong – showcasing the region’s strong and continuing First Nations culture, its proximity to the ocean, and the local history of circus and theatre.

The new facility will include a 500-seat theatre that expands to an 800-person capacity in ‘live gig’ mode, as well as a hybrid theatre with more than 250 seats connected to the Little Malop Street Plaza.

Architects Ashton Raggatt McDougall worked with the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation as co-designers to weave in stories of the lands, waters and skies as well as local ochres, jarosites from Bells Beach and greenstone found at Dog Rocks in Batesford.

Geelong’s history will be expressed in the Lascelles wool store-inspired moulded concrete walls and the design features a curtain shaped facade inspired by Victoria’s early history of performance, theatre and circus tents.

The redevelopment is expected to create 600 construction jobs and provide opportunities for local apprentices. Geelong Arts Centre, Creative Victoria, Development Victoria and Lendlease are partnering to deliver the project which is due to be completed by late 2023.

New Mountain Bike Skills Park For Forrest

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Forrest is set to become a must-see destination for mountain bike riders with a detailed design process underway for a new skills park and an upgrade to the park’s signature Red Carpet trail close to completion.

Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio today (18 November) announced that Velosolutions Australia will design and construct the skills park at Forrest, in the heart of the Otway Ranges.

The bike trail network is being upgraded and expanded through the Forrest Mountain Bike Revitalisation Project thanks to $2.07 million from the Victorian Government and $250,000 from the Colac Otway Shire.

The skills park will replace an existing dirt pump track and children’s pump track. It will feature an asphalt pump track with a circuit of rollers, jumps and banked turns. The asphalt surface will be suitable for skateboards, rollerblades and scooters as well as bikes.

Two jump lines will also be installed, with features ranging from tabletops for novices to step-up and step-down sections for more advanced riders.

During community consultation, residents and riders provided valuable input about their requirements for the park and this input will be incorporated during the design process.

Meanwhile the upgrade of the signature Red Carpet trail − which stretches from the Lake Elizabeth area to the Barwon River − is close to completion. The upgrade includes resurfacing to allow for year-round riding. New jumps, shaped features and berms (banked turns) are also being built along the 4.5 kilometre trail.

Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio says, “This new skills park will have a range of jumps, rollers and other features that will give riders of all ages and abilities the opportunity to sharpen their skills – bringing more tourists to the area and creating jobs. Now more than ever we can appreciate being able to get out in nature and visit amazing parts of Victoria, including this beautiful park and trail.”

Minister for Regional Development Mary-Anne Thomas says, “This is great news for the Forrest community and beyond. This project will support local jobs, provide a boost for local businesses and drive more visitors to the area.”

Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney says, “The community has been very involved in planning for the park, providing ideas and suggestions that designers will take on board as they design the best possible use of this space.”

Source: state government media release