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.

Parliament House Canberra

G21 outlines region’s priorities for Canberra

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With a federal election looming, the G21 board of directors held a series of zoom meetings with senior government ministers and shadow ministers, advocating for current and future regional needs.

High on the agenda was GeelongPort and the essential infrastructure required to support the Spirit of Tasmania’s relocation to Geelong.

Meetings canvassed regional roads, rail and active transport, affordable and key worker housing and rebuilding the visitor economy post-COVID.

The delegation also sought assurance that the government is on track to deliver on the City Deal’s implementation timeline, acknowledging that while the Queenscliff Ferry Terminal and Apollo Bay Harbour are underway, there has been no official progress on the Geelong Convention Centre.

The delegation was timely, with work on the next federal budget underway in Canberra and an election due in the new year.

Armstrong Creek Library design revealed

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The City of Greater Geelong has unveiled its plans to build an $18.5 million, three-storey library and community centre in the Armstrong Creek growth area.

The community building will be situated just off the Surf Coast Hwy and is the first piece of major social infrastructure for the town centre, which is expected to service up to 65,000 people.

A G21 priority under Regional Growth Areas, the 2,500 sqm library will house a collection of 40,000 books and resources, a dedicated children’s area, youth programs and dedicated multi-purpose meeting spaces, creative spaces and bookable co-working amenities. The ground floor will be a welcoming civic area with direct access to external terraces and the town centre.

Architecture firm Buchan has worked with the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation to develop a ‘Living Water’ design that respects and embraces the living cultural heritage of the Wadawurrung.

The building will also have a five-star Green Star rating, incorporating sustainable, environmentally friendly building materials and energy efficient fixtures.

View the concept plan, video flythrough and share your feedback via the Have Your Say page before Friday 3 December 2021.

Draft Water for our Future Strategy released for public comment

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After two years of working with the community to co-design a water future that balances all of the G21 region’s needs, Barwon Water has released its draft Water for our Future Strategy for public comment.

It outlines the ways Barwon Water will meet the water needs of its community over the next 50 years as the population grows and average annual inflows into local reservoirs continue to decrease due to the long-term trend to a hotter and drier climate.

Modelling shows that Barwon Water needs to find or save up to 5 billion litres of water – over and above the 35 billion litres the region currently uses – every five years for the next 50 years. A hotter, drier climate means reservoirs are already receiving much less water on average from rainfall in their catchments.

This means Barwon Water will need to gradually shift to sources of water that are more climate resilient. The draft Water for our Future Strategy, a G21 Priority Project, sets out 24 actions over the next five years that will save water, source new water, reuse water and return water to the environment.

This includes using a combination of integrated water management, greater use of recycled water for non-drinking purposes, increasing the use of the Melbourne-Geelong pipeline and encouraging smarter water use.

In the longer-term, Barwon Water is likely to gradually transition to more climate independent sources of supply.

The draft strategy is informed by more than 600 ideas shared during Water for our Future’s community engagement, with more than 5,000 community members participating in the program to help find new sources of water and be more efficient with current water supply.

The strategy is open for community feedback and will be reviewed the Water for our Future Community Panel when it meets for the final time in late November.

The panel, which has met nine times over 18 months, comprises about 50 community representatives from across Barwon Water’s service region.

Water for our Future Strategy will be finalised at the end of March 2022.

Powering Community Buildings With The Sun

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Community buildings in Meredith, Scarsdale, Inverleigh, Haddon, Teesdale and Bannockburn are now solar powered thanks to funding from the Berrybank Wind Farm.

As part of the wind farm’s community engagement and benefit sharing plan, solar panels have been installed on seven Golden Plains Shire buildings, including the Inverleigh Early Learning Centre and the Bannockburn Family Services Centre.

The 195 panels are expected to reduce carbon emissions by 98.5 tonnes per year.

The $170,500 solar program from Berrybank Wind Farm’s developers Global Power Generation Australia will also install solar systems for low income households.

Stage 1 of the Berrybank Wind Farm is complete with 24 wind turbines built in the south-west of Golden Plains Shire and 19 over the border in Corangamite Shire. Construction recently began on Stage 2 of the wind farm with a further 26 turbines built across the two municipalities.

Global Power Generation Australia is also contributing to other projects, funding the Teesdale Turtle Bend Reserve Upgrade, the Three Trails and the Northern Streetscape projects.

Great Ocean Road Protected By Landmark Reforms

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The Victorian Government has delivered once in a generation reforms which will better protect the iconic parks and coast along the Great Ocean Road, improve the tourism experience for visitors and support local jobs.

Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio announced the Great Ocean Road and Environs Protection Bill 2021 passed in the Victorian Parliament on 14 October 2021.

Before the reforms, land management arrangements were fragmented across multiple competing agencies, with no over-arching plan or single authority covering the length of the road.

The changes mean the area’s special environment will be better protected with a coordinated approach to managing the visitor experience, investment, conservation, delivery of Traditional Owner self-determination, visitation numbers and community engagement.

The changes will help the region bounce back from the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic by stimulating nature-based tourism and supporting local jobs.

Land currently managed by other entities will be transferred progressively to the Authority to manage by November 2025, with a focus on ensuring the knowledge and expertise of existing land managers is not lost.

The Authority will continue to rely on Parks Victoria’s scientific and field expertise to ensure ongoing protection of National Parks.

A sustainable funding model is being developed for the Authority. Any proposed fees and charges will require a full regulatory impact statement and public consultation.

Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Lily D’Ambrosio says, “These reforms make the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks into a parks manager that is dedicated to the care and protection of the iconic coast and parks along the Great Ocean Road. This major reform − four years in the making − will benefit local communities, and ensure the amazing environment is protected for future generations. A huge thanks to locals right across the region for their input in developing these reforms. I look forward to seeing the Authority grow, build strong relationships and deliver benefits for everyone.”

Source: state government media release

Cultural Facility and Library project surging ahead

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The Surf Coast Shire will build its Cultural Facility and Library project in stages and will seek $9 million  in funding to deliver stage one.

The four-in-one facility will include a new library, Australian National Surfing Museum, visitor Information and arts facility and will support a vibrant local arts community, which will increase visitation and rejuvenate the Surf City Precinct.

The existing Multi Arts Centre in the former sport and recreation building will receive the first upgrade with $1.4 million from the federal government’s 2022 Local Roads and Community Infrastructure allocation to refit the space as an arts facility.

The new library, Surf Museum, visitor information centre, maker spaces and rehearsal spaces, worth $33 million, would ideally be completed by 2024, under stage one. To help deliver this, Surf Coast Shire will pursue $9 million in funding from the state government’s Growing Suburbs Fund ($7.5 million) and Living Libraries Infrastructure Program ($1.5 million).

Stage two is expected in 2030 and will deliver a fully developed new 250-seat theatre, brand new gallery and artist in residence area. At an estimated $21 million, Surf Coast Shire will need to secure future funding to help deliver this state-of-the-art facility.

This is G21 priority under the Creative Industries and Cultural Economy project.

 

Sustainable housing providing hope for homelessness

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Men experiencing homelessness across Geelong will now have access to more emergency housing options.

Samaritan House has unveiled seven new environmentally sustainable, independent living units, with the help of a $500,000 grant from the Victorian government.

Samaritan House helps men sleeping rough in the Greater Geelong region by providing accommodation, an evening meal and ongoing support services.

The construction of seven new one-bedroom, prefabricated independent living units at the site will increase Samaritan House’s capacity by 50 per cent.

The units are designed to offer independent living for three to six months, with affordable rent to help men transition to longer-term social housing.

Local manufacturer FormFlow designed and installed the units from an innovative and sustainable prototype, working in partnership with Deakin University’s School of Architecture and the Built Environment.

The design reduces the impact on the environment by utilising off-site construction, natural ventilation, solar energy and water tanks. Native landscaping reduces irrigation needs.

The collaboration has enabled students undertaking apprenticeships in horticulture and landscaping at Gordon TAFE to gain practical experience working on site.

Delivering the new Great Ocean Road Coastal Trail

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The exciting new Great Ocean Road Coastal Trail is a step closer, with community consultation underway on a masterplan to finalise the trail’s route.

The trail will cover about 90 kilometres of Great Ocean Road landscape from Fairhaven to Skenes Creek.

The Victorian government has provided $24 million to plan and deliver the trail, with the commonwealth government contributing $350,000 for planning through the Geelong City Deal.

It’s anticipated the extended Great Ocean Road Coastal Trail will attract an extra 50,000 people to the region in its first five years and an extra $47 million in visitor expenditure.

The trail will connect the Surf Coast and Great Ocean walks and is expected to include several suspension bridges providing new views and experiences – boosting eco-tourism and supporting the economies of local communities.

Improving infrastructure along the Great Ocean Road, and its hinterland, is a priority under G21’s Visitor Economy project.

The masterplan will also finalise the location of infrastructure including camping sites, lookouts, boardwalks, bridges, river crossings, carparks, and day visitor areas. Construction of the trail is expected to begin in 2023.

The consultation builds on engagement on a feasibility study completed in 2019. Have your say here: https://engage.vic.gov.au/trail-design

Barwon Heads Road Upgrade Gets Underway

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Motorists, cyclists and pedestrians in Geelong are a step closer to safer, more reliable journeys with contracts awarded to deliver the much-needed Barwon Heads Road Upgrade.

The project will be delivered through a trio of construction partners, creating around 500 local jobs and about 1,400 indirect jobs – crucial to the region’s economic recovery, post-COVID-19.

Decmil, BMD Constructions and BildGroup will build the project in partnership with Major Road Projects Victoria.

As a nationally significant development, Infrastructure Australia has evaluated the business case and has confirmed there is very significant benefit in duplicating the road, with a total economic benefit of $569 million and travel time savings of to $356 million.

The Barwon Heads Road Upgrade will add new lanes for four kilometres between Settlement Road and Reserve Road, remove a dangerous level crossing at Marshall and upgrade intersections at Settlement Road and Breakwater Road.

New traffic signals will also be constructed at Crows Road, Barwarre Road, Marshalltown Road and Reserve Road.

The upgrade, a G21 priority under its Regional Roads Connections project, will improve traffic flow and reduce congestion on Barwon Heads Road – a crucial arterial link between Geelong, the Bellarine and the growing Armstrong Creek residential precinct.

It will also provide better connections to active and public transport modes and ensure Barwon Heads Road can support up to 44,000 daily journeys expected by 2031.

As part of the upgrade, on-road cycling lanes and an off-road shared use pedestrian and cycling path will also be built, improving safety for other road users and allowing better connections to the Waurn Ponds Trail, the South Barwon Reserve, Belmont Common and the Barwon River Precinct.

A new bridge over the Melbourne-Warrnambool rail line removes the dangerous level crossing at Marshall, improving safety and traffic flow.

The Barwon Heads Road Upgrade is being delivered through a new partnership approach to road building contracts, and was supported by the Australian Government’s fast-tracking of the assessment and approval phases, to support funding for this significant project.

It is estimated upgrades will be delivered by 2024.