Working together to build the Geelong region's future

Late last month, representatives from G21, the Committee for Geelong and the City of Greater Geelong presented some of the Geelong region's key priority projects to senior members of the Rudd Government in Canberra. The delegation, which also included representatives from the Geelong Football Club, Deakin University, Avalon Airport and the Geelong Manufacturing Council, addressed major community and economic needs that will support the region's population as it continues to grow strongly.

Key meetings were held with:

• The Hon Maxine McKew, Parliamentary Secretary for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government.
• The Hon Kate Ellis MP, Minister for Early Childhood Education, Child Care and Youth. Minister for Sport.
• The Hon Jason Clare MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Employment.
• Senator the Hon Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research.
• Bindi Gove, Adviser to Federal Minister for Tourism, the Hon Martin Ferguson AM MP.
• The Hon Mark Butler MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Health.
• The Hon Tanya Plibersek MP, Minister for Housing and the Status of Women.
• John Jendi, Director of Low Emissions Technologies, Department of Climate Change.
• The Hon Greg Combet, Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science. Minister Assist for Climate Change.

The main discussion points included:

• Regional Development Australia – Creation of RDA’s and how they will work. Federal and State cooperation.
• The future growth of Geelong. “Geelong Open for Business” document and projects.
• Stage 3 of the Skilled Stadium with a focus on the Geelong Football Club’s role as a community leader and the contribution the Club makes to the region.
• Northern Regeneration Project.
• Affordable housing.
• Employment and industry issues for Geelong. Skills development and retention. Assistance packages for employment. Job expos. Bonus Apprentice Schemes. Retaining high skilled manual labour jobs in the Geelong region.
• Innovation Fund.
• The importance of CSIRO in Geelong. CSIRO personnel transferring from Melbourne to Geelong and an ongoing strong commitment to the fibre industry (indirectly supporting the Deakin fibre industry research project).
• 3 x Deakin projects - already submitted to the Education Investment Fund.
• Australian Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases – Integration of Deakin and the Australian National Animal Health Laboratory.
• Renewable energy and targets. Geothermal Project and Carbon Intensive Trade Exposed (CITE) industries. Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) and Alcoa. Cities for Climate Change. Carbon mitigation. Smart energy use. Protection of jobs while industry tries to implement the CPRS in Geelong. Energy generation from landfill waste. Green Earth projects and potential contribution to ALCOA in the future.
• Importance of tourism issues – Ring Road will expand regional tourism opportunities.
• Importance of Avalon Airport and associated issues including international airport and manned control tower. The need for additional investment to attract more flights. Expansion of the apron to accommodate the growth of the International Airshow event. General development of Avalon as a passenger gateway to the region. Increased air traffic. Government review of the international airport status.
• Arts Precinct and Convention Centre.
• Deakin’s funding proposal for the community health project. The roll out of preventative health in Geelong. Super Clinics.
• Armstrong Creek Urban Growth Area.

A key event of this annual delegation to Canberra was the FedCats Annual Dinner which was hosted by the Federal Member for Corio, Richard Marles and the President of the Geelong Cats, Frank Costa. With Billy Brownless as MC, the event attracted more than 100 attendees including 68 MPs and staff who learned more about the Geelong region's issues and priorities throughout the course of the evening.

Our thanks to the offices of Richard Marles and Darren Cheeseman who supported the campaign by working closely with the delegation to secure meetings with these Ministers and key decision makers.