City of Greater Geelong
Thursday, 07 May 2009 06:00
The Greater Geelong Region is being rebuilt with huge new transport, education, water and community-building projects, all creating new jobs in our region.
Here's a summary of major projects in the City of Geelong. To find out further detail about the opportunities and job creation impacts of the Federal Government's Stimulus Package in your local area, please visit the special dedicated website http://www.economicstimulusplan.gov.au/pages/default.aspx
GEELONG RING ROAD. The Federal Government is providing 50% of the funding for the Geelong Ring Road, which will bring jobs and economic development to the whole of the region, including the Colac Otways Shire. The Geelong Ring Road will also reduce commuting times to Melbourne and reduce traffic and commuting times in the Geelong City area, as well as reduce pollution. Once the Geelong Ring road is completed, people from Colac can travel to Melbourne without a single traffic light.
NEW SOUTHERN GEELONG HOSPITAL. The Federal Government have agreed to support the funding of the proposed new Southern Geelong Hospital as soon as the Victorian Government declares it a State priority. The hospital is currently proposed to be co-located on the Deakin University, Waurn Ponds Campus. The new hospital will not only provide better health services for Highton, Belmont and Grovedale and Waurn Ponds, by being located on Deakin University grounds it will help develop new jobs in the important health research industry.
NEW GEELONG CANCER CENTRE. Greater Geelong is set to get a new state-of-the-art cancer centre, with a $26 million kick-start funding boost from the Gillard Government. This exciting development which will save many lives includes a linear accelerator which will deliver radiation therapy, a 32-bed oncology ward, a 24-bed palliative care ward, and 20 new accommodation units. The Geelong Cancer Centre will also have accommodation units for day oncology patients, consulting suites, and a day unit for chemotherapy in Portland as part of this project.
GEELONG LIBRARY GETS $10m UPGRADE. Residents of the city of Geelong in Victoria will soon have greater access to historical, cultural and artistic resources with $10 million federal government funding towards the construction of the $45 million Geelong Library and Heritage Centre. The newly designed facility of 7,000 square metres over six levels will provide a range of facilities including community reading areas, child, youth discovery and multimedia zones, community IT areas, library collections, community meeting rooms, and an auditorium.
KARDINIA PARKS GETS ANOTHER UPGRADE. Cats fans and sports fans generally in Greater Geelong will benefit from improved spectator facilities and amenities with the announcement of $10 million in federal government funding towards the total project cost of $46 million at Kardinia Park.When completed in June 2012, the capacity of the stand will increase by more than 7,000 to 34,500. The project will deliver a sports museum, permanent broadcast screens, improved food and beverage facilities and a members lounge.
NEW CARBON FIBRE RESEARCH FACILITY AT DEAKIN UNIVERSITY. The Gillard Government has provided $37 million to develop a world-first carbon fibre research facility for carbon fibre innovation at Deakin University's Geelong Campus at Waurn Ponds. The carbon fibre pilot plant will be part of an Australian Future Fibres Research and Innovation Centre (AFFRIC). This Centre is a collaboration between Deakin University, CSIRO and the Victorian Centre for Advanced Materials Manufacturing (VCAMM).Carbon fibre, an exceptionally strong and light material, is likely to become the defining material for 21st century manufacturing.
NEW GP SUPER CLINIC. The new Federally funded GP Super Clinic has now been completed and is open for business adjacent Barwon Health’s Belmont Community Health Centre, creating a large Health Services Hub in Belmont and providing an increased range of GP and allied health services. It will make it easier for people living in Grovedale, Marshall, Highton, Waurn Ponds and Belmont to access GP and allied health services. It will provide access to services such as dental, district nursing, practise nurses, home referral services, podiatry, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, psychology/counselling, dietician and a wide range of other allied health services within the overall precinct.
$140 MILLION FOR 2 MAJOR REGIONAL WATER RECYCLING FACILITIES. The Gillard Government is providing $60 million to kickstart two major water recycling facilities at the Northern Water Treament facility and Black Rock. The projects will make the city's water much more secure, slash ocean sewage outfall. The Torquay facilit alone will deliver recycled water to 3,000 new homes in north Torquay will save 850 million litres of potable water and produce more than 900 million litres of recycled water each year.
UPGRADING LOCAL HIGHTON / GROVEDALE / BELMONT SCHOOLS. Every primary school in Grovedale / Belmont area is getting a major upgrade with Federal funding. This includes new school halls, new libraries, classroom and learning centres. These facilities will also be open to the public for their general use. All local school have got grants to help with their maintenance programs as well.
$11 MILLION UPGRADE TO DEAKIN UNIVERSITY STUDENT ASSOCIATION. The Gillard Government has provided $11 to underetake a major upgrade to the student assocation building at Deakin University, improving services for students and staff at the university.
$2 MILLION FOR OCEAN GROVE SHELL RESERVE COMMUNITY AND SPORTS FACILITIES
The Gillard Labor Government will provide a $2 million contribution to the City of Greater Geelong for the Shell Road Ocean Grove Community and Sports Precinct if re-elected on 21 August.
The announcement was made by Darren Cheeseman, along with former Prime Minister Bob Hawke. The upgraded Ocean Grove Community and Sports Precinct will include a pavilion which incorporates change rooms, community meeting space and social facilities and will greatly assist the Ocean Grove Football / Netball Club, the Surfside Soccer Club and a range of other sporting clubs in the area.
$370,000 UPGRADE SOUTH BARWON FOOTBALL /NETBALL CLUB SOCIAL ROOMS. The South Barwon Football Netball Club social rooms will get a big boost with a $370,000 commitment from the Gillard Government. The funding will help expand and modernisethe facilities on the social side of the club and also help out with the financial stability of the Club. South Barwon are one of the region’s largest football and netball clubs in the region.
$130,000 UPGRADE BELMONT LIONS NETBALL CLUB. The Gillard Government will provide $130,000 to help relocate and upgrade the netball courts for the Belmont Lions. This will improve playig facilities, make it safer, and help the netball club integrate better with the overall club.
NEW GEELONG-MELBOURNE EXPRESS RAIL. The Federal Government has committed $3.2 billion to build a new rail line that will allow larger express trains to operate between Geelong, Colac and Melbourne, cutting commuter times, significantly increasing the rail capacity. There will also be important environmental benefits, and efficiencies for freight movement. The new rail system is a huge commitment to public transport, and is part of Federal Labor's promise to modernise both our public and private transport system, which also includes the duplication of the Princes Highway between Waurn Ponds and Winchelsea and the construction of the Geelong Ring Road. These initiaiatives will be of benefit to the whole region.
PRINCES HIGHWAY DUPLICATION. After two decades of the Liberals refusing to commit, the Gillard Government has committed $367 million to duplicate the Princes Highway right through from Geelong to Colac. This project will bring new industries and jobs to Colac, and will make driving safer and easier. Stage 1 of this huge project, from Geelong to Winchelsea, is now underway and will be complete by 2014, with stage 2 from Winchelsea to Colac expected to be complete by 2018.
UPGRADING THE PORT OF GEELONG. The Federal Government has also committed $50 million to upgrade the rail system leading into the Port of Geelong. This will be a major benefit to primary producers and other exporters across the region, and attract more jobs and industries to this region.
NEW LEISURELINK AQUATIC AND COMMUNITY FACILITY. The Federal government is providing $3 million to build the new Leisurelink replacement facility. This will be a state-of-the-art aquatic centre and community facility used by people of all ages.
BLACKROCK WATER RECYCLING PLANT. The Rudd Government has promised $10 million to kick-start a new water recycling plant at Black Rock near Breamlea. This will allow A Class and C Class recycled water to be pumped back to Torquay and the new Armstrong Creek Precinct. This will help our parks and gardens and watering of sports fields.
NEW STADIUM FOR KARDINIA PARK. the Federal Government is providing $14 million towards the construction opf the new stage 2 stadium at Kardinia park. This will be a tremendous benefit to all Cats fans, and to the many other uses of this great facility.
NEW SPORTS LIGHTING FOR GROVEDALE FOOTY CLUB. The Federal government has provided $70,000 to help the Grovedale Footy Club upgrade their lighting for the footy field.
HELPING WITH LOCAL ROADS, BLACKSPOTS AND RAIL CROSSINGS. The Federal Government has provided the largest amount of money ever within the City of Geelong to improve local roads, blackspots and rail crossings.
FUNDING FOR LOTS OF IMPORTANT LOCAL COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE.. The Federal Government has provided an unprededented amount of funding for local Geelong infrastructure. Just a few examples include the Old Post Office Refurbishment, improvements to the Eastern Park Bicycle Track and Dive Tower, improvements in the Botanic Gardens, public amenities at the Balyang Sancturay, initiatives in the City Learning and Childcare Centre and a host of other important projects.
