In February, the Geelong Region Alliance (G21) Board, including the five G21 mayors, met with Prime Minister Julia Gillard to discuss a range of projects important to the region’s social fabric and economic future.
G21 is a formal alliance of government, business and community organisations that work together to improve the lives of people across its five member municipalities within the Geelong region – Colac Otway, Golden Plains, Greater Geelong, Queenscliffe and the Surf Coast.
G21 Chairperson, Ed Coppe said the meeting with the Prime Minister was part of G21’s ongoing advocacy work with government.
“The G21 board brought to the Prime Minister’s attention projects and potential projects that are regionally significant on a number of levels.
“G21 [had previously] agreed on projects it believes are important for the region, and which we believe deserve government support in this election year,” Mr Coppe said.
“The meeting with Prime Minister Gillard was an opportunity to explain the projects and their benefits for the people of the region…
I believe the Prime Minister appreciated the opportunity to learn face-to-face the rationale behind G21’s projects.”
Projects that the G21 Board discussed with the Prime Minister included:
- the location of the national headquarters of the National Disability Insurance (NDIS) Agency in the region
- funding of an east-west solution to road traffic congestion for people travelling from the region to Melbourne via the West Gate Bridge precinct
- funding for a redevelopment of the Geelong Performing Arts Centre
- federal support of adequate maintenance funding for the Great Ocean Road
- support for a proposed Geelong Centre for Emerging Infectious Disease and
- the Geelong region’s potential inclusion as an ‘innovation centre’ under the recently-announced $1 billion ‘Plan for Australian Jobs’.
“Ms Gillard went away with a much better understanding of the region’s issues and of the positive work and planning being done for the region’s future,” said Mr Coppe.
“There was never an expectation of commitments to funding or other support from the meeting. Rather, the meeting was an opportunity for a healthy exchange of information to assist with future decision making.”
