Progress on the Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre (GCEC) is full steam ahead, with early works to put the superstructure in place underway.
Victorian Minister for Regional Development, Gayle Tierney, today joined Federal Member for Corangamite, Libby Coker and City of Greater Geelong Mayor, Trent Sullivan at the GCEC site, where 12 local trainees and apprentices are working on the job thanks to support from the Federal and State Governments and the City of Greater Geelong Council through the Geelong City Deal.
“The City of Greater Geelong is proud to be partnering with the Victorian and Australian governments in delivering the Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre, and it is exciting to see the progress that is being made on what will prove to be a world class facility in the heart of our city,” said Mayor Sullivan.
The 12 local workers are set to be joined by 16 more as the project progresses through the GCEC Early Engagement Social Procurement (GEESP) program.
“The Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre will support more than a thousand jobs during construction and hundreds more once complete, generating millions for the regional economy,” said Victorian Minister for Regional Development, Gayle Tierney.
“The opportunity to receive training and work experience on a project like this is truly unique, and we’re proud to be backing 28 local apprentices and trainees as they experience this valuable real-world training.”
By the time GCEC is complete, the cohort of trainees and apprentices – who have experienced barriers to employment – will have received 12 weeks of fully funded training counting towards a Certificate II in Construction Pathways through Gordon TAFE, the Minister said.
The GEESP partnership has been co-designed by Development Victoria, the Give Where You Live Foundation’s GROW initiative, social enterprise gforce and will be delivered by builder Built as the head contractor.
The program will support local businesses, individuals and the wider community by giving these trainees and apprentices real-world training and experience working with a team of 1,450 people on one of the most anticipated projects to be delivered in regional Victoria.
Through the GEESP program, Nyaal Banyul is establishing a gold standard for social procurement in government-led projects, said Deputy Prime Minister and Member for Corio, Richard Marles.
“It is fantastic to see young, local workers making an important contribution to projects like the Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre, while also progressing their TAFE training,” said Mr Marles.
The Victorian Government is contributing $423 million towards Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre precinct, with the Australian Government contributing $30 million and the City of Greater Geelong Council $3 million.
The precinct partnership also includes an initial $120 million investment from Plenary Conventions to secure what will be Geelong’s largest hotel, with a further $130 million earmarked to create a mixed-use development inside the precinct down the track.
For more information on the Geelong City Deal and precinct visit: infrastructure.gov.au/territories-regions-cities/cities.
