Geelong Independent - 23rd May 2014

Page 1

Geelong

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Friday, 16 May, 2014

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Rail link delay as locals go cold on airport

Avalon turbulence By NOEL MURPHY

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THE LINCHPIN of Geelong’s economic future, Avalon Airport, is under a cloud as broken rail-link promises strike its international ambitions. With 800 Qantas maintenance jobs gone, Jetstar flights to Brisbane halted and Geelong patronage down from 60 to 20 per cent of total passenger traffic, the airport is battling to fulfill its potential as regional transport hub. Labor Member for Lara John Eren this week attacked the Napthine Government for failing to spend $50 million it commit-

ted to a building a rail line into the airport. The Government promised to spend the money in its first term, which ends in November. It will instead spend $5 million on planning. Mr Eren urged the Government to “go back to the drawing board�, be “realistic� and “not make promises (it) will break�. “International carriers, like any multimillion dollar business, would want assurance from government, a trust in the government, that their money won’t be wasted if they make an investment in Avalon,� Mr Eren said.

“I understand there’s a business case from Avalon that needs to be put and I think it has a great memorandum of understanding with a China airline at the moment, plus Jetstar and other possibilities, but you need truth from the State Government about assistance, not airy-fairy, piein-the-sky promises like the rail link and not keeping promises. “Avalon is too important for Geelong. They better make sure they get this right.� Committee for Geelong chairman Dan Simmonds expressed concern about the decline in Geelong patronage.

“At the outset, 60 per cent of Jetstar passengers departing from Avalon resided in the Geelong region but this figure has now reduced to something like 20 per cent,� he said. “If Geelong wishes to keep Avalon functioning it must heed the warning evidenced by these figures that it must provide greater support to Jetstar in its operations from Avalon.� Mr Simmonds said Avalon was crucial to Geelong. Continued page 5

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DISTINGUISHED: Australian Red Cross’s Nicole Baker and Judy McAnespie, at front with Torquay Lions Club’s Trevor Secombe, help Geelong committee members celebrate their medal Picture: REG RYAN this week. 120582

Thanks a million, Red Cross tells its Geelong committee RED CROSS had more than a million reasons to praise its annual Geelong fundraiser committee this month. The charity bestowed a distinguished service award on the members of the Geelong Red Cross Calling committee for gathering donations totalling over

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$1 million in the past 10 years. The members average 10 to 20-plus years of support for Red Cross and its charitable work around the Geelong region. The group began work in the 1950s as a citizen’s appeal committee with

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Red Cross presented the medal at Government House on 8 May. The recipients gathered back in Geelong on Monday to share the experience with counterparts who were unable to attend the official Melbourne event on World Red Cross Day.

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