Geelong Indy - 17th November 2023

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November 17, 2023

Don’t miss our DISABILITY SERVICES feature inside

Lights, cameras, action! Thousands flocked to Geelong’s waterfront on Saturday November 4 for the lighting of the famous floating Christmas tree. Five-year-old Olive (pictured) won the competition to flick the switch on the tree as it illuminated the night sky over Corio Bay. The crowd was treated to entertainment and a festive atmosphere with Sound and Light Shows being staged nightly from 8.30pm up until January 7. The shows are approximately six minutes in length and play every 15 minutes until midnight. Earlier shows for young families are on December 2, 9, 16 and 23 from 5.30pm to 8.30pm. ■ See page 37 for all the pictures from

the opening night event.

Olive with Santa Claus, mayor Trent Sullivan and the elves after lighting the tree. (Ivan Kemp) 372828_20

Fast rail project scrapped By Jena Carr and Justin Flynn The Geelong fast rail project has been scrapped after the federal government withdrew funding following its response to a review of infrastructure funding. The independent strategic review, released on Thursday, November 16, found that the former coalition government’s Infrastructure Investment Program was undeliverable. Funding for the Geelong Fast Rail project, which former Prime Minister Scott Morrison had initially committed to provide $2 billion, was withdrawn following the review. Greater Geelong mayor Trent Sullivan said the decision to cancel the project was a “bitter blow” for the region and that people

had “waited long enough” for the needed service. “Having promised our community a world-class rail system, the federal government has now abandoned those promises,” he said. “Our rail service is under extreme pressure and a high-speed rail is long overdue. Commuters are tired of disrupted timetables, long journeys and overcrowding.” Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King said the government had made the “necessary decisions” not to provide funding to a selection of projects. “Some projects were not realistically going

to be delivered with the funding available,” she said. “(Other projects) have made little to no progress over a significant amount of time, and projects that do not align with Commonwealth or state and territory priorities.” Projects to continue as planned include the Geelong rail line upgrade ($10 million) and the South Geelong to Waurn Ponds duplication ($750 million). The Geelong-Portarlington Road and Wilsons Road intersection upgrade received extra funding of $500,000, and the Surf Coast Highway, Reserve Road, and Felix Street intersection improvements were given an added $185,000.

Stage 2 of the Barwon Heads Road upgrade will go ahead, as will the Corio-Waurn Ponds Road, Geelong, Separation Street Bridge improvements, Ocean Grove’s Grubb Road upgrade, Murradoc Road upgrade and Thompson Road, North Geelong. A Department of Infrastructure spokesperson told the Independent that the government had provided additional funding to ensure some projects could continue to be delivered. “This will ensure we are investing and delivering nationally significant infrastructure projects to make it easier to get around our cities and suburbs and unlock the potential of our towns and regions,” they said.

SEE PAGE 7 FOR MORE DETAILS 12648151-SN46-23


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