Hurry Up - And No More Excuses
The Victorian Government needs to hurry up and build one of Geelong’s most anticipated and vital projects.
Member for Western Victoria, Bev McArthur, has questioned the Treasurer, Tim Pallas, in the Victorian Parliament over the delay in the Northern Aquatic and Health Hub, (NACH) at Norlane.
“The Council has spent more than $2 million in preparatory work and committed $20.6 million. Now the Andrews Government needs to stop its go-slow and get on with financial support.”
“This is shovel ready.
“The local Labor MP John Eren has long been relying on the excuse that ‘…the biggest enemy of (the project) has been its lack of preparation’.
“That excuse has had its day, it’s worn out and the people of Geelong know it,” Mrs McArthur said.
She has asked if the Treasurer intends to commit to supporting North Geelong in the next budget because the project did not appear in the 2020-21 Budget – a budget noted for its failure to provide vital spending details in the complete absence of Budget Paper 4.
“One always wonders what this Government is hiding through its lack of transparency.
“The investment will bring huge health, social and economic benefits to Corio, North Shore and Norland. It is a top priority for Geelong.
“Given this Government has shown greater competency for shutting things down over the past 12 months, I can understand the nervousness within the Geelong community about the Andrews Government’s lack of care and pace on this project.
“Mr Eren and the Treasurer need to do something about it and now, not in the never never and not with feeble excuses of lack of planning or COVID.”
5 March 2021