G21 Geelong Region Alliance

11/09/2026

A big thank you to everyone who joined us for the G21 Transport Forum at Wurriki Nyal. The event brought together community leaders, industry representatives, elected officials and residents for an important discussion about the future of transport in our region.

We are grateful to our expert panellists, Nat Anson, Urbis, Dr Hermione Parsons, Australian Logistics Council and James Williams RACV, for sharing their insights on the challenges and opportunities facing transport across the G21 region.

The conversation reinforced what we continue to hear from our communities: better transport is critical to improving access to jobs, education, health services and housing, while supporting productivity and economic growth.

As we head towards the Victorian State Election, G21 will continue advocating for practical transport solutions that connect our communities and support our growing region.
To learn more about G21's priorities for the election, visit our Election Platform.https://g21.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/G21_State-Election-Platform.pdf

07/09/2026

Golden Plains Shire Council Mayor Cr Owen Sharkey and CEO Adam McSwain were proud to join regional leaders from across Victoria at the recent Rural Councils Victoria Forum, where councils united behind a call for greater investment in regional communities.

The discussion reinforced one of the key priorities in G21's State Election Platform: the creation of a $1 billion Regional Fund to support the infrastructure, housing, economic development and community projects that growing regional communities need.

For the G21 region, dedicated regional funding would help deliver projects that boost productivity, support jobs, improve liveability and strengthen our communities for the future.

As Victoria heads towards the State Election, G21 is calling on all political parties to commit to meaningful investment in regional Victoria and back the projects that will help our communities continue to grow and thrive.

Read more in our election platform.https://g21.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/G21_State-Election-Platform.pdf

04/09/2026

We welcome the Victorian Government's commitment to invest $237 million in the first stage of the Bellarine Link.

The Bellarine Link is a priority project in our Victorian Election Platform because it will help reduce congestion, improve safety and support the movement of people, freight and emergency services across one of our region's fastest-growing corridors.

With Geelong and the Bellarine continuing to grow, investment in the Bellarine Link is essential to keep our region moving, support local businesses and ensure communities are not left behind.

We now call on all political parties to match this commitment and back the infrastructure our growing region needs.

Labor has renewed its longstanding promise to build the Bellarine Link, as part of a road spending push focused on outer-suburban and regional seats before the November election.

24/08/2026

G21 welcomes the Victorian Government's announcement that six-carriage trains will be operating on selected Warrnambool line services later this year, providing additional capacity for passengers travelling between Geelong and Colac.

The move responds to growing demand on the line and reflects one of G21's key public transport priorities: increasing capacity and improving the usability of V/Line services across our region.

This is a welcome step forward, but more work is needed to ensure public transport keeps pace with the region's rapid growth.

G21 will continue advocating for:

- More frequent rail services between Geelong and Colac
- Better coordination between trains and local bus services
- Stronger connections to coastal communities
- Long-term investment in public transport infrastructure across the region

Building a public transport network that is reliable, convenient and meets the needs of growing communities remains a priority for G21.

11/08/2026

G21 is calling on the Victorian Parliament to remove the proposed Fair Jobs Code provisions from legislation before parliament until the Government releases the actual Code, the evidence behind it and a full assessment of its impact on councils and communities.

We support fair and secure jobs, but Parliament should not be asked to vote on major new rules without first seeing what they mean in practice.

We are already managing rapid growth, rising service demand, ageing assets, workforce pressures and tight budgets.

We seeking a simple and practical course: remove any reference to the Fair Jobs Code from the Bill and bring it back only after the Code, evidence base and impact assessment have been released and properly consulted on. https://g21.com.au/resource/media-release-august-11-2026/

03/08/2026

Access to nature, culture and community spaces should not depend on where you live.

We are calling for investment to strengthen connection, wellbeing and recognise the importance of Country, culture and place.

This includes the beautiful site along the Moorabool River where we are advocating for a $10.5 million investment to bring the vision for Kitjarra-dja-bul Bullarto langi-ut to life and deliver the Barwon River Loop Trail and Moorabool River Reserve play space.

This project will create a more connected and inclusive river corridor, giving residents and visitors better access to nature, recreation and cultural experiences while protecting the local environment.

By balancing public access with environmental and cultural stewardship, we can help more people build meaningful connections to Country and enjoy the natural beauty of our region for generations to come.

Borough of Queenscliffe Golden Plains Shire Council Colac Otway Shire Council Surf Coast Shire Council City of Greater Geelong Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation Corangamite Catchment Management Authority

27/07/2026

Ahead of the State Election, we have put forward an election platform which outlines where investment is needed so our region can thrive.

Our priorities are not a list of nice-to-have projects. They are focused on what our community needs to keep pace with change and continue moving forward.

From transport and infrastructure to housing, jobs and community wellbeing, our platform focuses on the investments that will support growth, strengthen our economy and improve quality of life across the region.

https://g21.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/G21_2025-26-State-Election-Platform.pdf

Borough of Queenscliffe Surf Coast Shire Council Colac Otway Shire Council Golden Plains Shire Council City of Greater Geelong

14/07/2026

G21 is calling for action to unlock new jobs, business growth and economic opportunities across our region.

Right now, strong demand for industrial and employment land is being held back by a lack of enabling infrastructure. With targeted investment, we can open up new industrial zones, strengthen Avalon Airport’s role as Victoria’s second international airport, and support local businesses, tourism operators and supply chains.

We’re asking for:

- An Avalon Airport Airline Attraction Fund that commits to a three-year matched funding program to attract investment and support growth.
- Enabling infrastructure for the Avalon Employment Precinct to unlock industrial and employment land via the establishment of a $1 billion Regional Infrastructure Fund.
- $4 million for the J Barrys Road intersection upgrade, including a major roundabout and associated roadworks to unlock industrial land.

Avalon is already a vital gateway for Victoria and with the right investment, it can deliver even more jobs, stronger freight capacity and better connectivity for our communities. Let’s unlock the region’s potential.

Colac Otway Shire Council Golden Plains Shire Council Borough of Queenscliffe Surf Coast Shire Council City of Greater Geelong

12/06/2026

G21 Chair Cr Jason Schram and Deputy Chair Cr Stretch Kontelj recently visited Victorian Parliament. It was an important opportunity to meet with both government and opposition MPs to discuss the work of G21 and the priorities for our region ahead of this year’s election and beyond.

During the visit, they met with local MPs including Gayle Tierney MP, Michaela Settle MP, Martha Haylett MP, and Christine Couzens MP followed by a discussion with David Southwick MP.

With many G21 communities experiencing cost‑of‑living pressures, improving the services that help address these challenges remains a key focus. These were productive discussions, and we look forward to continuing this important work to support our growing region and community.

City of Greater Geelong Colac Otway Shire Council Borough of Queenscliffe Surf Coast Shire Council

10/06/2026

G21 is calling on the Victorian Government to fix unclear coastal vegetation rules that are limiting access, affecting safety and blocking iconic coastal views.

Across our region, unmanaged self-seeded vegetation is changing the character of our coastline, including at key sites like the Queenscliff foreshore.

We are not asking for new funding. We are asking for clearer, consistent rules that help councils balance environmental protection with access, safety and visitor experience.

This is a practical, no-cost reform that has strong support from local communities and tourism operators. Borough of Queenscliffe Colac Otway Shire Council Golden Plains Shire Council Surf Coast Shire Council City of Greater Geelong