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 Albanese and Allan Labor governments and the City of Greater Geelong through the Geelong City Deal.
These 12 local workers will be joined by 16 more as the project progresses through the GCEC Early Engagement Social Procurement (GEESP) program.
By the time GCEC is complete, the 28 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 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.
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 $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.
