A pledge to move Geelong’s bus interchange out of the CBD to the train station, and run shuttle buses across the city centre.
Shadow Planning Minister David Southwick was in Geelong on Friday afternoon, committing $800,000 for the project, if the Coalition wins government in November’s election.
“The shuttle service will give a 15-minute opportunity to go where people need it the most,” he said.
“We’ll work with the council to ensure that’s properly informed in terms of the locations to meet the needs of the community.”
Mr Southwick also announced a promise to provide funding to the City of Greater Geelong to develop a business case for Market Square.
He said the centre was under occupied, dillapidated and a focal point for crime and anti-social beahviour.
He did not rule out compulsorily acquiring Market Square.
“The site needs to be acquired before it can go forward,” Mr Southwick said.
“It’s been sitting here vacant for far too long.
Mayor Stretch Kontelj said he would back Market Square being compulsorily acquried, if it meant the centre was redeveloped.
He said the owners had not budged on a sale.
“My position now is I think a compulsory acquisition is what it’s going to take to make this happen,” Cr Kontelj said.
He said he would like to see mixed use, with retail, commercial and residential on the site.
“Ultimately we want people living in the CBD, and that’ll activate the area, and create a neighbourhood within the CBD.”
