Victorian Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Hon James Merlino today announced that the Victorian Government will invest a further $3.5 million in the Geelong Waterfront Safe Harbour Precinct Redevelopment.
The investment will be made by the School Building Authority and will directly fund the redevelopment of the Victorian Sailing School (VSS). The new VSS facilities will support the expanded delivery of extensive education, training and safety programs for secondary students from the region and throughout the State.
A total of $13.5 million has now been committed to funding the Precinct redevelopment. The RGYC is investing $3 million in the project, together with commitments of $3 million from the City of Greater Geelong and $4 million previously committed by the Victorian Government.
RGYC Commodore John Kint thanked the Victorian Government for its ongoing support and welcomed the Minister’s announcement, which will enable the Club to proceed with Stage One of the redevelopment masterplan.
“This is terrific news and to know that we can get going now on a major project that will have real economic benefits – not just for the club and the sailing community – but also for the wider Geelong community, is a real win.
“Apart from the obvious benefits for local students and young sailors with the development of the new Sailing School, the wave attenuator is a six metre wide floating breakwater that will also function as a public promenade. It will be a real attraction and bonus for the Geelong waterfront,” Mr. Kint said.
The first stage of the Geelong Waterfront Safe Harbour Precinct redevelopment will include:
– A new, shared facility for RGYC and Newcomb Secondary College to use for Off The Beach sailing, junior training and Victorian Sailing School education programs
– Safe Harbour wave attenuator
– 29 new floating berths
– public access and facilities which will be detailed in the final design
Detailed design work on the project is expected to get underway immediately with construction likely to commence in June/July 2018.
The funding announcement is yet more good news for RGYC.
The Club recently won the prestigious title of Victoria’s ‘Yacht Club of the Year’ and the RGYC’s learn to sail program was crowned the best in the State, winning the 2017 ‘Discover Sailing’ Centre of the Year.
“We’ve had a very successful year and this announcement just caps it off!’ Mr. Kint said.