Premier

Blue Skies As Historic Yacht Club Sails Towards Future

20 November 2017

The historic Royal Geelong Yacht Club will continue to be the focus of the city’s famed Waterfront precinct thanks to the Andrews Labor Government.

Minister for Education James Merlino, Member for Bellarine Lisa Neville, Member for Lara John Eren and Member for Geelong Christine Couzens today visited the Royal Geelong Yacht Club to announce a funding boost of $3.5 million to redevelop the Victorian Sailing Water Safety School into a first-rate training facility.

This announcement brings the total state and local investment in the Geelong Safe Harbour Precinct to $13.5 million. Currently occupied by the Victorian Sailing Water Safety School – which is a campus of Newcomb Secondary College – and the Yacht Club’s Off-the-Beach Clubhouse, the site will be rebuilt into a modern facility.

This latest investment is from the Labor Government’s $50 million Shared Facilities Fund, which is putting schools at the centre of our neighbourhoods by building cultural and sporting facilities that the entire community can use.

It will ensure the school is able to offer life-saving boating and water safety training for the broader Geelong community, as well as for school students from across the region and around the state.

The new facility will house meeting rooms and classrooms, accommodation for 30 to 40 students, a digital technology hub and theatrette, demonstration areas, maintenance and storage facilities. Construction is expected to start in September 2018 and take approximately 14 months.

Today’s announcement brings the Labor Government’s contribution to the Safe Harbour Precinct Development precinct to $7.5 million. The Royal Geelong Yacht Club and the City of Greater Geelong have each contributed $3 million to the precinct development.

Quote attributable to Minister for Education James Merlino

“This development will not only benefit Geelong but the students and adults who will travel from across Victoria to enjoy these facilities.”

Quote attributable to Member for Bellarine Lisa Neville

“We’re delivering better facilities for school students at the yacht club, and contributing to the overall transformation of the club and the Geelong waterfront."

Quote attributable to Member for Lara John Eren

“We’re proud to be building a new home for sailing and water safety in Geelong, which will make a real difference for local students, athletes and families.”

Quote attributable to Member for Geelong Christine Couzens

“This investment will foster a stronger sense of community, which can only benefit students.”

Reviewed 19 August 2020

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