Geelong’s Nyaal Banyul continues momentum with arrival of first tower crane
Superstructure works have officially commenced at the Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre (GCEC), a significant milestone that sees the transformation of the 1.6-hectare waterfront site into a new events precinct that will revitalise the city and regional economy.
As the centrepiece of the Geelong City Deal, the precinct includes the construction of the purpose-built convention and exhibition space, incorporating a 1000 seat venue, two large exhibition spaces, meeting rooms, conference facilities and flexible event spaces, with views of Corio Bay.
“Built is proud to partner with the Victorian Government, as part of the Plenary Conventions consortium, to deliver this architectural landmark for Geelong that will be a climate positive, world-class events space, while also providing critical social and employment outcomes,” said Andrew Morgan, Construction Director, Built.
“Early works are now complete, bulk excavation is underway and the first tower crane has been installed. An additional three tower cranes will arrive onsite over coming months to facilitate four concurrent construction zones and an associated workforce boom,” said Mr Morgan.
“The onsite construction workforce will grow to near 200 by mid-year and 500 by year end, in addition to Built’s primarily local 50-member project team, creating employment opportunities for skilled locals, as well as job seekers experiencing barriers to work.”
Set to be one of the biggest developments in regional Victoria, Nyaal Banyul will prioritise both local job creation and skills development. The innovative GCEC Early Engagement Social Procurement (GEESP) program will offer training and qualification opportunities to local priority jobseekers who have experienced barriers to sustainable employment.
GEESP is a partnership co-designed by Development Victoria, the Give Where You Live’s GROW initiative, social enterprise gforce and delivered by Built as the head contractor. The program will provide 12 weeks of fully funded training that counts towards a Certificate II in Construction Pathways through The Gordon TAFE for 28 local priority jobseekers.
“Built is proud to be the delivery partner of the GEESP program, supporting on-the-job training at our tier one construction site. Our partnerships with programs like GEESP, and community organisations such as Give Where You Live Foundation’s GROW initiative, will support unprecedented local and social outcomes at Nyaal Banyul, reinforcing Built’s ongoing commitment to the Geelong region.” he added.
Upon completion in 2026, the precinct will support more than 700 ongoing jobs and will be one of the first major civic developments in central Geelong in line with the Central Geelong Framework Plan – a 30-year vision to support growth and change in central Geelong.
Nyaal Banyul is being delivered as part of the Geelong City Deal, a collaborative partnership to transform Geelong and the Great Ocean Road by the Australian Government and Victorian Government, and the City of Greater Geelong.
The Plenary Conventions consortium is financing, designing, building and maintaining Nyaal Banyul and the broader precinct that includes Geelong’s largest hotel and quality retail and mixed-use commercial spaces.
For more information on the Geelong City Deal and precinct visit: infrastructure.gov.au/territories-regions-cities/cities
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