Victorian Political News		www.robertclark.net

GUGGENHEIM BID - TIME TO LINE UP FEASIBILITY FUNDING

News Release - Monday, 3 July, 2000

With Guggenheim Foundation director Mr Thomas Krens now set to visit Geelong in September, it is vital that the State Government is able to give Mr Krens an assurance when he visits that the funding is available for an immediate start to a full feasibility study, the Shadow Minister for Major Projects, Mr Robert Clark, said today.

"I congratulate all concerned with Geelong's bid for a Guggenheim - led by Michael Crutchfield, Jim Cousins and Ken Jarvis - on their success in persuading Mr Krens to visit Geelong.

"This is a valuable step forward not only for Geelong but for the whole of Victoria.

"We now need to make sure that everything possible is lined up for when Mr Krens visits, because we are unlikely to get a second chance.

"This includes being able to tell Mr Krens that if the proposal gets the green light to proceed to the next stage of a full feasibility study, we have the necessary funding available and can start straight away.

"To date the State Government has avoided committing itself to funding the feasibility study.

"The Minister for State and Regional Development, Mr John Brumby, was quoted on ABC Radio on 8 June as saying

…its too early to say whether the Government would help fund a feasibility study into the project. We'd like to have this discussion with the Guggenheim, we'd like to see how this idea firms up with private developers and then we could look at a feasibility study.

"We cannot afford this sort of prevarication on a once in a lifetime opportunity for Geelong.

"A Guggenheim museum would make Geelong a centre of international standing in arts and culture, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors a year and bringing millions of dollars to the local economy.

"If the Guggenheim Foundation gives the go-ahead for a detailed feasibility study, the estimated $1.5 million required will be money well spent.

"For this reason the State Government needs to show leadership on the project and be prepared to give an unequivocal commitment to the Guggenheim Foundation in September that it is willing to provide the funding needed for the study."