Nyaal Banyul reaches halfway point and boosts local jobs

GEELONG, AUSTRALIA – The Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre has reached a significant milestone, marking the project’s hallway point with construction of the Plenary and Exhibition Halls almost complete.

The Premier of Victoria The Hon ‌Jacinta Allan MP and Victorian Minister for Regional Development The Hon. Gayle Tierney MP joined Plenary Group Executive Director Kelvyn Lavelle, Federal Member for Corangamite Libby Coker, Geelong Mayor Trent Sullivan and local MPs at the ‌‌Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre site, to see site progress – with local businesses, workers and apprentices hard at work bringing this major project to life.

Locally owned and operated roofing company, Faulkner Roofing, is installing 8,000 square metres of roofing across the entire centre – providing 4,000 hours of work for three Geelong‑based roof plumbing apprentices as part of the Nyaal Banyul Early Engagement Social Procurement (GEESP) program.

Geelong-based Hanlon Industries has also supplied 400 tonnes of locally manufactured steel for the structures and hosted two boilermaker apprentices and two labourers from the GEESP program at its Corio factory – creating 1,200 hours of full-time work and long-term job opportunities.

While on the job, these apprentices will not only learn valuable skills they can take to their next job, but they will experience working with a team of more than 500 people on one of the most exciting and anticipated projects to be delivered in regional Victoria.

The GEESP partnership has been co-designed by Development Victoria, the Give Where You Live Foundation’s GROW initiative, social enterprise gforce and is being delivered by Built as the head contractor. Through the GEESP program, Nyaal Banyul is establishing a gold standard for social procurement in government-led projects.

Plenary Group Chief Investment Officer Paul Crowe said the consortium was very pleased at reaching the halfway point of this transformative project for Geelong.

“The structural completion of the Plenary and Exhibition Halls is a significant milestone that shows the benefits of a partnership approach to precinct development; a partnership that keeps the focus on, on-time and on-budget delivery.

“Our partnership with the government and consortium partners, including Built, also ensures that this project delivers substantial local employment, positive social outcomes, and lasting economic benefits to the Geelong region.”

In total, 45,000 employment hours will be provided to local apprentices and trainees as part of the project – and by the time the project is complete they will have had 12 weeks of fully funded training counting towards a Certificate II in Construction Pathways through Gordon TAFE.

Built says construction on Nyaal Banyul is expected to create up to 500 local trade jobs, as well as 60 project management jobs.

Once the precinct is open, Plenary Hall will be able to host 1,000 people – drawing major national and international events to Geelong. On top of this, Nyaal Banyul will have two exhibition spaces, food retail spaces, a public plaza and will be home to Geelong’s largest hotel – the 200 room Crowne Plaza hotel.

The project is set to be complete in 2026, where it will support hundreds of ongoing jobs across the precinct and boost visitation to the region. Since the project was announced, the surrounding area has attracted around $250 million of private sector investment with commercial businesses eager to be part of the buzz the precinct will create.

Nyaal Banyul is being delivered as a precinct partnership, with the Plenary Conventions consortium contracted to finance, design, construct and maintain the facility for 25 years in partnership with the Victorian Government and its funding partners under the Geelong City Deal.

The project is backed by the Albanese and Allan Labor governments and the City of Greater Geelong through the Geelong City Deal.

The Victorian Government is contributing $416 million towards Nyaal Banyul, with the Australian Government contributing $30 million and the City of Greater Geelong $3 million.