Mayor Stretch Kontelj OAM and You Yangs Ward Councillor Chris Burson joined the City's successful business visitation program in Lara, supporting its ongoing engagement with local businesses.
Earlier this month, the pair visited Lara Finance, RAPP Australia and Goat Barber.
The visits covered a variety of industries and sizes, providing the opportunity for first-hand learning about the experience of diverse business operators.
Lara Finance is a local husband-and-wife team that established its business in December 2023. The business was listed as a finalist for the Geelong Business Excellence Awards in 2025.
RAAP Australia is a local manufacturer of world-class emergency products, including medical equipment and oxygen regulators. The company has been based in Lara for eight years, employing over 40 staff.
Meanwhile, Goat Barber has recently opened on The Centreway with another location in central Geelong.
The program aims to encourage dialogue between Council and the business community, promoting future business expansion, investment and job growth.
Businesses in Armstrong Creek, Waurn Ponds, Charlemont, Belmont, and now Lara have been visited, with more planned for the future.
The visits align with the strategic action plan Geelong on the Rise: A Clever and Creative International City - 2024 - 2034 , which is a ten-year plan for the region's economic development.
Other business initiatives being furthered by the City include business drop-in sessions, offering 30-minute appointments with an Investment and Economy officer for guidance.The City is also seeking information from more businesses through a survey, which can be completed online .
Mayor Stretch Kontelj OAM:
It's very important to me as mayor to ensure that we are informed about the real experience of business so that the actions of Council can provide as much support as possible, enabling us to spread opportunities for growth and prosperity around the region.I'd encourage all businesses to engage with the City, either by completing our business survey, or by visiting geelongaustralia.com.au/business to see how we can help.
You Yangs Ward Councillor Chris Burson:
It was great to get out and meet so many local businesses – small and not so small – across the You Yangs Ward.There's a real mix of talent and drive out there, and what I've taken from those visits will be genuinely useful going forward.
