Geelong Football Club president and prominent businessman Frank Costa predicts Colac will boom.
Mr Costa has thrown his support behind the duplication of the Princes Highway through to Colac.
He told The Colac Herald the upgrade was crucial for Colac’s growth.
“Authorities believe Melbourne will reach seven million people in 2050 and Geelong is continuing to boom,” Mr Costa said.
“If access to Melbourne improves, Colac will really benefit,” he said.
“Once the road is duplicated between Waurn Ponds and Winchelsea there will be pressure to continue the duplication through to Colac.
“I would absolutely support that, as would Geelong.”
Mr Costa bought a 72-lot residential estate in Cants Road, Colac in 2006.
He said the then proposed Princes Highway upgrade, due to start later this year, made Colac an appealing investment.
“I’ve got a couple of developments, property and industrial, and I certainly wouldn’t have gone into the Colac market if I didn’t think the town would go ahead,” Mr Costa said.
“When I entered into Colac I knew the ring road and highway were going to happen and it was a key factor,” he said.
“The Geelong Ring Road and the duplication of the highway through to Winchelsea will be a huge help for the town.”
Mr Costa said quality of life was an appealing factor for people wanting to live outside, but close, to large cities.
He said continued growth in Melbourne combined with improved infrastructure linking Colac to the state capital and Geelong would benefit the whole district.
“Melbourne is growing faster than Sydney,” Mr Costa said.
“The country towns that surround Melbourne will get picked up by this,” he said.
“The ones with the best access, and that extends to Colac, will benefit from Melbourne’s growth.
“Even little Winchelsea will benefit from the new road and Melbourne’s growth.”
Mr Costa is the Geelong patron of palliative care project Anam Cara House.
He will speak at a charity dinner for Anam Cara House Colac later this month.
Mr Costa said improved palliative care was crucial in an ageing society.
“We are all living longer thanks to medical research,” he said.
“We need better facilities both for older people and to give families caring for people with illness a break.
“I’ve seen what we have been able to achieve in Geelong and I think it is great Colac has the opportunity to do the same.”

INVESTOR: Geelong businessman Frank Costa has invested in Colac.

INVESTOR: Geelong businessman Frank Costa has invested in Colac.