Councillors take Shire Priorities to State Government

Road and community facility upgrades, the importance of agriculture, and renewable energy projects were some of the topics Corangamite Shire Councillors and senior staff took to the State Government last week.

Councillors along with CEO David Rae, Director Works and Services Shaun Broadbent, Director Sustainable Development Justine Linley, and Acting Director Corporate and Community Services Andrew Tenni advocated for a range of priority issues to members from all the main political parties on Tuesday and Wednesday, including:

Minister for Local Government and for Roads & Road Safety Melissa Horne Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny Minister for Climate Action, for Energy & Resources and for the State Electricity Commission Lily D’Ambrosio Opposition Leader John Pesutto Nationals Leader and Deputy Opposition Leader Peter Walsh Shadow Minister for Agriculture Emma Kealy Member for Polwarth Richard Riordan Member for South West Coast Roma Britnell Members for Western Victoria Jacinta Ermacora, Sarah Mansfield and Beverly Macarthur Members of Steve Dimopoulos’ parliamentary team (Minister for Tourism, Sport & Major Events and for the Environment) Shadow Minister for Roads and Road Safety Danny O’Brien Member for Ripon Martha Haylett

Council and senior staff also received briefings from:

Plan Victoria on proposed reforms including housing targets and their implications for rural councils. Land use conflicts including renewable energy and other uses were also discussed; Regional Development Victoria on a recent study by Victoria University, Deakin University and CSIRO, into increasing trade waste capacity for the Camperdown Precinct; Agriculture Victoria on water security, biosecurity and discussion on unseasonally dry conditions; Municipal Association of Victoria on governance reforms, parliamentary inquiries and a general sector update including elections and candidate training.

Mayor Kate Makin said Council was committed to delivering the projects that were important to the people of Corangamite and needed Government support to make the community’s vision reality.

“We want to work with the Government, industry and communities to build on our strengths and make sure our communities thrive well into the future.

“Some of the issues we raised are urgent “must-fix” things like upgrades to state owned Dairy Supply Chain road, Darlington-Camperdown Road and Darlington-Terang Road and Lavers Hill-Cobden Road, which are essential to keep our agriculture industry strong.

“We’re a power player in the farming sector and we want to go forwards, not backwards if the State’s road infrastructure is failing. Given the huge role our region plays, we also asked for funding to install services that will unlock industrial land in the Camperdown Production Precinct. That will help attract private sector investment from outside the region to create jobs and grow our local economy.”

Cr Makin said the delegation also emphasised the need for improved strategic planning around land use, particularly in regard to agricultural land.

“Corangamite has some of the country’s most productive agricultural land in Australia.

“We have made repeated calls on the State Government to improve its strategic planning processes around energy projects and other uses that can adversely impact on the economic health and wellbeing of the community by taking out prime agricultural land. That was certainly an issue we raised again and stressed with the Minister.”

Tourism was also high on the agenda.

“We called on the State Government to direct more funds to the remaining projects in the Shipwreck Coast Master Plan,” Cr Makin said.

“That includes the last 11 km of bike trail from Port Campbell to Princetown Trail which will link Camperdown to the Twelve Apostles.

“We also sought funding to work with Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation and Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism to develop tourism products and services that will celebrate First Peoples’ culture and knowledge.”

Cr Makin said others projects we raised looked further ahead to lay a foundation for strong and connected communities where Shire residents have the same level of opportunity as their city cousins.

“That includes transforming the Theatre Royal complex in Camperdown into a modern hub to provide opportunities for education, creative industries, business startups and whatever other innovations our residents can think of.

“Mockridge Park in Camperdown, Simpson Recreation Reserve oval lighting and the planned Skipton community and recreation hub will be massive assets for those towns for health, fitness and social participation.”

Council’s priorities