Asher endorses council split

FEDERAL Liberal candidate and former Geelong mayor Stephanie Asher has backed an idea for the Bellarine to split from Geelong and form its own council.

But the proposal has failed to attract support from the Victorian government, who would ultimately decide on any secession plan.

The Combined Bellarine Community Association (CBCA), a union of peninsula advocacy groups, is considering a discussion paper on a suggestion the region should split from the City of Greater Geelong and investigate new municipal governance structures.

CBCA groups are canvassing their own members on the paper to gauge support and consider more thorough investigation of the idea.

The association is yet to decide on the merits of the idea and formally advocate for it. Its next meeting is early next month.

But a separation plan has found support from Ms Asher, who said the region’s growing population deserved its own local government.

“I have always supported planning now for the Bellarine to secede from the City of Greater Geelong in future.

“The fact that the Bellarine took 40 per cent of all residential growth in Greater Geelong prior to 2017 led to a huge surge in population and an unfortunate lag in community infrastructure delivery.

“Given that the popularity of this area will not wane into the future – it is after all a magnificent place to live – we need to look forward and make the plans now for an appropriately sized municipality.

“The City of Greater Geelong is currently home to 265,000 people, with annual growth projections well over two per cent.

“Within the next decade we will need a separate LGA and I believe it makes sense to focus on the coastal areas which have consistent issues to address.”

Ms Asher has twice been elected as a Bellarine Ward councillor at the city and is now on a leave of absence from the council while she contests the seat of Corangamite at the coming federal election.

The Victorian government was less enthusiastic about the split proposal, and indicated it would require robust support to meaningfully progress.

“Changing council boundaries is a significant undertaking and involves a complex process not implemented lightly. There is currently no process under way to create a new municipality for the Bellarine Peninsula,” a spokesperson said.