Henderson to tackle growth and infrastructure on the Bellarine

CORANGAMITE federal member Sarah Henderson says she will work hard for the Bellarine Peninsula towns recently incorportated into her electorate.

The Australian Electoral Commission last week announced that the draft boundaries proposed some months ago would largely be adopted for Corangamite.

This means that Ms Henderson will lose parts of the electorate in Geelong and Colac, but will pick up Leopold and the northern parts of the Bellarine.

“I look forward to representing the new parts of the Corangamite electorate with unstinting dedication and commitment,” M s Henderson said.

“These areas have been all but ignored by Labor’s Richard Marles.”

Ms Henderson said her first mission would be to develop a comprehensive plan for the entire Bellarine to tackle the “unacceptable level of growth”, coupled with inadequate infrastructure, which has compromised some parts of the Bellarine.

“I am concerned that the rapid growth on the Bellarine has not been properly managed by the state Labor government or the City of Greater Geelong,” she said.

“Why is the Bellarine Peninsula bearing nearly half of all the growth across the municipality?

“The unique rural and coastal character of the Bellarine must not be compromised.

“At the same time, there has been far too little focus on investing in infrastructure.

“Whether it be better roads or community infrastructure, the City of Greater Geelong has not put forward one new project on the Bellarine for federal funding.

“This is in contrast to the Borough of Queenscliffe, which has been very proactive.”

Ms Henderson said she looked forward to working very hard to give Leopold, Drysdale, Clifton Springs, Portarlington, Indented Head, St Leonards and other northern Bellarine communities the strong voice they deserved in Canberra.

“Richard Marles has been a very poor representative,” she said.

“Like the rest of the Corio electorate, he has taken the northern Bellarine and Leopold for granted.”

Ms Henderson said she would be working hard with Liberal candidate Brian McKiterick to secure a Liberal victory on the Bellarine on November 24.

“Under Matthew Guy’s government, community safety will be a number one priority.”