Council budget pressures threaten G21’s future

THE G21 Geelong Region Alliance faces an uncertain future, as its local government partners look to tighten the purse strings amid increasing budget constraints.

It follows the Borough of Queenscliffe refusing in February to confirm if it had begun the process to leave the lobby group and growing speculation the City of Greater Geelong, the alliance’s largest financial partner, is also reconsidering its membership.

The alliance, which has represented the region for 23 years, will now meet next month to discuss its future as it fights to maintain its advocacy position in the region.

On Tuesday this week, Geelong chief executive officer Ali Wastie said decisions about the organisation’s own future with the lobby group were “yet to be made”.

“It is not the decision of one council to determine whether that entity continues to exist, notwithstanding Geelong city council is the main contributor of funds.

“But there are other ways that many advocacy organisations continue to achieve their core objectives in different models. Whilst the decision of a particular council to remain involved will obviously have a determining factor in terms of how that entity operates and doesn’t, it is not for council to determine whether that entity exists or not.”

Cr Kontelj said the city’s budget for the next financial year presently included a $300,000 contribution to G21, but expressed confidence that, regardless of the alliance’s future, regional collaboration and advocacy to the state and federal government would continue under a new model.

In a statement last week, G21 chair Melissa Stephens said effective collaboration was needed to continue guiding “good growth” across the region in the years to come.

“Strong regional collaboration is essential for the future of our communities and G21’s work as a highly regarded regional body is more important than ever as our population continues to grow at a rapid rate,” she said.

“G21’s strategic planning work and development of priority projects to attract investments to the region is well known and highly regarded in Canberra and Spring Street.

“Our regional mayors will continue to lead the advocacy effort as we manage financial headwinds affecting local government budgets.”