REGIONAL RESOLVE: Geelong alliance to continue without city

G21 has vowed it will continue a “business-as-usual” approach to delivering vital projects despite the City of Greater Geelong’s decision to end its involvement in the regional alliance.

But the organisation hasn’t given up hope of a late change of heart from Geelong council, which will finalise its 2023/24 budget in coming weeks.

The city confirmed last month that it planned to exit the alliance from April next year, saving around $550,000 a year in its under-pressure finances. Its mayor Trent Sullivan and acting CEO Kaarina Phyland have resigned from the G21 board.

The G21 Board met this week following discussions with its members in the fortnight following the decision.

In a message sent to members on this morning, G21 CEO Giulia Baggio said the organisation would continue with or without its largest member.

“The G21 Board has now met and unanimously resolved to carry on with G21’s major projects with a business-as-usual regional outlook, without participation from the City of Greater Geelong,” she said.

“Our pillar chairs have met and strongly support this position.

“The Board has also begun a process to consider options for the future of G21 and its important work.”

Ms Baggio also indicated G21 would make a submission to the city on its proposed budget to highlight “collaborative achievements and value to the community”. It has encouraged its members to do the same.

She said current projects that would continue included a regional Integrated Transport Strategy focused on public transport, development of a 2050 Regional Plan and its annual Stakeholder Forum in July.

It has also released an updated list of future priority projects this year. Cr Sullivan was part of G21 delegations who discussed these priorities with state and federal government representatives as recently as recently as March.

The Geelong Regional Alliance said it had been a successful collaboration of the Greater Geelong, Surf Coast, Queenscliffe, Golden Plains and Colac Otway local governments alongside local leaders, businesses and other government representatives, which it claimed had been “major driver in the region’s current momentum”.

It counts the $500 million Geelong City Deal as one of its proudest achievements, which included the coming Geelong Convention and Exhibition Centre and a host of projects to revitalise central Geelong.

It’s unclear how G21 would restructure itself to continue without COGG – the city’s input accounts for about three-quarters of member contributions and a third of its total income.

When announcing its decision following the budget, COGG said it would aim to strengthen its funding advocacy and government relationships through “low-cost and no-cost mechanisms”.

“We understand that Geelong has a lead role to play in advocating for the collective interests of our broader region, which we will continue to take very seriously,” acting director customer and corporate services Bryce Prosser said.

The city’s draft 2023/24 budget is open to view and for public submissions until May 24.