Shire sets advocacy priorities

THE Surf Coast Shire council has set its advocacy priorities for this year, with projects including a safer cycling connection between Torquay and Geelong and funding to address the affordable housing crisis.

The Advocacy Priorities 2025, endorsed by councillors at their meeting last week, have been developed to help Council secure state and federal government funding for projects and policies that will meet the needs of the local community.

The advocacy priorities are aligned with the shire’s strategic direction, and have been grouped into five themes: Placemaking and Prosperity, Housing Affordability and Worker Accommodation, Climate Resilience and Environment, Roads and Transport, and Stronger Communities.

Projects highlighted in the advocacy document include:

Place planning to support future sustainable growth, focused on funding to plan for the future needs of Winchelsea, and for improved use of the strategic Baines Crescent and Town Centre precincts in Torquay.

Projects to address the affordable housing crisis, including a pitch for funding towards detailed design of a new Anglesea Community and Health Hub, and towards design and construction of social and affordable housing at Fraser Drive, Aireys Inlet.

Torquay stormwater and Karaaf Wetlands works in partnership with Barwon Water, to divert stormwater from Torquay away from the ecologically sensitive wetlands and use it productively on agricultural land instead

Staged funding to build new or upgraded trails in the Anglesea Trails Network to ultimately deliver a 107km network of 36 recreational trails, with connections to other significant trails and destinations in the region, and

In partnership with the City of Greater Geelong, a safe cycling corridor featuring a separated shared path along Horseshoe Bend Road from South Beach Road in Torquay to Warralilly Boulevard in Armstrong Creek.

Shire mayor Mike Bodsworth said the priorities had been developed using a range of sources, including the Council Plan 2021-25 and previous council resolutions.

“Advocating effectively will help us deliver major projects that are important to our community, that we don’t have the financial capacity to fund on our own

“Having this defined set of priorities helps our decisions about which projects to put forward as grant applications, or to raise directly with state and federal representatives when opportunities arise.

“Our aim is to have all three levels of government working closely together to deliver the projects and policies that are most needed for the Surf Coast Shire.”

At their meeting on Tuesday last week, councillors also requested a report from shire chief executive officer Robyn Seymour, to be submitted at this month’s meeting, featuring options and a recommendation relating to advocacy for drought relief measures in the shire.