Shire updates advocacy list

THE Surf Coast Shire has updated its list of priorities it will seek support for from the state and federal governments, and has also agreed on two motions it will present to state and national bodies later this year.

At its February meeting, the council resolved to endorse the 2024 version of its Advocacy Priorities document, which was previously updated in April last year.

According to the report presented to the council, the new set of priorities has been “combined with a new format, [and] has been developed to position council for the next period of advocacy”.

“The change of format allows for a theme-based narrative on council’s strategic advocacy goals and results in an advocacy prospectus, similar to those produced by regional partnerships and alliances.”

Advocacy Priorities 2024 is subtitled “Living sustainably in an area of environmental significance” and groups the shire’s various requests for support under five themes:

• Housing affordability and key worker accommodation
• Climate resilience
• Prosperity and creativity
• Environment and sustainability, and
• Stronger communities and places.

New projects added to the list this year include the Anglesea Community Health and Hub, Fraser Drive social and affordable housing, Deans Marsh Community Hall, and recommendations from the shire’s Planning Scheme review.

After the meeting, Cr Gary Allen said the updated priorities would enable the shire to undertake advocacy aligned to its strategic goals and the needs of the community.

“It will inform decisions on which projects would be subject to grant applications and which topics to raise in advocacy forum.”

The meeting saw councillors agree with the recommendation to move a motion at the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) national general assembly in July, calling on the federal government to introduce mandatory product stewardship and extended producer responsibility for problematic materials and packaging, including PFAS, soft plastics and textiles, and to align Australian product regulations, polices and standards to global best-practice.

“This aligns with the council’s plan to divert more material from waste streams,” Cr Allan said.

“Currently in Australia there is no effective market for recycling soft plastics, meaning the majority ends up in landfill, or worse, is littered into the environment.”

The shire will also move a motion at the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) state council meeting in May, calling on the Victorian government to adjust the Second Dwelling provisions, announced through the 2023 Housing Statement, to ensure such dwellings can only be used for long-term occupancy, and not short-stay rentals, in areas where there is a shortage of key worker and affordable accommodation.