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PRESS
RELEASE
14th March 2000
FORUM ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT
The future of local government in Geelong will be discussed
at a forum to be held on Wednesday April 5th.
Geelong Community Forum spokesperson, Serena O’Meley, is
encouraging people to make submissions about the structure
of local government in Geelong which will be forwarded to
peak local government bodies and the Minister for Local
Government, Mr Bob Cameron, along with a survey which will
be completed at the meeting.
"Over the past few months there has been a vigorous discussion
in the local press about the current structure of local
government in Geelong. The aim of this forum and the submission
period is to give everyone an opportunity to make a positive
contribution to the debate." Ms O’Meley said.
"We plan to canvass public opinion on the issue of the
two tiered system of ward and regional councillors, the
election of the mayor, the number of councillors, the pay
scale of councillors and local government boundaries. The
discussion will also focus upon how community participation
and democratic processes can be enhanced in council through
changes to its structure and how tensions within council
can be reduced or eliminated."
The Geelong Community Forum does not wish to advance an
opinion on a preferred structure of local government in
Geelong at this stage. "We look forward to hearing the opinion
of the general public on this issue before we commit to
any particular model."
The keynote speaker for the night will be the Honourable
Dr Ken Coghill, along with a representative from the Victorian
Local Governance Association and a distinguished panel of
former mayors.
Dr Coghill teaches "Governance" and "Business and Government"
at Masters Degree level at the International Centre for
Management in Government at Monash University Business School
and provides consultancy advice in the area of governance.
Dr Coghill is a former councillor for the Rural City of
Wodonga (1972-1977) and has been a Parliamentary Secretary
to Cabinet (1982-1988) and Speaker of the Parliament of
Victoria (1988-1992).
"We have chosen speakers who are no longer elected representatives
because they will have a dual perspective on this issue.
They will be able to share their experiences of the strengths
and weaknesses of the local government system prior to amalgamation
while also providing interesting insights into the current
structure of the City of Greater Geelong as active citizens."
All councillors in the City of Greater Geelong will be
invited to the forum. Newly elected City of Greater Geelong
Mayor, Cr Michael Crutchfield is chair of a Victorian Local
Governance Association working group which is currently
examining local government structures. He has expressed
his interest in the forum and has indicated that he is free
on the 5th of April.
"Following presentations from the speakers, members of
the public will be given the opportunity to ask questions
and make their own suggestions. Councillors from Geelong
and the surrounding region who are present will also be
invited to comment."
Written submissions on local government structures will
be accepted until April 15th, and should be forwarded to
The Secretary, Geelong Community Forum, PO Box 2016, Geelong.
Forum on Local Government
Geelong West Town Hall
147 Pakington Street
Geelong West
7:30pm Wednesday, April 5th
Refreshments provided
For further information, please contact: Serena O’Meley,
Spokesperson Geelong Community Forum 95002845BH, 52413752AH,
0419 110083.
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