Councillors in the City of Greater Geelong are creating an ongoing atmosphere of hostility between themselves and members of the community over decisions which affect local heritage and environmental values. Nowhere has this become more clear than at the recent council meeting of 27/1/99 which initiated the sale of the stables and heritage land attached to Osborne House.

The perception that the council regards community input to its decisions with contempt is only enhanced by the way in which it conducts such meetings. This includes refusing to answer or deflecting attention away from questions put in advance or during public question time; limiting access to information to council agenda items and media releases; refusing to allow tape recording of its meetings; and using positions of power to mount personal attacks against individuals within the public gallery.

The public is entitled to the opportunity to participate in fair and open debate about all proposed sales or development of important community assets, rather than be fobbed off by invocations of ‘commercial in confidence’ procedures and prepared speeches on the night of a meeting. Such tactics are a recipe for creating divisions between people rather than promoting satisfactory outcomes.

In the interests of retaining community identity and pride in Geelong, it would be a Smart Move for the council to treat its constituents with elementary respect. It would be an even Smarter Move not to destroy yet more of Geelong's shrinking heritage.