Council
30 August, 2024
Council delegation takes advocacy to Spring Street
ROAD and community facility upgrades, the importance of agriculture, and renewable energy projects were some of the topics Corangamite Shire councillors and senior staff took to the State Government recently.
The delegation advocated for a range of priority issues to members from all the main political parties over two days.
Briefings were also received from:
Plan Victoria on proposed reforms including housing targets and their implications for rural councils and land use conflicts including renewable energy and other uses were also discussed;
Regional Development Victoria on a recent study by Victoria University, Deakin University and CSIRO, into increasing trade waste capacity for the Camperdown Precinct;
Agriculture Victoria on water security, biosecurity and discussion on unseasonably dry conditions; and
Municipal Association of Victoria on governance reforms, parliamentary inquiries and a general sector update including elections and candidate training.
Mayor Kate Makin said council was committed to delivering the projects which were important to the people of Corangamite and needed government support to make the community’s vision reality.
“We want to work with the government, industry and communities to build on our strengths and make sure our communities thrive well into the future,” she said.
“Some of the issues we raised are urgent, must-fix things like upgrades to state owned Dairy Supply Chain road, Darlington-Camperdown Road, Darlington-Terang Road and Lavers Hill-Cobden Road, which are essential to keep our agriculture industry strong.
“We’re a power player in the farming sector and we want to go forwards, not backwards if the state’s road infrastructure is failing.
“Given the huge role our region plays, we also asked for funding to install services that will unlock industrial land in the Camperdown Production Precinct.
“That will help attract private sector investment from outside the region to create jobs and grow our local economy.”
Cr Makin said the delegation also emphasised the need for improved strategic planning around land use, particularly in regard to agricultural land.
“Corangamite has some of the country’s most productive agricultural land in Australia,” she said.
“We have made repeated calls on the State Government to improve its strategic planning processes around energy projects and other uses that can adversely impact on the economic health and wellbeing of the community by taking out prime agricultural land.
“That was certainly an issue we raised again and stressed with the Minister.”
Cr Makin said tourism was also high on the agenda.
“We called on the State Government to direct more funds to the remaining projects in the Shipwreck Coast Master Plan,” she said.
“That includes the last 11km of bike trail from Port Campbell to Princetown Trail which will link Camperdown to the Twelve Apostles.
“We also sought funding to work with Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation and Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism to develop tourism products and services that will celebrate First Peoples’ culture and knowledge.”
Cr Makin said other projects raised looked further ahead to lay a foundation for strong and connected communities where shire residents have the same level of opportunity as those in metropolitan areas.
“That includes transforming the Theatre Royal complex in Camperdown into a modern hub to provide opportunities for education, creative industries, business start-ups and whatever other innovations our residents can think of,” she said.
“Mockridge Park in Camperdown, Simpson Recreation Reserve oval lighting and the planned Skipton community and recreation hub will be massive assets for those towns for health, fitness and social participation.”
Council’s priorities are:
The Mockridge Park redevelopment, Camperdown Production Precinct, Camperdown Theatre Royal Precinct Complex Transformation, Dairy supply chain road upgrades, Darlington-Terang Road upgrade, First Peoples tourism, Lavers Hill-Cobden Road renewal, Planning and energy policy reform, Port Campbell to Princetown Trail, Shipwreck Coast Master Plan implementation, Simpson Rec Reserve lighting and Skipton community and recreation hub.