Council attacks cuts to programs for kids

Hamish Heard
A BLAME game has erupted after Geelong’s council slammed State Government over the withdrawal of funding for programs tackling childhood obesity in the region.
Council unanimously voted this week to lobby Health Minister Daniel Andrews to reinstate funding for three preventative health programs for children.
But spokespeople for both Mr Andrews and Department of Human Services blamed the Cancer Council Victoria and VicHealth for the cuts before accusing council of barking up the wrong tree.
Councillor Lou Brazier, who holds a community development portfolio, led council’s charge against the Brumby Government, labelling the cuts a “huge disappointment”.
“We need the funding to continue so we can make inroads into the disturbing stats that up to 27 per cent of children in Geelong aged two to 12 are overweight or obese,” Cr Brazier said.
Mayor Bruce Harwood and Cr Barbara Abley joined her in condemning the cuts to programs including Kids Go For Your Life, Walking School Bus and Romp and Chomp.
Cr Harwood said council would be unlikely to continue the programs without government funding.
Cr Abley accused the state of shifting the cost of preventative health to local government. Cr Abley believed that research had shown the programs were making inroads into the childhood obesity epidemic.
But a spokesperson for Mr Andrews blamed the Cancer Council and VicHealth.
“I’m advised that the VicHealth board has made the decision to invest over $400,000 over two years for the Streets Ahead program to determine a range of activities for active transport rather than a one-size-fits-all program,” he said.