A call to unite with Wyndham as its population outstrips Geelong has drawn a cool response from Mayor Bruce Harwood.
Geelong wanted to retain its “unique identity”, Cr Harwood said after Wyndham counterpart Peter Maynard flagged uniting the municipalities as a “new region” to win government infrastructure funding.
“We’re not surprised other councils want to be part of what we have here in Geelong but we want to maintain our unique identity and position as one of the most liveable regions in Australia,” Cr Harwood said.
“In Geelong we are seeking quality over quantity. We are a unique environment with unique communities.
However, Cr Harwood said Geelong was still committed to achieving growth while maintaining community amenity.
“This council is placing high priority on community connectivity and infrastructure to meet growing demand.
“We actively encourage growth but it must be sustainable and not a detractor to our liveability.”
Cr Maynard called for the new super-region this week after latest figures showed that Wyndham’s population had overtaken Geelong’s, 250,186 to 247,000.
“This is the first time Wyndham’s population has ever been greater than Geelong’s,” he said.
“Between 2011 and 2016 our population increased by an incredible 37 per cent, while greater Geelong’s grew by 11 per cent.
“Being one of Australia’s fastest growing municipalities is a major challenge, not a badge of honour. It’s crazy to think that a municipality on Melbourne’s urban fringe is now bigger than the second largest city in Victoria.”
A forecast of unabated growth in Wyndham meant state and federal governments must be “visionary” to keep up with investment in the region, Cr Maynard said.
“That’s why we’re calling on a new region to be established, called the Wyndham, Avalon and Geelong City-Rural Region. Geelong needs Wyndham, Wyndham needs Geelong and this plan would help attract investment in both areas.”
“It’s time that governments shifted focus away from the CBD and inner-city suburbs, towards the regions in Victoria that have the most to offer. Wyndham and other growth areas around the country on the urban boundaries must be considered as regions within their own right.
“We hold some of the keys to being hubs for jobs, transport, education and freight and industrial movements.”
