By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
IT’S high time State and Federal governments actually invested in the region’s two peri-urban councils, according to the head of the region’s council alliance organisation
G21 chief Elaine Carbines said Surf Coast and Golden Plains shires were in danger of being left behind without government commitments to infrastructure matching population growth.
“We want to see from them what their commitments are,” Ms Carbines said.
“We need those levels of government to listen and act because otherwise we’ll lose the amenity of the region.
“We have a regional growth plan and an infrastructure plan, which is a precautionary planning tool and has been incorporated into State planning provisions. The challenge is for the infrastructure to keep up with the pace of growth.
“It’s the missing part at the moment.”
The issue was highlighted this week when the Opposition’s planning spokesman David Davis visited the region.
Mr Davis said Bannockburn alone was predicted to grow an average 8.6 per cent a year to 2031 for total growth of 173 per cent.
Figures from a Peri Urban Group of Rural Councils (PUGRC) show Surf Coast and Golden Plains face massive growth rates without adequate resources to cope.
Surf Coast and Golden Plains are predicted to grow 52 and 41 per cent respectively by 2031 while slower-growing regional councils like Geelong receive more funding.
PUGRC figures predict Surf Coast will grow from its existing population of 28,481 to 40,892, with Golden Plains rising from 20,544 to 26,870.
Ms Carbines said G21’s regional growth plans clearly forecast that Bannockburn and Torquay-Jan Juc would be among the fastest growing areas in the region.
“We’ve been advocating to State and Federal governments and oppositions to keep pace. Issues like duplicating the Midland Highway from Bannockburn to the ring road, is enormous, because that is just an accident waiting to happen.”
