Harbour wins but ‘kids lose’ in money shift

Alex de Vos
Bellarine Peninsula kids are “disgusted” at losing $60,000 from sport and recreation projects to fund a harbour study at Portarlington, according to an angry parent.
More than 700 residents have signed a petition opposing a decision to strip funds from the projects.
Angela Armistead said City of Greater Geelong was more interested in financial gain than the peninsula’s youth.
Councillors this week withdrew funding from skate park projects at Portarlington and Clifton Springs and from an oval upgrade at Catholic Regional and Bellarine Secondary colleges.
The transfer left $15,000 from a budgeted $30,000 for the skate parks and $10,000 from $40,000 for the oval upgrade.
The change followed council withdrawing funding for State Government’s harbour plan earlier this year for Bellarine Peninsula Railway.
Last week a Portarlington community group demanded council give back funding for the harbour project.
Ms Armistead said local youths were the losers.
“Council said the harbour project would bring economic growth, tourism and financial gain to the region – that tells me (economic benefit) is more important to them than our youth,” she said.
“The Clifton Springs skate park has cracks in it, there’s a need for it to be upgraded and $15,000 isn’t going to go far.”
Ward councillor Tom O’Connor said the City had spent almost $250,000 this year on youth projects on the peninsula.
“The kids won’t be denied an upgrade, the upgrades will be done,” Cr O’Connor said.
“There’s more money being allocated next year.”