Amid much pomp and ceremony, Geelong’s three council administrators will conduct a “pre-reading” of their 30-year vision to 300 residents this weekend.
Fittingly hosted at The Pier, on Geelong’s waterfront, with childcare opportunities provided, the Our Future Assembly will bring participants up to date on nine months of consultations, with 16,000 contributors so far.
From 9.30am to 4pm the lucky attendees, evidently with nothing better to do on Saturdays, will hear all the chosen ways Geelong could evolve.
Then they’ll have the chance to add their own two cents for finalisation of the Our Future vision, just to make sure everyone’s had their say, of course.
Luckily, the 300 participants have been provided with a “pre-reading booklet” on the ideas to be presented at the assembly.
But the booklet “won’t have all the answers and isn’t meant to,” the administrators pre-advise in the foreword.
“Actually, we hope it will raise more questions than it answers,” they say.
Frankly, given that Our Future will cost ratepayers $645,000, more than enough questions should have been raised already!
Anyway, to spare readers the tedium of attending the assembly, an interim report has already presented Our Future’s “top vision”.
And, cue trumpet fanfare, the vision of Geelong materialises as thus: “The leading regional city for sustainability and bio technology with the best bike network in Australia. A world-class tourist destination with unique points of interest and a flourishing creative industry. A university town attracting the brightest minds”.
Hmm. Based on a literal reading, the vision seems to be a city of greenie scientists riding bicycles through crowds of tourists, artists and academics with glowing brains.
Sounds possible, mildly disturbing even, but Double Take was unconvinced.
So an alternative consultation process was commissioned, narrower on input but wider on insight.
And, sorry G-town, the outlook’s less unicorn and a whole lot more buzzard.
“A dystopian megatropolis where giant alien lizards pit human slaves in mortal combat at Kardinia Terrordome. An international incubator of mutant disease afflicting the remnants of humanity. Also, it has an ovoid sewerage aqueduct at Breakwater.”
Dear ratepayers, that’ll be $645,000, thanks!
While Geelong’s pseudo council grapples with the big picture, last week’s observation on Surf Coast councillors’ odd prioritising of symbolic flags over dire finances drew some interesting responses.
Robyn Webber reflected the general theme with her post on the Indy’s Facebook page.
“I am sure these people start out with good intentions,” Robyn posited, “but what is it that changes them into greedy, self-interested councillors who can no longer prioritise for the good of the ratepayers?”
Good question. And Robyn’s probably not the first to wonder how it is that candidates are elected to represent their community to the council, but end up representing the council to their community.
Let’s just put it down to politics.
