Democracy dead as council loses control

Alex de Vos
Geelong’s Mayor has launched a blistering attack on State Government’s takeover of council planning powers.
In an email to Geelong councillors, Mayor Bruce Harwood said the Government had “stripped” council’s powers in a “very undemocratic process”.
“No consultation, no submissions, no community input, no democratic process,” Cr Harwood told his council colleagues.
“(It has) completely undermined us as a council elected by the people of Geelong.”
State Government had announced it would appoint a committee to make planning decisions on key projects in areas of “metropolitan significance”, including Geelong.
The committee would comprise two council representatives, two from State Government and a government-appointed “independent” member.
The system effectively leaves the planning process the same except councillors will no longer vote on planning applications.
A City spokesperson said the Government had yet to reveal how much of Geelong would come under the control of the new committee.
Cr Harwood said the announcement was “surprising given all the work done in recent times and the unprecedented growth experienced by Geelong”.
“The State Government … has strip-ped the council of a voice for the people and the power to advocate on their behalf,” he said.
“This council believes that all community input at all stages of any development is paramount, especially in decision-making processes.”
A spokesperson for the Planning Minister said the Government had removed councillors from the decision-making process but denied the new system stripped council powers.
“Councils will still administer their planning policies. However, they will be done by development assessment committees instead,” the spokesperson said.
“When an application is made it will be processed, as it is now, by the council. Council will also write its report for or against a proposal and the development assessment committee will make the decision.
“The introduction of development assessment committees, in consultation with the local government sector, will allow state and local government to partner in making planning decisions.”
The takeover follows controversy over Geelong’s council in recent years, including developers secretly funding councillors’ election campaigns and a state Ombudsman ruling that the City’s planning processes were open to perceptions of corruption.