Wards make way for bigger picture

Balancing “big picture” issues and localised concerns was the rationale for slashing Geelong wards from 12 to four and councillors from 13 to 11, according to Citizens’ Jury members.
“We wanted to abolish any fiefdoms that might be behind the underlying problems (but) make sure the diversity of the councillors was maintained,” explained Highton’s Sarah Gofton.
The jury has recommended that Geelong should have three councillors representing south, north and Bellarine wards and two covering the central city area.
The State Government instructions limited the jury to 12 councillors in the jury’s “practical recommendations”, down from 13 including the mayor under the previous council.
Ms Gofton said the jury wanted 11 to prevent the mayor having to use casting votes.
Lara’s Mary Budd said the jury should have had scope to introduce more councillors given Geelong had the lowest councillor-resident ratio in Victoria.
“We need at least 15. Places like Armstrong Creek and Barwon Heads are growing at massive rates,” she said.
The jury also considered bringing council meetings into the “21st Century” with live-stream broadcasts.
“You can live-stream state government and federal government, so why wouldn’t you live-stream council,” said juror Liam Rodgers.
“It’s just bringing local government into the 21st century.”
The jury will discuss the idea along with other “aspirational recommendations” in January.
Jurors decided to meet again after running out of time in their scheduled final meeting for the year last month.