By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
A 24-HOUR turnaround for straightforward planning permits is part of Mayor Keith Fagg’s aims for his newly-established Enterprise Geelong.
“We need to be serious about being a can-do council and encouraging investment in Geelong,” Cr Fagg told a Geelong Business Network breakfast this week.
In a review of his first five months in office, Cr Fagg said acknowledged perceptions that sometimes getting things done with council was difficult.
“There are also examples where the City got things done quickly but no doubt there is frustration with the planning process at times.”
Cr Fagg said Enterprise Geelong, his pre-election commitment, was aimed at becoming the key contact point for business and investors.
“We’ll work with the developer or business investor, give them access to our planners, go with them to the local authorities and help them right through the internal council processes.”
Cr Fagg also raised the possibly of relocating the Moorabool St’s bus interchanges as part of a push for increased community safety in central Geelong.
“Some people feel unsafe at some times in some situations in the CBD, although the camera system presence has helped the perception of safety,” he said.
“There are still some issues of perceptions of safety around the bus interchange and it’s a work in progress in terms of where that is best located.”
Cr Fagg also acknowledged “strong reasons” for supporting direct election of both Geelong’s mayor and the deputy in the future.
State Government has promised a review of the process in two years.
