Geelong looks set for another towering monument to its rapidly expanding ranks of public servants, with City Hall planning a new $100 million headquarters on a council-owned car park in Mercer St.
City Hall’s administrators explain that the new headquarters would bring together nine separate council offices, saving about $16 million a year.
Fair enough. But have the administrator’s considered options with potentially greater benefits?
For instance, council candidate George Ballas suggested a move to Target’s North Geelong head office after the company relocates to Melbourne.
And a largely vacant site also in the north remains largely overlooked.
Yes, the City’s slow-selling Geelong Ring Road Employment Precinct has even more to offer: it’s already owned by the council, plenty of land’s available, it’s close to transport infrastructure, and the northern suburbs could sure do with the investment boost.
And, since it’s an industrial precinct, imagine the rugged appeal of councillors arriving for meetings in fluro safety gear!
Mind you, another administrators’ initiative might require a somewhat higher level of attire.
This week the trio approved a live-streaming policy that will broadcast council meetings via the internet – right in the middle of prime time.
Former Local Government Minister Natalie Hutchins partly initiated the move, decreeing earlier this year that live broadcasting of council meetings would give Geelong residents “the representation they deserve”.
Well, yes Ms Hutchins, it might be the representation they deserve – but possibly not the standard of entertainment.
Meanwhile, Geelong’s the home of the Cats but is it actually going to the dogs?
More accurately, the city appears to be going to the guide dogs, and one in particular.
Guide Dogs Australia announced this week that its Waurn Ponds supermarket “Collection Dog” was one of the charity’s top earners.
Shoppers had deposited $3250 into the plastic pup’s head over the past 12 months, the organisation said, describing it as one of the best returns in the state.
A great result, for sure, despite the old-school format – imagine the result if EFTPOS technology could be incorporated into Collections’ Dog’s nose!
OK, chalk that one up to the dogs – but here’s five for the cats.
Felines surged back in the lead locally when Geelong police revealed an unlikely transfer, or should that be trans-fur, from Melbourne.
Apparently an officer found five kittens in the roof of a Brunswick building – and they were brought to a Geelong rescue centre for new homes.
“Cat-astrope” averted, posted police on social media.
You gotta be ‘kitten’ me!
