A private Geelong lobby failed to brief two larger counterparts on its plan to combine all three as one voice for the city, according to their leaders.
Committee for Geelong presented the plan to state parliament on Thursday as part of the committee’s Winning From Second report.
But regional councils alliance body G21 and Geelong Chamber of Commerce told the Indy they were in the dark on the proposal.
“There has been little detail provided to the chamber about the One Geelong proposal,” said the chamber’s president Kylie Warne.
“Therefore it is difficult to provide further comments about this recommendation.”
Ms Warne said a “diversity of voices” was important to Geelong, where various groups already collaborated frequently.
“This collaboration has achieved significant outcomes for Geelong and the region over the last decade. We are proud to be the voice of business for the Geelong region.”
G21 chair Bill Mithen said his organisation was “always open to ways of advancing the region”.
“However, the G21 board has yet to be briefed by the Committee for Geelong on its report and its (One Geelong) proposal.”
A “diverse range of voices arguing articulately” had helped win funding for projects like Geelong Library, NDIA’s headquarters and Simonds Stadium’s redevelopment, Mr Mithen said.
Committee for Geelong’s Winning from Second report cited overseas research showing the benefits of a “one-stop shop for local entrepreneurs and innovators.
“Pooling resources into an overarching “One Geelong” entity would produce an efficient and effective economic development effort for Geelong,” the report reads.
Earlier this year former mayor Darryn Lyons described Geelong as “the city of committees”, decrying its numerous lobby groups as a “tremendous waste of money”.
