By Luke Voogt
Residents fed up with the “dysfunctional” Surf Coast Shire have set up a rebel ratepayer group to challenge their council.
“We certainly don’t trust and respect the Surf Coast Shire anymore,” said the group’s Maurice Cole.
“We’re having to create a political party just to be heard.”
The Line in the Sand group consists of about 25 ratepayers who believe the mismanagement of development is ruining Torquay and the Surf Coast as tourist destinations.
“New residents are really starting to worry about what they’ve been sold into,” Mr Cole said.
Mr Cole described the Surf Coast Shire as much more dysfunctional and financially irresponsible than Geelong council under Daryn Lyons, which the State Government sacked in 2016.
Reports emerged last week of doctor’s certificate requiring Surf Coast Shire Mayor David Bell to have a chaperone if he meets with certain rival councillors.
In 2017 the Indy revealed a $4.4 million increase in expenses in the Surf Coast Shire’s budget, compared to a $600,000 rise in income.
Meanwhile, the shire’s long-running dispute over the flying of the rainbow flag, months after Federal Government legalised same-sex marriage, has reportedly led to disputes in the top brass of Victoria Police.
“If they can’t make a decision on putting the Rainbow Flag up, how can we have the confidence, respect and trust that they can look after us as a community?” Mr Cole said.
He said Line in the Sand would field candidates in the next Federal Election to challenge councillor and soon-to-be Labor candidate Libby Coker and Corangamite MP Sarah Henderson for the proposed seat of Cox.
“Our preferences will make or break Libby or Sarah.”
Fellow group member Rod Foord agreed the Shire was dysfunctional but described it as a “pawn” of State Government and local municipal alliance G21.
“We hate it because they make the decisions and then they consult with the community afterwards.
“If Torquay loses its status as a tourist destination – god help the rest of the Surf Coast Shire.”
The Indy contacted Surf Coast Shire Mayor David Bell for comment but received no response before going to press.
