Deficit blowout
Geelong council’s forecast deficit has ballooned by $8.8 million in three months since councillors adopted the budget on June 30.
A report presented to council on Tuesday night, covering July 1 to September 30, forecast an operating deficit of $33.4 million compared to the initial estimate of $24.6 million.
The report attributed the higher deficit to COVID-19 support packages and revenue loss during the pandemic, with mayor Stephanie Asher describing it as “not been completely unexpected”.
NYE cancelled
City Hall has cancelled the annual Geelong Waterfront New Year’s Eve fireworks, which normally attract crowds of 20,000 to 50,000 people, due to
COVID-19 restrictions.
Surf Coast Shire has also cancelled fireworks in Lorne to protect the health and safety of local residents.
Calendar captures our faces
RCA Villages has produced a ‘faces from our places’ calendar featuring “beautiful, stereotype-defying” images of residents from across their villages, including local Armstrong Green residents.
There are 30 to give away in December – simply fill out the coupon on page 2 of this week’s Geelong Independent to receive yours.
