The City of Greater has ended its 21-year partnership with Geelong Regional Alliance (G21).
G21 is the formal alliance of government, business and community organisations within the Geelong region across five municipalities – Colac Otway, Golden Plains, Greater Geelong, Queenscliffe and Surf Coast.
Council said membership of G21 costs $500,000 per year and that there are additional costs associated with investment in G21 projects and staff attendance at meetings.
The partnership will end in April 2024 after Council was required to give 12 months notice.
Mayor Trent Sullivan and acting CEO Kaarina Phyland have both resigned from their positions on the G21 board.
“We understand that Geelong has a lead role to play in advocating for the collective interests of our broader region, which we will continue to take very seriously,” acting director customer and corporate services Bryce Prosser said.
“We’ll be putting in place low-cost and no-cost mechanisms to collaborate with our neighbouring councils so that we have strong relationships and can work together to achieve our shared interests.
“We’ll also look at strengthening the organisation’s own advocacy and government relations function, and fully harnessing memberships of bodies that represent regional cities.
“We are members of both Regional Capitals Australia and Regional Cities Victoria, which are alliances of cities that have similar challenges and opportunities to Geelong.
“Through groups such as these, we will be well positioned to bring awareness to issues in a united fashion, and attract funding to Geelong at both a state and federal level.
“We sincerely thank G21’s employees, members and pillar groups for the substantial role they have played in shaping the region over many years.”
The G21 Board said it would meet to discuss the implications of the decision.
The board said it understood the City’s decision related to the increasing financial pressure it is experiencing.
G21 Chair Melissa Stephens said the Alliance was a driving force in securing the Geelong City Deal which is pumping millions of dollars into major projects for central Geelong, the Bellarine and the Great Ocean Road.
“G21 is well known and well regarded in Canberra and Spring Street for its strategic planning capability and cohesive regional voice,” Ms Stephens said.
