Surf Coast Shire has a new set of advocacy priorities to inform its decisions on projects to receive funding and on the topics that council focuses on.
Council supported an updated set of advocacy priorities during its Tuesday, May 27, to highlight strategic priorities and support consistent and considered advocacy campaigning.
Key projects prioritised by council would feature a change of date for Australia Day, Torquay stormwater and Karaaf Wetlands works and road upgrades.
Councillor Adrian Schonfelder said council needed a defined set of advocacy priorities to provide outcomes that the community needed.
“It’s so important to be a voice for our area… and we are unique in the fact that we have so many visitors to our area,” he said.
“We are a diverse council with different priorities… but it’s very important that we do lobby for extra road funding as an example and better public transport options.
“It’s worth pointing out that additional rail services to Winchelsea, particularly between Colac and Geelong, is something that is crucial in the transport space.
“Driving to Geelong on the Surf Coast Highway, going through Armstrong Creek and Grovedale, is so much busier because of the increased population of our personal and neighboring municipality.”
Updated advocacy themes included Placemaking and Prosperity, Housing Affordibility and Worker Accommodation, Climate Resilience and Environment, Roads and Transport, and Stronger Communities.
Cr Joel Grist said he was concerned with the grant funding component of the Advocacy Priorities 2025 document, with council’s 2025-26 Annual Budget anticipating $11.65 million in operating grants and $24 million in capital grants.
“We are living beyond our means at every level of government, leaving intergenerational debt. In my view, that’s not good governance,” he said.
“Advocating for at least $35.6 million in state and federal grants in this next financial year alone is not something I’m personally comfortable with, when state and federal debt is already more than $50,000.”
Adopting the new Council Plan 2025-29, expected in September this year, would provide a further update to council’s Advocacy Priorities once the plan’s content was confirmed.
