Matt Hewson
Geelong council has released its annual report on its performance over the last financial year, detailing the progress the City has made toward its strategic goals, the challenges it has faced and its finances.
During 2022-23 the council focused on four “strategic directions”: a healthy, caring and inclusive community; sustainable growth and environment; a strong local economy; and a high-performing council and organisation.
For each direction, the report lays out the City’s desired outcomes, four-year priorities and progress indicators.
In terms of overall progress, the report stated 45 of the council’s 64 actions toward these four directions were complete, five were ongoing, five were on hold and five were not proceeding.
The report also highlighted eight key challenges impacting council’s services, with the growing pressure on financial stability at the top of the list.
With councils limited to raising revenue through rates, with the increase capped each year by the state government, and the significant rise in costs of materials and services, the report acknowledged council would need to “consider a range of strategies” that may include “finding cost savings through efficiency measures, exploring alternative funding sources, or generating revenue through strategic commercial opportunities”.
Climate change, social and economic inequity, population growth and infrastructure and maintenance were also named among the issues affecting Geelong now and in the future.
Further challenges discussed in the report were the growing digital divide between different resident demographics, changing community needs and organisational change.
Deputy mayor Anthony Aitken said the report showed the community should “have confidence” in its council group.
“During that 12-month period, the council was confronted with issues that normally spread themselves over a lifetime,” Cr Aitken said.
“When you read the annual report and have a look at it, it shows you the resilience of the City of Greater Geelong and… the fortitude of the organisation.
“During 22-23 we had our CEO resign, we actually had three Councillors resign. We faced the reality of the massive cost escalations associated with our capital spend, which blew out by $80 million.
“I encourage people to look through (the report), we are doing exactly what the community asked us to do.”
