Unified voice for city

CRITICS label it “the city of committees”.

It is regularly observed that this city has a lot of vocal lobby groups. Some of them are member-based, others publicly subsidised.

They do not always agree on what Geelong’s priorities should be or how we should fulfil them.

Tensions can arise between the groups as a result of different priorities, opposing stances on issues, or from competing for access and exposure.

The Commission of Inquiry into Geelong council found: “There is a plethora of planning, advisory and other business or community-based organisations in Greater Geelong all with a view, but not necessarily a shared view, on what is required for the City’s success.” The report said that the council lacked a plan and the capability to draw the disparate groups together in common cause.

More than a year since that report there does not appear to be much improvement. We saw disagreement between such groups over planning for where putative Federal Government City Deal funding should go with G21 naturally taking a multi-council approach.

The current council administration was asked if it wanted to make any strong public pleas that the federal money should go to its local government area but decided not to.

Some of the best ideas are deceptively simple. And that is certainly true of the push to create a more unified voice on the needs of Geelong.

It seems logical that a single representative “super-group” for Geelong with a unified list of the city’s needs — which could be presented to government —would be more effective than the alternative.

It would mean fewer kings and queens of their own patches and wounded pride would have to be overcome in order to work as one for the good of our city.

But it could yield altogether much better results for everyone.

US President Harry S Truman said it best: “It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.”