New flag twist
HOW many flags are too many? The Surf Coast Shire will be asked to consider this question tomorrow night when the ongoing saga of flags at the council offices takes yet another twist.
In April, the council voted to fly the rainbow pride flag on one of the three existing ceremonial flagpoles at the Torquay shire offices until the Federal Government recognised marriage equality.
The decision proved divisive, prompting bitter disputes between councillors and a subsequent attempt to overturn the decision at last month’s council meeting. Community members and politicians complained that it appeared the rainbow flag was flying higher than its Australian counterpart, while others objected to the council taking a political stance on behalf of the community.
Now, the pride flag is back on the Surf Coast Shire agenda for the third successive month, this time in the unusual form of a report from CEO Keith Baillie to presumably try and put the matter to bed once and for all.
Mr Baillie’s recommendation is to construct another two flagpoles — one to permanently display the rainbow flag and another to “periodically fly flags relating to issues of community significance”. Each flagpole would cost an estimated $3000 and take the tally of flagpoles at the shire offices to five.
Suddenly the original plan to make a statement at no financial cost to the council will potentially cost ratepayers at least $6000. And while this costly amendment might fix any conflicts with the Australian flag, it doesn’t really allay critics in other parts of the debate.
One of the prevailing criticisms of Surf Coast Shire when the original decision was made was that it was operating out of its core business. Many argued that local government should be about rates, services and community infrastructure, rather than making a statement on Federal Government issues.
After spending countless hours arguing over the issue and now faced with having to spend ratepayers’ money to try to find a compromise, the Surf Coast Shire may very well now agree.