FOUR UNITE TO ADVANCE ‘CLEVER’ VISION FOR CITY
THE Animal Justice Party wants to make desexing compulsory for all domestic animals as it unveils a $3 million funding plan for the city’s shelter.
The AJP has six candidates contesting the Geelong council elections next month, with two in each of the Kardinia and Brownbill wards.
Regional leader Andy Meddick said the team was made up of a diverse range of professionals and labourers.
He said they would be committed to the council’s Clever and Creative future ideals, and direct significant funds to rescue the financially struggling Geelong Animal Welfare Society.
GAWS, which runs Geelong’s animal shelter, last reported an operational deficit over $700,000 and is relying on donations to survive.
Mr Meddick said the council had one of the country’s highest rates of dog and cat registration and needed to support the not-for-profit organis- FOUR Geelong election candidates have formed a coalition that is committed to pursuing the council’s long-term Clever and Creative City strategy.
The independents have vowed to work together if elected to deliver the publicly-endorsed 30-year vision for the city.
The candidates — Mik Aidt (Brownbill), Petra Goerschel (Bellarine), Peter Mitchell (Brownbill) and Doug Mann (Kardinia) — are standing on a “Vote 1 For Our Future” ticket.
“Local politics can’t be about individual aspirations — we need to think bigger, and we have to collaborate to create the sort of change which is necessary now,” Doug Mann and Mik Aidt said in a joint statement. ation. “We believe council has a moral and ethical responsibility to reverse this situation,” he said.
“(We) will seek a single payment of $1 million to wipe out the debt, and to give GAWS an operational budget of $250,000 for that year. This is
“The special circumstances around this council election open a unique, once-in-lifetime window for making a fresh start with a change of culture.”
The council’s Clever and Creative City vision was crafted this year after input from 16,000 residents.
It outlined goals that by 2050 Geelong would be carbon neutral, crime would be at least 20 per cent below the state average and residents would have relatively good health.
The four candidates also want to see the council progress its commitment to the One Planet Living framework.
Mr Aidt, who has a passion for addressing climate change and supporting renewable energy, said the city needed leadership that provided long-term stability. “We give voice to what a lot of people feel,” he said.
“They have lost confidence in politicians who spend most of the time mocking each other while they fail to create safety and optimism for the community and for our environment.”
Ms Goerschel said the council’s financial position, coupled with the impact of rate capping, would potentially lead to a declining level of services to the public.
“As a community, we must face the reality that for, at least the near future, state aid and other sources of revenue are going to be tight, requiring us to balance the needs and wants of our community with our current and future fiscal situation.”