Lobby calls for monitors to stay

GEELONG’S ratepayer lobby group says it is premature to consider letting council be free of its State Government monitors, but called for clarity to justify the financial impost.

Ratepayers Geelong president Jim Collins said while councillors were prepared to live with the situation some months ago, he felt the council was trying to take advantage of Adem Somyurek moving into the role of local government minister.

Cr Eddy Kontelj called for the removal of monitors Jude Munro and Peter Dorling at a meeting this month, during which Mayor Bruce Harwood said he had written to the new minister for a progress report.

Mr Collins is also chasing a meeting with Mr Somyurek and said the public deserved to know what the monitors had done, or why council had yet to earn the right to be free of their guidance.

“We would like to know more about what council does and what (monitors) do, but it’s an impost on the ratepayers too, and I think it’s an impost we can least afford,” he said.

The monitors were initially installed to watch over council until 2020.

Mr Collins said based on the fact Cr Kontelj, Peter Murrihy and Cr Harwood were allowed to stand after being in power during the sackings, it was still prudent to keep an eye on their progress for now.

Mr Somyurek said the monitors were helping council implement Commission of Inquiry recommendations.

“People in Geelong deserve first class services and excellent governance — and that’s exactly what these monitors are working towards,” he said.