Community
11 April, 2025
Councillors take agenda to Spring Street
WARRNAMBOOL City councillors have taken the city’s ‘agenda’ to Spring Street.
Councillors recently completed another successful advocacy effort in Melbourne.
“It’s important that our Victorian political representatives and key departmental staff understand our community’s priorities,” mayor Cr Ben Blain said.
“Competition for funding is as tough as it’s ever been so we need to put forward strong arguments for the projects that need the support of other levels of government.
“Having all seven councillors make the trip to Spring Street made a powerful statement and we were given a good hearing at each of our meetings.
“If our priorities are on the table and we’ve made a case for them they stand a better chance of being supported through government funding programs.
“We also had the pleasure of meeting the Deakin University vice-chancellor Iain Martin.
“During his time as vice chancellor the Warrnambool campus has been reinvigorated.”
Among the projects and issues discussed were the Brierly Recreation Reserve community hub; partnership projects with Deakin University and South West TAFE (including the Early Years Education Centre of Excellence and the Clean Energy Centre of Excellence); flood planning and funding for flood mitigation measures, and local government financial sustainability.
Also discussed was the need for an upgrade at AquaZone, breakwater repairs, a safer Raglan Parade, foreshore vegetation management and safety concerns and landfill levy increases.
A new surf club building, invasive pest species and the housing crisis were also topics of discussion.
“We also raised the Mortlake Road roundabout along with the Allansford intersection with the Princes Highway,” Cr Blain said.
Councillors met Member for Western Victoria Jacinta Ermacora, the Hon Gayle Tierney, Sarah Mansfield, Bev McArthur, and Joe McCracken.
They also canvassed local issues with member for South West Coast Roma Britnell and met for the first time the new Minister for Local Government, Nick Staikos.
Councillors also raised planning issues with advisors to the Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny, and representatives from the Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Action and the Department of Transport and Planning.
