Tuesday, 13 August 2024

Petitions

Point Lonsdale

Sarah MANSFIELD (Western Victoria) presented a petition bearing 92 signatures:

The petition of certain citizens of the State of Victoria draws to the attention of the Legislative Council the unresolved issue of the township of Point Lonsdale at The Heads of Port Phillip Bay falling into two shire councils – the Borough of Queenscliffe (BOQ) and the City of Greater Geelong (COGG). This petition aims to resolve this issue by uniting the town in one shire. The issue at hand is that the democratic right to representation is being undermined by a border through the town. This gives those in the BOQ diluted local representation, less equity in the division of rates and gives them less political influence in the direction their home takes if they live in Point Lonsdale. Similarly those in the COGG also have diminished say in the direction their home takes. A unification would allow greater and more comprehensive planning and a significantly more efficient allocation and function of scarce resources. Currently there are residents of Point Lonsdale whose kids attend the school, who visit the local doctor and shop in the local supermarket and their rates are spent on grants to soccer clubs 40 kilometres away. A politically united town is a fairer, efficient solution.

The petitioners therefore request that the Legislative Council call on the Government to investigate and remove the local government border running through Point Lonsdale and unite the whole town into one of the adjacent local government areas.

Sarah MANSFIELD: I move:

That the petition be taken into consideration on the next day of meeting.

Motion agreed to.