Sarah Hathway says she can’t support City Hall’s economic plan because of its support of the defence industry

Three years in the making, City Hall has adopted a long-term economic plan – but one councillor wasn’t happy.

Geelong councillor Sarah Hathway. Picture: Alan Barber.

A Geelong councillor says she cannot support City Hall’s 10-year plan to boost the region’s economy because it supports the manufacturing of weapons.

Sarah Hathway expressed disappointment at Tuesday night’s meeting that the Geelong On The Rise document – and by extension council – continued to promote the defence industry.

“This isn’t the first document that comes before us to do so,” she said.

“We can’t as a council end wars or genocide occurring in other parts of the world.

“But we can control what goes into our strategic documents and what industries we want to promote or attract into our city, and what we choose to highlight in our documents.”

Ms Hathway’s comments are similar to those made by Geelong-based state Greens MP Sarah Mansfield in February.

At that time, Israeli company Elbit Systems was awarded a $917m contract to supply turrets to Korean company Hanwha for the construction of 129 Redback infantry fighting vehicles at its Avalon base.

In introducing the motion, deputy mayor Anthony Aitken spoke glowingly of the plan, which has been three years in the making.

He said Geelong was now a national leader in health care, while the region’s geography gave it a competitive advantage in the transport space.

“It is a wonderful time to actually live in Geelong, and it is a wonderful time to actually be part of the future, and it is wonderful time under the economic development plan to be influencing that future, as well, too,” he said.

Councillor Jim Mason seconded the motion.

“Now we have a vision of a clean, liveable visitor economy and events, with creative industries and digital technology, decarbonised transport and logistics, advanced manufacturing, professional business services and defence industries,” he said.

“It’s one where sustainability, climate change and circular economy principles have prominence and are at interwoven into key strategies and core opportunities for the region.”

Geelong On The Rise aims to attract 55,000 new jobs and increase gross regional product by $9.7bn.

Ms Hathway and Belinda Moloney were the only councillors to oppose the plan.

Earlier: Global plan for Geelong revealed ahead of leaders’ Korea trip

Council is set to vote on a new 10-year economic plan to make Geelong a “clever and creative international city,” before the mayor and chief executive jet off to South Korea next month.

Geelong On The Rise, a new economic development plan that was first commissioned in 2021, will go before the City of Greater Geelong council at their Tuesday night meeting.

If successful, the plan seeks to attract 120,000 people, add 55,000 new jobs and increase the gross regional product $9.7b by 2041.

Community consultation received 76 per cent positive responses from 21 formal submissions earlier this year, and the plan was guided by over 100 local businesses, industry representative groups and key stakeholders.

According to council documents, Respondents were particularly drawn to the Plan’s future-focused commitment, emphasis on people and industry, promotion of a clean economy, international appeal, and its creative aspects

Ali Wastie, the CEO of the City of Greater Geelong, says the city is primed for future growth. Picture: David Crosling

Mayor Trent Sullivan said the plan “represents a significant step towards realising our long-term vision of becoming a prosperous, sustainable, innovative, and creative city-region.”

“Geelong is growing at a rapid rate and is now home to more than 280,000 people,” he said.

“This growth has been fuelled by an attractive lifestyle, diversifying economy, and a diverse and welcoming community.”

Council CEO Ali Wastie said wider Geelong had undergone “remarkable growth” over the past decade.

“Geelong is outpacing every other region in Australia, boasting the fastest population growth in Victoria and second fastest in Australia, the largest regional economy in the state, and the fastest jobs growth of all Australian regional cities,” Ms Wastie said.

The pair will head to Korea next month, and are expected to spend up to four days meeting local business and political leaders, including Mayor of Changwon City Huh Sungmoo.

Changwon is home to defence giant Hanwha, which is putting the finishing touches on its $170m Armoured Vehicle Centre of Excellence at Avalon.

In an effort to minimise the cost to ratepayers, they will fly economy class.

Mr Sullivan hopes to develop a memorandum of understanding that was signed by city leaders two years ago.

Their expenses once in Korea will be covered by his hosts.

Mr Sullivan also headed to Portugal earlier in July for a week-long visit alongside City Hall’s executive director of placemaking Tennille Bradley.

The pair were attending UNESCO’s Creative City annual meeting in Braga, before finishing with a two-day visit to Covilhã – Portugal’s only UNESCO City of Design.

The cost to ratepayers of the Portugal trip is estimated at $13,000.

Originally published as Sarah Hathway says she can’t support City Hall’s economic plan because of its support of the defence industry