G21’s future uncertain amid expected council budget cuts

The Geelong Region Alliance will meet to discuss its future as speculation grows more cash will be slashed from City Hall’s budget.

G21 CEO Giulia Baggio in Geelong. Picture: Mark Wilson

The Geelong Region Alliance (G21) will meet next month to discuss its future as speculation grows more money will be slashed from Geelong council’s budget.

The alliance, which has represented the region for 23 years, will meet to ensure the groups advocacy and collaborative effort s are maintained as council budgets become increasingly constrained.

Well placed sources within City Hall said the council group had been growing increasingly sceptical about the city’s involvement with the alliance, and the return on investment.

“It’s been under the spotlight for sometime,” one said.

“The outcomes they’re delivering, and if it’s time to think of a new model.”

Sources within City Hall say the relationship with the alliance has been under the spotlight for sometime.

One alternate model which has been kicking around City Hall for a while is a potential partnership with the City of Wyndham.

While there is no formal agreement as of yet, it’s understood some higher ups view the growth issues faced by Wyndham are more comparable to those faced by City of Greater Geelong (COGG).

It’s speculated the COGG will be significantly reducing funding from the alliance in its upcoming budget, after last year cutting their contribution in half.

This would be a major blow, with COGG being G21’s largest benefactor year on year.

Some within the council believe that blow could sound the death knell for the organisation.

Confirmation of these cuts won’t come until Geelong’s budget is released, which likely won’t occur until after Anzac Day.

G21 chair Melissa Stephens said the organisations work was imperative the region’s future.

“Strong regional collaboration is essential for the future of our communities and G21’s work as a highly regarded regional body is more important than ever as our population continues to grow at a rapid rate,” Ms Stephens said.

G21 chair Melissa Stephen said the organisations work was important for the region.

“G21’s strategic planning work and development of priority projects to attract investment to the region is well known and highly regarded in Canberra and Spring Street. Our regional mayors will continue to lead the advocacy effort as we manage financial headwinds affecting local government budgets.

“This is Australia’s most exciting and dynamic region and effective collaboration will continue to guide good growth across all our communities in the years to come,”

Former G21 chair and current co-chief executive at Neighborhood Economics, Bill Mithen, said any decision to slash funding would be a blow.

He said the alliance played a critical role in helping deliver a $676m investment plan for the region through the Geelong City Deal, a partnership between all three levels of government.

“We did a lot of heavy lifting to make sure that deal came to fruition why council was in administration,” Mr Mithen said.

“I’d be really disappointed.

“G21 is such an asset and the risk of not having it is the system separates and we go back into isolationist mode.”

Bill Mithen and Sarah Somerset ad the Future Geelong Leadership Awards. Picture: Alan Barber

The G21 regional alliance represents the City of Greater Geelong, Surf Coast Shire, Colac Otway Shire, Golden Plains Shire and the Borough of Queenscliffe.

A CoGG spokeswoman said a proposed budget for 2025-26 was being finalised and would be released for community feedback during the next council meeting on April 22.

Surf Coast chief executive, Robyn Seymour said the alliance is an “incredibly valuable partnership” and advocate.

“G21 is highly regarded at state and federal level and has a proven track record in achieving

benefits for the wider region,” she said.

“That said, we do understand this is a challenging economic environment and we understand the cost pressures that all parts of our community, including local councils, are facing.”

Originally published as G21’s future uncertain amid expected council budget cuts