City of Greater Geelong
City of Greater Geelong Victoria | |||||||||||||||
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Population | 233,429 (2016 census)[1] (12th) | ||||||||||||||
• Density | 187.19/km2 (484.83/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
Established | 1993 | ||||||||||||||
Gazetted | 18 May 1993[2] | ||||||||||||||
Area | 1,247 km2 (481.5 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
Chairperson | Dr Kathy Alexander | ||||||||||||||
Council seat | Geelong city centre | ||||||||||||||
Region | Barwon South West | ||||||||||||||
State electorate(s) | |||||||||||||||
Federal division(s) | |||||||||||||||
File:City of Greater Geelong Logo.svg | |||||||||||||||
Website | City of Greater Geelong | ||||||||||||||
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The City of Greater Geelong is a local government area in the Barwon South West region of Victoria, Australia, located in the western part of the state. It covers an area of 1,247 square kilometres (481 sq mi) and, at the 2016 Census, had a population of 233,429.[1] It is primarily urban with the vast majority of its population living in the Greater Geelong urban area, while other significant settlements within the LGA include Anakie, Balliang, Barwon Heads, Batesford, Ceres, Clifton Springs, Drysdale, Lara, Ocean Grove, Portarlington and St Leonards. It was formed in 1993 from the amalgamation of the Rural City of Bellarine, Shire of Corio, City of Geelong, City of Geelong West, City of Newtown, City of South Barwon, and parts of Shire of Barrabool and Shire of Bannockburn.[2]
The City is governed and administered by the Greater Geelong City Council; its seat of local government and administrative centre is located at the council headquarters in Geelong, it also has service centres located in Drysdale, Ocean Grove and several other locations within Geelong. The City is named after the main urban settlement located in the centre-west of the LGA, that is Geelong, which is also the LGA's most populous urban centre with a population of 143,921.[3]
History of former municipalities
- 1838 – Geelong (Aboriginal word for 'Ocean') region declared a town
- 1849 – Geelong incorporated as a town
- 1853 – Barrabool declared a road district
- 1854 – Bellarine declared a road district
- 1857 – South Barwon a separate district
- 1858 – Newtown and Chilwell a borough
- 1862 – Bannockburn a road district
- 1863 – Queenscliff and Point Lonsdale separates from Bellarine to form the Borough of Queenscliffe
- 1863 – South Barwon a borough
- 1864 – Corio and Bannockburn made shires
- 1865 – Bellarine a shire
- 1872 – South Barwon a shire
- 1875 – West Geelong a borough
- 1910 – Geelong a city
- 1915 – Meredith added to Bannockburn Shire
- 1922 – West Geelong a town
- 1924 – Newtown and Chilwell a town
- 1929 – West Geelong a city
- 1959 – Newtown and Chilwell a city
- 1967 – Newtown discarded Chilwell from its title as a city
- 1974 – South Barwon a city
- 1993 – City of Greater Geelong formed
Sourced from Appendix V, A Journey to Destiny 1890–1990 – 100 Years of Cement Manufacturing at Fyansford by Australian Cement Limited .[4]
Council
2017 Council
Due to conflicts in the previous council a new electoral structure was established for Geelong. The number of wards was reduced to 4 with 3 councilors for each (except Windermere having 2). Residents were also no longer able to directly elect a mayor. [5]
Ward | Party | Councillor | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bellarine Ward | Independent | Stsphanie Asher | ||
Independent Labor | Jim Mason | |||
Independent Liberal | Trent Sullivan | |||
Brownbill Ward | Independent | Eddy Kontelj | ||
Greens | Sarah Mansfield | |||
Indpependent | Peter Murrihy | Deputy Mayor | ||
Kardinia Ward | Independent | Bruce Harwood | Mayor | |
Independent Liberal | Ron Nelson | |||
Independent | Pat Murnane | |||
Windermere Ward | Independent | Anthony Aitken | ||
Independent | Kylie Grzybek |
Administrators
In December 2015, the Minister for Local Government Natalie Hutchins appointed a Commission of Inquiry into the Greater Geelong City Council in response to concerns about the workplace culture and adequacy of governance structures.[6]
The Inquiry found that the council is riven with conflict, unable to manage Geelong's economic challenges, has dysfunctional leadership and has a culture of bullying.[7]
On the recommendation of the Commission, the Victorian Government dismissed the entire Greater Geelong City Council on 16 April 2016[8] and appointed Yehudi Blacher as interim administrator.[9] On 25 May 2016, Dr Kathy Alexander (chairperson), Peter Dorling and Laurinda Gardner were sworn in as administrators, replacing Yehudi Blacher.[10]
Under the Local Government (Greater Geelong City Council) Act 2016, the panel of administrators constitutes the Greater Geelong City Council, and has the same functions, powers and duties as the Greater Geelong City Council and its councillors. Likewise, the chairperson of the panel of administrators has the same functions, powers and duties as the mayor of the council.[11]
The council was ran by administrators until fresh council elections were held on October 27, 2017.[12]
Former and current Mayors
- Gerry Smith (1995–1998)
- Ken Jarvis (1998–2000)
- Michael Crutchfield (2000–2001)
- Stretch Kontelj (2001–2002)
- Barbara Abley (2002–2004)
- Ed Coppe (2004)
- Shane Dowling (2004–2005)
- Peter McMullin (2005–2006)
- Bruce Harwood (2006–2008)
- John Mitchell (2008–2012)
- Keith Fagg (2012–2013)[13]
- Darryn Lyons (2013-2016)[14]
- Bruce Harwood (2017-present)
Former and current Deputy Mayors
- Tony Ansett (2003–2004)
- John Mitchell (2007–2008)
- Rod Macdonald (2008–2009)
- Bruce Harwood (2009–2010)
- Cameron Granger (2010–2012)
- Stretch Kontelj (2012–2013)
- Bruce Harwood (2013–2014)
- Michelle Heagney (2014–2016)
- Peter Murrihy (2017-present)
Administration and governance
The council meets in the council chambers at the council headquarters in the Geelong Town Hall Offices, which is also the location of the council's administrative activities. It also provides customer services at its service centres in Belmont, Corio, Drysdale, Geelong West, Ocean Grove, Waurn Ponds and on Brougham St in Geelong.
Localities
Localities which encompass the City of Greater Geelong include:
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Sister cities
Geelong has sister city relations with the following cities:[15]
See also
References
- ^ a b Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Greater Geelong (C)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
- ^ a b Victoria Government Gazette – Online Archive (1837–1997). "Order estg the City of Greater Geelong: S27 of 1993". State Library of Victoria. State Government of Victoria (published 18 May 1993). pp. 1–3. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
- ^ Census QuickStats (2011). "Geelong (UCL) – UCL203001". Australian Bureau of Statistics. Government of Australia. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
- ^ John, McNeil (1990). A Journey to Destiny 1890–1990 – 100 Years of Cement Manufacturing at Fyansford by Australian Cement Limited. Australian Cement Limited.
- ^ Victorian Electoral Commission (2017). "Greater Geelong City Council's Electoral Structure" (PDF). State of Victoria (Victorian Electoral Commission). Retrieved 19 November 2017.
- ^ "Commission Of Inquiry Appointed To Geelong". Premier of Victoria. 1 December 2015. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
- ^ "Report of the Commission of Inquiry into Greater Geelong City Council". State Government of Victoria. 12 April 2016. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
- ^ Local Government (Greater Geelong City Council) Act 2016 (Vic) s 2
- ^ "Dismissal Of Greater Geelong City Council". Premier of Victoria. 12 April 2016. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
- ^ "Administrators assume the role of Mayor and Councillors". City of Greater Geelong. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
- ^ Local Government (Greater Geelong City Council) Act 2016 (Vic) s 7
- ^ "Geelong Council officially sacked, elections to be held in 2017, as bill passes Parliament". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 14 April 2016. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
- ^ Paul, Margaret (16 August 2013). "Geelong Mayor Keith Fagg quits because of health problems". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
- ^ Heritage, Stuart (26 November 2013). "Darryn Lyons: what reality TV has taught us about Geelong's new mayor". Guardian. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
- ^ "About Geelong". Intown Geelong. Archived from the original on 3 August 2009.