City of Greater Geelong

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 1,248 square kilometres (482 sq mi) and, in June 2018, had a population of 252,217.[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]

This article is about the local government area. For the Geelong metropolitan area, see Geelong. For the locality containing Geelong's city centre, see Geelong city centre.

City of Greater Geelong
Victoria
Location of the City of Greater Geelong in Victoria
Population252,217 (2018)[1] (12th)
 • Density202.10/km2 (523.43/sq mi)
Established1993
Gazetted18 May 1993[2]
Area1,248 km2 (481.9 sq mi)[1]
MayorStephanie Asher
Council seatGeelong city centre
RegionBarwon South West
State electorate(s)
Federal Division(s)
WebsiteCity of Greater Geelong
LGAs around City of Greater Geelong:
Golden Plains Moorabool Shire Wyndham
Golden Plains City of Greater Geelong Port Phillip Bay
Surf Coast Bass Strait Queenscliffe

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 approximately 157,000.[3]

In 2019, City of Greater Geelong announced a new headquarters across the road from WorkSafe Victoria. The project will be part of the new "Civic Precinct" in the Geelong CBD.

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 in 2017. The number of wards was reduced to 4 with 3 councillors for each (except Windermere having 2) elected by proportional representation. Residents were also no longer able to directly elect a mayor. [5] The current councillors, in order of election at the 2020 election, are:[6]

WardPartyCouncillorNotes
Bellarine Ward Independent Liberal Stephanie Asher
Independent Liberal Trent Sullivan
Independent Labor Jim Mason
Brownbill Ward Greens Sarah Mansfield
Independent Eddy Kontelj
Independent Peter Murrihy
Kardinia Ward Independent Bruce Harwood
Independent Liberal Ron Nelson
Independent Belinda Moloney
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.[7]

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.[8]

On the recommendation of the Commission, the Victorian Government dismissed the entire Greater Geelong City Council on 16 April 2016[9] and appointed Yehudi Blacher as interim administrator.[10] On 25 May 2016, Dr Kathy Alexander (chairperson), Peter Dorling and Laurinda Gardner were sworn in as administrators, replacing Yehudi Blacher.[11]

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.[12]

The council was run by administrators until fresh council elections were held on 27 October 2017.[13]

City of Greater Geelong and urban areas including Geelong

Former and current Mayors

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 (2017–2019)
  • Kylie Grzybek (2019–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. Council customer service centres are located in Belmont, Corio, Drysdale, Geelong West, Ocean Grove, Waurn Ponds and at Brougham St in Geelong.

Localities

Localities which encompass the City of Greater Geelong include:

Sister cities

Geelong has sister city relations with the following cities:[16]

See also

References
  1. "3218.0 – Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2017–18: Population Estimates by Local Government Area (ASGS 2018), 2017 to 2018". Australian Bureau of Statistics. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2019. Estimated resident population, 30 June 2018.
  2. 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.
  3. Census QuickStats (2016). "Geelong (UCL) – UCL203001". Australian Bureau of Statistics. Government of Australia. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  4. John, McNeil (1990). A Journey to Destiny 1890–1990 – 100 Years of Cement Manufacturing at Fyansford by Australian Cement Limited. Australian Cement Limited.
  5. Victorian Electoral Commission (2017). "Greater Geelong City Council's Electoral Structure" (PDF). State of Victoria (Victorian Electoral Commission). Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  6. "Greater Geelong City Council election results 2020". www.vec.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  7. "Commission Of Inquiry Appointed To Geelong". Premier of Victoria. 1 December 2015. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  8. "Report of the Commission of Inquiry into Greater Geelong City Council". State Government of Victoria. 12 April 2016. Archived from the original on 29 June 2016. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  9. Local Government (Greater Geelong City Council) Act 2016 (Vic) s 2
  10. "Dismissal Of Greater Geelong City Council". Premier of Victoria. 12 April 2016. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  11. "Administrators assume the role of Mayor and Councillors". City of Greater Geelong. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  12. Local Government (Greater Geelong City Council) Act 2016 (Vic) s 7
  13. "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.
  14. Paul, Margaret (16 August 2013). "Geelong Mayor Keith Fagg quits because of health problems". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
  15. Heritage, Stuart (26 November 2013). "Darryn Lyons: what reality TV has taught us about Geelong's new mayor". Guardian. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  16. "About Geelong". Intown Geelong. Archived from the original on 3 August 2009.

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