Queenscliff community members have shared their concerns regarding the Borough of Queenscliffe’s community vision, with council due to discuss the matter further later this month.
The borough unanimously decided during its August 27 meeting to receive a petition regarding council’s revised community vision, which was adopted during its July 23 meeting, and lay it on the table until the September 24 meeting.
Uniting Queenscliff Reverend Greg Crowe submitted the petition signed by 407 people, including 271 residents and ratepayers from the borough.
Mr Crowe said he felt that the current council had withdrawn or significantly altered key components of the community vision “without adequate consultation or transparency”.
“Environmental responsibility, including climate action and the preservation of biodiversity, has been deprioritised or ignored,” he said.
“Commitments to reconciliation and an ongoing, meaningful relationship with First Nations peoples have been stripped back or removed.
“The revised Community Vision eliminates foundational pillars of our shared values and despite claims of transparency, no evidence from community consultation has been provided to justify these changes.”
Mr Crowe said he hoped council would reevaluate its community vision and consider the collective aspirations of borough residents.
“Section 88 of the Local Government Act specifies that a community vision must capture the aspirations of the municipal community,” he said.
“Despite widespread community endorsement for maintaining the current vision, it appears that council, without due process, has unilaterally decided to ignore the input, views and wishes of constituents.
“We cannot accept the erosion of values that are core to who we are as residents and members of a wider community who are committed to consultative transparency and legally accountable processes.”
The petition called on council to release a full and accurate consultation and engagement report, rescind the community vision and prepare a draft community vision based on engagement findings.
It also requested a finalised community vision based on community consultations and feedback on the draft, along with restoring core components of the original vision.
