ANNUAL REPORT 2007-2008 CITY OF GREATER GEELONG

ABOUT US
Located some 75 kilometres from the
Melbourne CBD, our municipality is made up
of 12 wards and has a growing population of
over 208,000.
The Annual Report 2007-2008 meets
with our commitment to be transparent in performance
reporting.
Our Council
CITY OF GREATER GEELONG ANNUAL REPORT 2007-2008
The City of Greater Geelong’s City Plan
2007-2011 is the guiding document for
this Annual Report. City Plan describes
our strategic objectives and key strategies.
Council embarked on an ambitious
program of actions for 2007-2008 aligned
to the nine Pillars of a great city and the
two themes: Democracy and Best Value.
The Annual Report provides an update on
the highlights and achievements
emanating from this program. It also
states our objectives for the future and
lists the challenges ahead.
In 2007-2008 1,625 new residential dwellings were
approved, with total residential dwellings now exceedig
90,000. The city is also a major centre for investment
with over 13,000 businesses and a highly skilled
workforce of over 110,000 people.
The municipality covers 1,245km 2 , comprising country,
coastal and suburban areas. We are surrounded by water,
with Corio and Port Phillip Bays, the Barwon River, lakes,
wetlands and the open sea, beautiful parklands and
wildlife sanctuaries. In close proximity to national and
state parks, Geelong is also readily accessible to the world
renowned coastline of south-west Victoria via the Great
Ocean Road, and edges the multi-award-winning
Waterfront overlooking Corio Bay.
Geelong offers quality living, extensive job and business
opportunities and a wide range of recreational and
cultural events and activities. We are fortunate to have
some of Australia’s best educational facilities and a
comprehensive range of health care and community
services for residents across all age groups. Geelong truly
is the best place to live.
About This Annual Report
This Annual Report details the performance and
achievements of our Council for the period 1 July 2007
to 30 June 2008. The aim is to inform all Council
stakeholders including ratepayers, residents, businesses,
community and interest groups, news media, all levels of
government, Council staff and the wider general
community.
Geelong became a Local Government entity under the
Incorporation of the Town of Geelong Act (an Act of NSW
Parliament) on 12 October 1849.
Victoria's Local Government reform began in 1993
when the State Government introduced legislation to
combine more than 200 small local Councils into 78
larger Councils (now 79). At this time, six local Councils
and part of a seventh (Barrabool) were formed into
one large municipality called the City of Greater Geelong
(18 May 1993).
Since 1993 the structure of our Council has undergone
some significant changes.
Between 1993 and 1995 the City of Greater Geelong
was governed by four Commissioners appointed by the
State. In March 1995 the new City of Greater Geelong
held its first election. 12 Councillors were elected
with each Councillor representing one ward.
In late 1997 the Council was restructured by the State
Government and the 12 ward makeup was changed to
four wards. Subsequent to this, the second Council was
elected in 1998 consisting of nine Councillors.
In March 2001, the Council reverted to its current 12
ward system with 12 Councillors. A further review was
completed by the Victorian Electoral Commission
in May 2008 with the decision to maintain the current
structure, however some ward boundaries have been
modified. The ward boundary changes will take effect
for the General Election to be held in November 2008.
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