Bellarine MP Alison Marchant has accused the City of Greater
Geelong for being ready for a photo opportunity at the opening of
the Boronggook Drysdale Library when it knew it would not be able
to fund its operational costs.
The new library was opened on May 5 just days after the City
announced its 2023-24 budget, which exposed a shortfall in
operational funding of the regions libraries.
Barwon Heads, Geelong West and Highton libraries were facing
closure due to a lack of funding, but still may operate on reduced
hours, including Boronggook Drysdale.
The moves have angered residents who have organised rallies and
bombarded council with letters, petitions and in-person meetings in
protest of the changes.
At the Boronggook Drysdale Library official opening on May 5, Ms
Marchant spoke of the state governments $1 million contribution to
building the library.
In my address at the official opening of the Boronggook Drysdale
Library, I expressed the importance of libraries, its social
impacts and significance of its addition to residents of the north
Bellarine region, she said.
Stating we recognise that libraries enrich local communities by
supporting a culture that values reading, learning and social
connection.
It is incredibly disappointing that CoGG were ready for the
photo opportunity but not prepared to fund the Boronggook Drysdale
Librarys operational costs.
I congratulate the community for their continued advocacy. They
have been diligent, passionate and extremely proficient in their
arguments for change.
I proudly stand with the community and support their calls for
the council to do better. I believe the community feels swindled,
when the council were happy to grandstand at its official opening
knowing full well that they would not be funding its ongoing
operation adequately.
It is now time for the council to do the right thing. I
respectfully ask the council to fund the GRLC fully and
appropriately.
Mayor Trent Sullivan said council was hoping to secure extra
funding from the state government for next years budget.
We will be having a conversation with the government over the
next year in the hope of securing additional state funding to
support our libraries in time for next years budget, he said.
We would appreciate Ms Marchants support to achieve this.
Reflecting the value we place in libraries, we contributed
$8.156 million towards the build of the Boronggook Drysdale
Library, alongside the governments $1 million.
Our proposed budget for next year includes $13.948 million
towards our regions libraries, which represents a greater
investment per resident than almost every other Council in
Victoria.
Neither we nor the community have been told at this point what
the state governments contribution to our libraries will be in
2023-24. This is a major concern considering our proposed
allocation has been unde...