Adrian Jacobs: city and shire need to talk.
FORMER Warrnambool City councillor Adrian Jacobs has ramped up his bid for another tilt by renewing a call for more dialogue between the city and Moyne Shire councils.
The retired schoolteacher says while his earlier suggestion to consider amalgamation had been howled down, there were strong reasons for the two municipalities to work closer on the regional airport at Mailors Flat, a route for the proposed ring road and a new site for the Warrnambool livestock saleyards.
"There are a lot of shared interests between the two councils," he told The Standard.
"If boundary changes are out of the question, I think a working party of councillors and officers should be formed to look at the future."
He said the airport was on shire land and operated by the city which had to carry the majority of cost burden for the benefit of the whole region including Moyne.
The city's net operating cost for the airport is $105,000 a year and it is also responsible for planning and delivery of infrastructure works.
Moyne's annual contribution is $27,000 and it waives rates charges to the city.
Mr Jacobs said there was an urgent need to plan a ring road rather than the unofficial route through Woodford, which posed a high accident risk.
"Trucks come through Bridge Road, Woodford from many ways," he said.
"The city needs to talk with Moyne about mapping out a proper ring road."
He also wants discussions on finding suitable land for new saleyards north of Warrnambool near main feeder roads.
"A possible area could be near Mailors Flat," he said.
"When earlier discussions were held by the city on proposals to close the yards in Caramut Road many Moyne residents were very outspoken and harangued city councillors.
"Moyne council was very quiet on the issue and seemed to be giving no assistance to the city.
"If land was found in Moyne near a main north arterial road a private operator may be able to run the business."