City Hall grilled over library cuts

Mayor Trent Sullivan called the turnout and group rallying to keep their library services “easilly the most passionate” he had come across in his five years at CoGG, as he attempted to answer concerns over diminishing library capacities.

Councillors Melissa Cadwell, Eddy Kontelj, Jim Mason, Ron Nelson and Deputy Mayor Anthony Aitken were also in attendance at the robust meeting.

Due to a claimed $762,000 shortfall in the 2023-24 budget the Geelong Regional Library Corporation, who manage the facilities, has proposed to close most CoGG libraries on Saturday afternoons and Sundays, sparking widespread outrage.

Much of the angst inside the room centred around why Mr Sullivan refused to use question time at a recent council meeting to answer community concerns, with Save Barwon Heads Library group member Karen Firth putting it to him at the protest.

Mr Sullivan said he was advised it is “not considered best practice” for question time to be extended past the allocated 45 minute period and, put simply, they had run out of time.

“The meeting before the last one I pushed it out from 45 minutes to roughly 90 minutes, so I do believe that everyone should be heard at council meetings,” he said.

“However, that is not considered best practice and I do understand why.

“The advice was to me to bring back question time to 45 minutes to be able to proceed with the rest of the meeting and pay due respect to everybody else in the chamber who are there to see reports on the agenda.

“This is why (meetings) like this are very important.”

Save Geelong West Library campaigner Angela Carr asked Mr Kontelj “what is the justification for reducing hours in a cost of living crisis?” to which he replied:

“There is no justification whatsoever.”

He said CoGG was funding the regions libraries to the tune of $13.9 million and would “continue to negotiate with GRLC”.

“We want to ensure we don’t shut any library,” he said.

“We are talking about $760,000 … between the leaders of the two organisations we should be able to find the capacity to find this in full.”

Speaking after the meeting, Ms Firth told the Geelong Advertiser she was “glad our voices are now being heard”.

“They tried to explain why we weren’t heard at Tuesday’s council meeting, (but) we don’t care about the technicalities,” she said.

A motion was passed at the meeting to return all Geelong regional libraries to pre-Covid hours, which is expected to be put before elected members at the next council meeting.

Moderator Shane Balkin said a formal resolution was being prepared which would demand:

1. That libraries be fully funded and progressively enhanced with financial contributions from each participatory council, including the City of Greater Geelong.

2. All branch libraries remain open with extended hours after 5pm and on weekends, and;

3. Direct community representation on the Board of the Geelong Regional Libraries Corporation.

“This is a massive issue that all of the councillors should be listening to us on,” Ms Firth continued.

“We understand the figures, we do not want to be patronised. We can see what is happening and we expect collaboration.

“We expect them to fully fund libraries, it is a basic essential service that as community members, we want funded.”

Ms Carr said she appreciated councillors fronting up to face concerned ratepayers and residents.

“People in the community are angry because they do keep seeing library services continue to be diminished,” she said.

“I think a community campaign around libraries brings together people from all different walks of life, as libraries are the heart and soul of a community.

“This is not the end of it for us.”

Mr Sullivan reminded those in attendance “when turning to budget items like libraries” they could be heard at the planned Submission Review Panel Hearings this week.

People who made written submissions to council’s draft budget, and indicated they wanted to be heard verbally, will be able to speak to council on June 6 and 7 at the council chamber on Little Malop St.

Each session will start at 6pm.

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