SPEECH BY THE PRIN; E MINISTER,
THE HOIN. E. G. WHITLA-Q. C . Hi. P.,
AT NORNINGTON PENISINSULA MUN ICIPALITIES ASSOCIATION,
MORNINGTON, VIC. 12 AUGUST 1975
IT GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE TO BE HERE WITH
YOU TONIGHT AS A GUEST OF THE QUARTERLY SOCIAL EVENING
ASSEMBLY OF THE MORNINGTON PENINSULA, MUNICIPALITIES
ASSOCIATION. I PAY TRIBUTE TO YOUR VISION IN CHOOSING
TO MEET TOGETHER, IN ASSOCIATION, WITH THE BEST INTERESTS
OF YOUR PENINSULA-AT HEART. WITHOUT SACRIFICING
YOUR DISINCTIVE INDIVIDUAL ELEMENTS, YOU WERE FARSIGHTED
ENOUGH TO REALISE THAT ON SOME MATTERS IT WOULD MAKE MUCH
MORE SENSE TO GO IT TOGETHER RATHER THAN ALONE. I CAN
UNDERSTAND THE INITIAL DIFFICULTIES YOU MIGHT HAVE FACED
IN PERSUADING PEOPLE THAT A QUARTERLY MEETING TOGETHER WAS NOT.
TANTAMOUNT TO SELLING OUT YOUR BIRTHRIGHT, BUT POSSIBLY A
STEP TOWARDS RECOVERING THAT BIRTHRIGHT, PARTICULARLY
IN AN AREA SO ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AS THE HIORNINGTON
PENINSULA, / 2
2..
IAM QUITE SURE THAT EACH MEMBER ORGANISATION
THE CITY OF FRANKSTON AND THE SHIRES OF FLINDERS,
HASTINGS AMD JORNINGTON ITSELF -VALUES THE OPPORTUNITY
OF SHARING PROBLEMS AND WORKING TOGETHER ON SOLUTIONS
WHICH WILL BENEFIT THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE WHOLE
OF THE [ iORNINGTON PENINSULA. AND NOT JUST ONE PART OF
IT,. YOU HAVE A GREAT DEAL TO TEACH MANY OTHER DISTRICTS,
MANY OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENT BODIES WHO MAY BE STILL INCLINED
TO SHY OFF THE IDEA OF ANY KIND OF REGIONALISM FOR FEAR
OF LOSING THEIR " INDIVIDUAL IDENTITIES. YOU HAVE
DEMONSTRATED, WITH YOUR ASSOCIATION, THAT THIS IS AN
UNFOUNDED FEAR. INDEED YOU ALL BELONG, AS WELL, TO
THE WESTERNPORT REG I ONAL ORGANI SATI ON OF COUN'CI LS WHICH
HAS DRAWN SUPPORT FROM THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT'S
. REGIONAL ORGANISATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM,
IT IS GRATIFYING TO ATTEND GATHERINGS
LIKE THIS, BECAUSE THEY PROVIDE AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY
FOR ME TO HEAR AT FIRST HAND HOW THINGS ARE GOING AT THE
GRASS ROOTS LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT, THE ONE CLOSEST
TO THE PEOPLE, IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS I HAVE ATTENDED
LOCAL GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONS FROM FUMUT To LAUNCESTON.
FROM IPSWICH TO FOF; SES AND IN THE SPRAWLING SUBURBS
OF SYDNEY WHICH FORM MY OWN ELECTORATE. THE ACTUAL,
PROBLEMS DIFFER FROM PLACE TO PLACE, ACCORDING TO
DEMOGRAPHIC SHIFTS, BUT ESSENTIALLY THE CONSTANT ISSUE
IS HOW BEST TO FACILITATE THE DELIVERY OF GOVERNMENT
SERVICES TO PEOPLE WHERE THEY LIVE, BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT
AFFECTS THE QUALITY OF THEIR LIVES,
L2 3.
THERE WAS A TIME, OF COURSE, WHEN PRIME
f "] INISTERS TENDED NOT TO GET INVOLVED IN AN YTHIN', G AS
ORDINARY AND BASIC AND RELEVANT AS LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
IT WAS BENEATH THEIR DIGNITY TO BOTHER THEMSELVES WITH
HOW LOCAL GOVERNMENT COULD POSSIBLY MAKE ENDS MEET,
WITH FIOW ESSENTIAL SERVICES COULD BE MADE AVAILABLE
IN OUTER SUBURBAN' AREAS, WITH WHAT THE QUALITY OF LIFE
WAS GOING TO BE LIKE FOR ANY BUT THE COMFORTABLY
OFF. THAT WAS THE TIME WHEN LOCAL GOVERNMENT WAS
RATHER LESS THAN A POOR RELATION, MORE LIKE A
FOUINDLIN'IG THAT NEITHER PREMIERS NOR PRIME MINISTERS
WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT. BUT THINGS HAVE CHANGED, CHANGED
UTTERLY, ANID IN A REMARKABLY SHORT TIME,
JUST TWO WEEKS AGO, WE ANNOUN CED THIS YEAR'S
GRANTS COMMISSION ALLOCATIONS TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT BODIES,
$ 79,908,000 THROUGHOUT AUSTRALIA, WITH $ 20,21-2,000
COMING TO VICTORIA. IT MAY NOT BE TOO OBVIOUS IF I MIENTION
THAT $/ 410,000 CAME TO THLE INDIVIDUAL SHIRE AND CITY COUNICILS
MAKING UP THE 1': 1ORNINGTON PENINSULA N'UNICIPALITIES ASSOCIATION,
THIS YEAR,) GRANTS REPRESENT AN INCREASE OF 387. FOR
VICTORIA ON LAST YEAR'S GRANTS, AND THE LEVEL OF PER
CAPITA ASSISTANCE HAS RISEN FROM $ 4.07 IN 1974/ 75 TO
$ 5.58 IN 1975/ 76. o,/ a4
IT'S SO EASY NOW TO TALK ABOUT THIS
YEAR IS AND LAST YEARIS ALLOCATIONS AS THOUGH THEY
HAVE ALWAYS BEEN AROUND. BUT, OF COURSE, THEY HAVEN'T.
REMEMBER WHAT A STRUGGLE WE HAD TO GET THE PRINCIPLE
OF FUNDING ACCEPTED? SOME OF YOU MIGHT RECALL A CERTAIN
SECTION OF MY POLICY SPEECH IN 1972:
" VIE WILL GIVE LOCAL GOVERNMENT FULL
ACCESS TO THE LOAN COUNCIL AND GRANTS COMMISSION
NOT ONLY BECAUSE THE BURDENS BORNE BY TAXPAYERS AS
RATEPAYERS MUST BE REDUCED, BUT BECAUSE THE INEQUALITIES
MUST BE ATTACKED BY THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT ACTING
WITH AND THROUGH LOCAL GOVERNMENT."
IT WASN'T A VERY GLAMOROUS PROMISE BUT
IT WAS AN1 IMPORTANT ONE, AND IT WAS ATTACKED BY OUR
OPPONENTS AT STArE AND FEDERAL LEVELS, IBECAUSE THEY
WERE NOT INTERESTED IN THE RESPONSIBILITIES AND BURDENS
OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, THEY WERE UNABLE TO RESPOND TO
OUR PLEDGE TO HELP LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN ANY WAY OTHER THAN
TO KICK THE CENTRALIST CAN, BUT AS I POINTED OUT IN
ANOTHER POLICY SPEECH, IN MAY LAST YEAR,
" THE ROLE WE ASSIGN TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS THE REAL
ANSWER TO CHARGES OF CENTRALISM. UNDER A VARIETY OF
PROGRAMS WE HAVE PROVIDED LOCAL GOVERNMENT WITH THE FUNDS
TO UNDERTAKE THE RANGE OF ACTIVITIES PREVIOUSLY
INADEQUATELY CARRIED OUT OR TOTALLY NEGLECTED." 1
I THEN MIENTIONED THE AUS;' RALIANi AssISTANCE
PLAN WHICH IS NOW UNDER CHALLENGE BY YOUR STATE
GOVERNMENT, ALONG WITH SUCH SUBVERSIVE PROGRAMS AS
MEALS ON WHEELS, HANDICAPPED PERSONS' WELFARE, HOME
NURSING SUBSIDIES AND BLOOD TRANSFUSION SERVICES.
THE HIGH COURT CHALLENGE WILL DETERMINE
WHETHER THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT CAN GIVE DIRECT
HELP TO THESE WELFARE SERVICES MANY OF THEM BEGUN
UNDER PREVIOUS PRIME MINISTERS, VICTORIAN PRIME MINISTERS
LIKE HENZIES, AND GORTON AND WHETHER SUCH AID MUST PASS
THROUGH THE DELAYING HANDS OF STATE GOVERNMENTS
OF WHATEVER HUE. BUT ALL THE PEOPLE IN RECEIPT OF
THESE SERVICES CARE ABOUT IS THAT THEY SHOULD BE PROVIDED
WHEN THEY ARE NEEDED. THEY ARE NOT LIKELY TO BE
SPEEDED UP BY PASSING THROUGH ANOTHER BUREAUCRACY.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES COULD TESTIFY TO THIS,
PARTICULARLY HERE IN THE MORNINGTON PENINSULAR WHERE
YOU HAVE NOT ONLY L12% OF YOUR POPULATION UNDER 21,
BUT ALSO A VERY HIGH PROPORTION OF ELDERLY AND RETIRED
PEOPLE WHO WILL BECOME INCREASINGLY DEPENDENT ON THE
SERVICES UNDER CHALLENGE IN THE HIGH COURT. ALREADY
A REGIONAL COUNCIL FOR: SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN
ESTABLISHED THROUGH THE AUSTRALIAN ASSISTANCE PLAN IN THE
WESTERNPORT REGION, AND IT HAS RECEIVED $ 57,468 IN THE
LAST TWO YEARS.
6,
IN 1975/ 76, DEPENDING ON THE SUCCESS OF THE
VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT'S CHALLENGE, THIS REGIONAL
COUNCIL WILL HAVE ACCESS TO AN ADMINISTRATIVE GRANT
OF $ 10,000 AS WELL AS GRANTS OF $ 12,000 EACH FOR FOUR
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OFFICERS. I LEAVE YOU TO
DECIDE WHETHER SUCH ASSISTANCE COULD BE PROVIDED
MORE EFFECTIVELY IF IT HAD TO BE CHANNELLED THROUGH
STATE GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES, HAVING ORIGINATED
WITH AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS,
IT'S DISTRESSING TO SEE HOW OTHER EFFORTS
THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT HAS MADE ON BEHALF OF LOCAL
GOVERNMENT HAVE BEEN THWARTED BY STATE GOVERNMENT,
BY STATE PREMIERS. YOU WILL RECALL OUR INSISTENCE THAT
LOCAL GOVERNMENT BE REPRESENTED AT THE CONSTITUTIONAL
CONVENTION. BUT WE PROMISED ALSO TO GIVE YOU ACCESS TO
THE LOAN COUNCIL, AND I THOUGHT THAT I HAD SECURED SOME
SORT OF AGREEMENT FROM THE PREMIERS AT THAT CONVENTION
IN SEPTEMBER 1973. W'HEN TiHEY C'IME TO C/ NBERRA THE NEXT
MONTH, OCTOBER 1973, TO DISCUSS THE PROPOSAL, ALL THE
OLD PREJUDICES WERE ON SHOW AGAIN, ALL THE OLD JEALOUSIES
WERE PARADED, AND THE VOTES OF STATE PREMIERS EXCLUDED
LOCAL GOVERNMENT FROM THE LOAN COUNCIL. So THEN WE TOOK
IT TO A REFERENDUM. THE OFFICIAL CASE FOR NO WAS A
MARVEL OF MISREPRESENTATION, DELIBERATELY CREATING
CONFUSION IN PEOPLE'S MINDS ABOUT THE FUNCTIONS OF THE
LOANS COUNCIL AND THE GRANTS COMMISSION, NEVERTHELESS,
IN VICTORIA 47,383 VOTED YES, BECAUSE ENOUGH PEOPLE
IN VICTORIA REALISED HOW VITALLY THE PROPOSAL COULD AFFECT
THEM AS TAXPAYING, RATEPAYING CITIZENS,
-7-
NOR WERE VICTORIANS IMPRESSED BY THE VIGOUR WITH WHICH
OUR OPPONENTS KICKED T HE CENTRALIST CAN IN THAT WHOLE
CAMPAIGN, As I SAID IN I'IAY LAST YEAR, THE AUSTRALIAN
ASSISTANCE PLAN AND SIMILAR PROGRAMS " ARE ALL ACTIVITIES
WHICH CANNOT BE CLOSELY REGULATED FROM THE CENTRE AND
ARE BEST PLANNED BY LOCAL GOVERNMENT WORK( ING WITH LOCAL
COMMUNITIES." So MUCH FOR OUR CENTRALIST POLICIES,
IWELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO CLEAR UP THAT PARTICULAR
MISCONCEPTION, AND I AM GLAD THAT OUR SECOND ANNUAL
GRANTS COMMISSION ALLOCATIONS, LlIKE LAST YEAR'IS), HAVE
NO STRINGS ATTACHED. THAT IS IN LINE WITH THE
AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT'S FAITH IN THE FUNDAMENTAL GOOD
SENSE OF LOCAL GOV/ ERNMENT AND ITS ABILITY TO ORDER
IT-S OWN AFFAIRS AND SET ITS OWN PRIORITIES.
FOR flY PART, I WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN A SPECIAL
MEETING IN CANBERRA TOMORROW OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL
IN 16-
CONVENTION-3 G COMMITTEE DEALING WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
FRESH FROMIS AHRN TONIGHT, I WILL BE ABLET
GIVE PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THE WORK( ING PARTY REPORTS
ON THE SUBMISSION MADE TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
BY THE AUSTRALIAN COUNCIL ON LOCAL GOVERNM ENT. WE SHALL
ALSO BE CONSIDERING THE GENERAL QUESTION OF GRANTS TO
LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE PROBLEMS INVOLVED IN BORROWING.
BY THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT ON BEHALF OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
SO YOU CAN SEE THAT OUR CONCERN FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT DOES
NOT STOP WITH THOSE STRAIGHT OUT., NO-STRINGS ATTACHED
GRANTS COMMISSION ALLOCATIONS. A
-7, ATHE
AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT HAS ALSO MOVED IN
OTHER AREAS TO HELP LIFT THE FINANCIAL BURDENS OF
LOCAL GOVERNMENT, AND TO ENSURE AS MUCH EQUALITY AS
POSSIBLE BETWIEEN REGIONS, ATTEMPTING TO ENSURE THAT
PEOPLE ARE NOT DISADVANTAGED BECAUSE THEY LIVE
IN ONE REGION RATHER THAN ANOTHER, WE ARE ATTEMPTING
TO REDUCE THE GAPS APPARENT IN THE PROVISION OF BASIC
SERVICES LIKE SEWERAGE PROGRAMS, URBAN LOCAL ROADS
AND TRANSPORT, CHILD CARE PROGRAMS, ATTEMPTING TO
REDUCE THE INEQUALITIES BETWEEN REGIONS WHICH HAVE
BEGGARED THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THIS COUNTRY,
-8-
TAKE SEWERAGE, FOR EXAMPLE, IT IWASN'T A VERY NICE
WORD TC INTRODUCE INTO MY POLICY SPEECH IN 1972, BUT I DEFIED
THE NICETIES AND MENTIONED IT, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE HAVE
DONE SOMETHING ABOUT IT IN THIS AREA. IN CONSULTATION WITH
STATE AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES WE HAVE EMBARKED ON A NATIONAL
TEN YEAR PROGRAM TO CLEAR THE BACKLOG IN SEWERAGE SERVICES,
AND IN 1974/ 75, $ 2 MILLION WAS MADE AVAILABLE TO AUTHORITIES
IN THE MORNINGTON PENINSULA AREA FOR RETICULATION ANDt
TREATMENT IORKS. IT I'S HARD: TO REALISE THAT THIS KIND OF
EXPENDITURE ONLY CAME IN WITH A FEDERAL LABOR GOVERNMENT,
BUT WE ARE PROPERLY PROUD OF IT, I AND TO THINK JHAT JOHN GORTON
ONCE DEROGATIV LY DESCRIBED ME AS TALKING LIKE A SHIRE
PRESIDENT IT IS INTERESTING TO COMPARE THE CENSUS, FIGURES
OF 1947, JUST AFTER THE , AR,: WITH THOSEOF'OUR LAST CENSUS
iN 1971; IN 1947, MORNINGTON HAD 4004 PEOPLE; IN 1971, 14,289.
IrN 1947 FLINDERS HAD, 7,561 PEOPLE; IN 171, 15,481. AND
iN 1947 THEY COUNTED FRANKTON AND HASTINGS TOGETHER WITh
11,672 PEOPLE. IN 1971, HASTINGS HAD GROWN TO 8,927.,
FRANKSTON WAS UP TO 59,410. i
. HILE THE AVERAGE AGE WAS 32.4 AT 1947 CENSUS TIME
IN FRANKSTON/ HASTINGS IT HAD COME DOWN TO 28.7 BY 1971.
THIS HELPS EXPLAIN WHY TODAY, 42 PER CENT OF THE POPULATION
IS UNDER 21, AND. WHY THE CIY OF FRANKSTON ALIONE HAS 18
STATE PRIMARY SCHOOLS, 4 HIGH SCHOOCS, 3 TECHNICAL SCHOOLS,
7 PRIVATE SCHOOLS, 16 PRESCHOOLS AND 10 INFANT WELFARE CENTRES
FOR ITS PRESENT POPULATION, OF 74,000,
.7
.7 3-
YET AT THE SArMIE TIME; A LARGE PROPDRTION OF THE
POPULATION ARE ELDERLY PEOPLE Wk-HO A-lAVE CHOSEN TO LIVE OUT
' TrHEIR RETIREMENT YEARS NOT JUST TH_,-IR SUMPAIERS I: ET [
PENI NS U LA S UNNSr I NE THESE-OLDER RESIDENTS HAVE A RIG. HT
TO SEE K SUPPORTIVE , SERVICES FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENT,
ASSISTED BY THHEl USTRALI N GVERNM'ENT.' I " KNOW THE
irI-NEPS SFIIrE HAS ' DUILT TWO ELDERL'i( CITI 7ENS CLUBS, IN
TrHE LAST fO EARRLS401 , WOV IT R000RTHOE FEDERAL
bOVER~\ iM: TO RTOSEBUD AND $ 73,050 TO IROJMNAA NA
I1 THE rHOIEL P EN INSULA AREA WE HVE PROVIDEl OVER
IiIL ,0DQE LI-/ ERED MEALS SUBSIDY SINCE 1972, AND $ 231,643
FOR~ PESONAL CARE SUBSi--S-Ii\ 4 19714 wE GAVE 37I. 0
TO TH E C" OUIINTRY liOMEN'llS ASSOCATATIONM, H0' i1OJNGTN FOR FOUR
HO STFEL -BEDS AND IN MlAY Li ST YlAR A COM. iNED; CURCH o
ENLA ) D PROJECT FOR ST PAcUL'S FRAiNKSTbVN rECIVED A GRANT
OF $ 555,720 FOR 1. iHOSTEL BEDS UN. 1D IER' ' B'OT H THE AGUED
PERSONs ' i" HMES AND HOSTELS A CTS,
IT IS NOT SURPRIS. ING THAT TH E FRAN STON COUNCIL
FHAS'APP ED UNND\ ERTA'K NIG OF A COMPREHENSIVE
STRATEGY PLAN FOI-ALL 3CT$ OF FUTURE DEVELOPlENT OF
THE CITY. I BELIEVE A \ STRONG WORKI NG RELATIONSH 1P
EXISTS 1ETWEEN THE TO14iNil PLANNING AND SOCIAL'WELFARE
DEPAERTMIE1 TS SO THE SOCIAL CONiSEQUENCES OF THE PLANNING
OF FACILITIES AND AMENITIES CAN BE PREIDETERMINED,
I a':' k
,1. a
I " Ia
REALISING THE EFFECT ON QUALITY OF LIFE OF
INADEQUATE PUBLIC TRANSPORT GENERALLY, AND PARTICULARLY
IN AREAS SUDDENLY SUBJECT TO COMMUTER PRESSURES,
THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT IN 1973/ 74 APPROVED
CONSTRUCTION OF A THIRD TRACK BETWEEN CAULFIELD AND
MORDIALLOC, AND AN ADDITIONAL PLATFORM AT INTERMEDIATE
STATIONS UNDER THE URBAN PUBLIC TRANSPORT PROGRAM.
AT JUNJE 30 THIS YEAR, THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT HAD
SPENT $ 1,9 MILLION ON THE PROJECT, WHOSE FIRST
STAGE, ALREADY APPROVED, BETWEEN CAULFIELD AND
CHELTENHAM IS ESTIMATED TO COST $ 6 MILLION,
IN ADDITION TO THIS, $ 424,000 HAS BEEN SPENT ON
URBAN LOCAL ROADS IN THE PENINSULA AREA IN 1974/ 75
AND $ 5,663,500 ON LAND ACQUISITION AND CONSTRUCTION
OF URBAN ARTERIAL ROADS, INCLUDING THE MIORNINGTON
PENINSULA FREEWAY AND THE FRANKSTON FREEWAY,
BUT COMMUNICATIONS DON'T STOP WITH ROADS
AND RAILWAY LINES. LAST MONTH A NEW TELEPHONE EXCHANGE
WAS OPENED AT MORNINGTON, ADDING TO THE 13 SMALL
EXCHANGES OPENED SINCE 1972, AND NEW ONES ARE PLANNED
FOR BAXTER, HASTINGS, LANGWARRrN, SOMERVILLE AND
TYABB AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF $ 5 MILLION, , l/ ii
Il.
THIS GIVES 501E IDEA OF THIE AMOUNT OF
WORK WHICH MUST BE ON TO COPE ALL TIHES; E Nl" EW
DEMOGRAPHIC PRESS. 1URES, A11. TO ENSUIRE * r-iAT LIVING STANDARDS
ARE PlAlINTAINED WHEN PEOPLE, FOR WHATEVER REASOINS FIND
THEMHSELVES LIVIN-, G AND aO: RKING IN PLACES VIHICH ' NOT SO LONi-G
AGO, USED TO IDE A LONG Wt'AY AWdAY,
Li i\ i FRuAW., KSTON CITY COUNCIL, ALL THE MEMBERS
OF THE : I1ORN1INGTON1 PE-H1lNSULA IlUNICIPALITIEs ASSOCIATION
HAVE REAL ISED THE FUN" DAMEN-TAL I MPORTANCE OF PLANING
FOR THE FUTURE. ch iRIGO SHIRE ITSELF, TAKING
il-l liN'IH ILI A, N0iO2'! IINGTON AND ;"-IOU~ NT IARTHA, HAS HAD
A INCREASE IN POPULATION IN 10 YEARS. ITS NEWEST
TOWNil PLANING SCEEHAS BENPRE-PARE" D BY COUNCIL IN
ASSOCIATIONl WI1TH TOWN PLANN11ING CON" SULTANTS AND THE
ES TERNPORT [ REG IONA'LPLAN GATHRIT TO WH ICHFLIN".
DEcRS) SH-1IRE ALSO B'ELONGS. A JI" OUNT E-LIZ7A STUDY HAS BEENM
COMM'ISSJONED JOiNTLY WITH TfHE CITY OF FRA'NKS-ToN AND IS
CURRi) ENTLY 3 lNGCONSIDE! R) ED BOTH COUNCI LS.
IEXPECT THAT BOTH TH-E SE SCHE; MES HAVE THEIR
SH\ RE OF KNOCKERS; INEVITABLY THERE WILL BE SOME PEOPLE
UNHAPPY AT THE PROSPECT OF AN' Y ENCROACHMENT ON THEIR
PROSPECTS AS PROPERTY OWNERS, BUT TIHE IMPORTANT ASPECT OF T1 -E1
[' 1ORN\ INGTON STUDY IS THAT IT PLACES PROPE--R EMPHASIS O . N
LANDSCAPE AN4D CONrSER-PVATFION FEATURES, AND IS LOOKING TO
PRESERVE LAN." D INOW FOR THE ENJOYMENT OF GENERATIONS TO
COME, [ HOISE WHO CAINE EARLY IN SEARCHI OF THE DISTRICT'S
BEAUTY WOULD SURELY APPROVE, / 12
AND IT IS IN THIS CONTEXT THAT THE URBANi
LAND COUNCILS INVOLVEMENT IN THE PURCHASE OF
HECTARES OF LAND ON THE MIORNINGTON PENINSULA AND 6 ON
PHILLIP ISLAND MUST BE SEEN, THE URBANi LAND COUNCIL
CONTRIBUTED $ IL! MILLION TOWARDS THE TOTAL COST OF.
$ 2.1 MILLION IN 197L4/ 75, THE PENINSULA LAND WILL BE
BROUGHT UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE VICTORIAN
NATIONAL PARKS ACT 195 AND THE PHILLIP ISLAND
HOLDING WILL BE ADDED TO EXISTING RESERVES.
UNDER THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT'S INATIONAL
ESTATE PROGRAM, THE IORNINGTON PENINSULA WILL BE
INCLUDED IN A $ 21,000 COASTLINJE STUDY WHICH WILL BE
CARRIED OUT BY THE MINISTRY FOR CONSERVATION AND THE
TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING BOARD OF VICTORIA. ANOTHER
GRANT OF $ 119,350 HAS ASSISTED WITH THE ACQUISITION
OF" THE BRIARS" AS AGREED BETWEEN THE AUSTRALIAN AND
VICTORIAN GOVERNMENTS AND THE " IORNINGTON SHIRE,
TOURISM AND RECREATION GRANTS OF $ 80,000 HAVE GONE
TOWARDS THE CONSTRUCTION OF SCENIC WALKWAYS AND AN
INFORMATION BUREAU ON PHILLIP ISLAND,
CLEARLY A GREAT DEAL HAS BEEN DONE ALREADY,
BUT MUCH REMAINS TO BE DONE TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT
THE BEST FEATURES OF THE PENINSULA, AND THIS IS A
CHALLENGE TO THE WHOLE COMMUNITY, NO LESS TO INDIVIDUALS
THAN TO SHIRES AND COUNCILS. EVERY EFFORT SHOULD BE
MADE TO INVOLVE PEOPLE IN CARING ABOUT THE FUTURE BY
ENCOURAGING THEM TO CARE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS TODAY.
-13-
THE AUSTRALIAN GOVER, N M'ENT HAS PROVIDED ASSISTANCE TO
ENViRONMENTAL PROTECTION GROUPS ANXIOUS TO PREPARE
PROPERLY DOCUMENTED SU. BMISSIONS ON CERTAIN DEVELOPMENTAL
PROJECTS, BOTH THE NiOUNT ELIZA ASSOCIATION FOR
ENVIRONMENTAL CARE AND THE AESTERNPORT AND PENINSULA
PROTECTION COUNCIL HAVE RECEIVED GRANTS 1I THE LAST
TWO YEARS. FINALLY I COME TO THE PARTICULAR PROBLEMS OF
THE SHIRE OF HASTINGS, THE SITE OF A NUMBER OF
DEVELOPMENTAL BATTLES OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS. IT IS
MORE INSTRUCTIVE TO LOOK AT ITS INCOME AND EXPENDITURE
FIGURES THAN ITS CENSUS FIGURES. IN 1961/ 52 THE
INCOME OF THE HASTINGS SHIRE WAS $ 180,580 AND ITS
EXPENDITURE $ 217,960, IN 197'!/ 75 ITS INCOME HAD RISEN
SOMEWHAT: TO $ 2,123,00, To BE PRECISE, AND
EXPENDITURE WAS A MERE $ 2,1! 4,14i. 1 THE REASON OF
COURSE IS THE PHENOMENAL INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE
AREA. IT MAY BE A CASE OF THE CHICKEN BEFORE THE EGG.
BECAUSE IT ALL SEEMS TO HAVE HAPPENED AFTER THE/ LAID
THE GOLDEN EGG IN SOMERVILLE, THEN CAME BP.' s OIL
REFINERY AND LIQUID FUELS PIER AT CRIB POINT, THE Esso/
BMHP. GAS FRACTIONALISATION PLANT AT LONG ISLAND, THE
CRESCO FERTILIZER PLANT, WHICH WAS THEN REDEVELOPED BY
Esso/ B,!, P, AND FINALLY-JOHN LYSAGHT'S INTEGRATED STEEL
WORKS AT WESTERNPORT BAY, So FAR $ 92 MILLION HAS BEEN
SPENT ON DEVELOPMENT. EVENTUALLY IT WILL COST IN EXCESS
OF $ 1 BILLION AND PROVIDE EMPLOYMENT FOR 2,500 PEOPLE,
850 OF WHOM ARE ALREADY ON THE JOB, ,/ 14
a 14,
THE FIGURES ARE REALLY QUITE STAGGERING, SO TOO ARE
THE RESPONSIBILITIES IMPOSED ON HASTINGS SHIRE COUNCIL
IN ENSURING THAT ALL THIS DEVELOPMENT, WITH ALL ITS
ACTUAL AND POTENTIAL BENEFITS, SHOULD NOT BE AT THE
EXPENSE OF THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE WHOLE M ORNINGTON
PENINSULA AREA, I AM CONFIDENT THAT, ACTING IN CONCERT
WITH THE OTHER MORNINGTON PENINSULA MUNICIPALITIES, AND IN
THIS ASSOCIATION, YOU WILL MEET THAT CHALLENGE.
CERTAINLY THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT WILL BE READY TO HELP.