By CHARLENE MACAULAY
MARIBYRNONG City Council is severing ties with advocacy body LeadWest.
The council last week voted to withdraw its LeadWest membership to better focus its advocacy resources on key issues facing the City of Maribyrnong community, rather than favouring LeadWest’s all of West approach.
Maribyrnong was one of the five western region councils – together with Moonee Valley, Melton, Brimbank and Wyndham – that formed LeadWest in 2006.
LeadWest was established as an independent advocacy body to provide leadership, education, health, community development, lobbying and project co-ordination for a range of key issues affecting the West on a regional basis.
Hobsons Bay Council was the final council to join earlier this year.
“In recent years, the western region councils have been less dependent on LeadWest for advocacy leadership, and have formed their own alliances on specific issues,” a council report read.
“There is an immediate need for (Maribyrnong) council to focus advocacy on issues specific to its city, such as congestion and transport, freight growth, and the challenges associated with inner urban, high density developments.”
The council recently became a full member of the Inner Melbourne Action Plan Implementation Committee (IMAP), which includes the Cities of Melbourne, Yarra, Stonnington and Port Phillip.
“IMAP’s strategic and advocacy directions closely align to the needs that are common to an inner metropolitan municipality, such as Maribyrnong, which is undergoing rapid change and development.”
The council has to give LeadWest two years’ notice before it can officially withdraw membership.
LeadWest CEO Anton Mayer said he was surprised and disappointed by the council’s decision.
“Maribyrnong City Council was one of the foundation members of LeadWest… we’ll continue to work tirelessly to reinforce the region’s message to governments, both Federal and State,” Mr Mayer said.
“We kind of hope, over time, Maribyrnong will have a change of opinion.
“We don’t think (being in IMAP) is an impediment to staying in LeadWest.”
