HOBSONS Bay City Council will lose about $50,000 in State Government funding for the Kids – Go For Your Life program to prevent childhood obesity.
This means the program will end on 30 June.
The council, at its meeting last week, resolved to write to the Minister for Health, Daniel Andrews, requesting a review of the Government’s decision, which not only stops funding to Hobsons Bay but also to nine other local councils.
The original motion printed on the Hobsons Bay meeting agenda said it was “registering disappointment” in the letter to Mr Andrews for stopping funding for the program.
However, Cr Angela Altair moved an amendment, seconded by Cr Carl Marsich, and subsequently passed by the council, which deleted the word “disappointment”, replacing it with “outlining the success of the Kids – Go For Your Life program”.
Cr Angela Altair said it had been “an enormous success”.
“I’m saying please to the Government – look at the values and benefits you get from this and review the situation.”
The council also resolved to continue to promote environments that support children’s healthy eating and physical exercise through its own policy development and supporting programs.
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It was also decided to write to Kids – Go For Your Life member services in the municipality informing them of future directions for the program.
Forty-four out of 63 eligible children’s services in the area are now members of the program, according to a report tabled at the meeting.
The members include representatives from several council teams, ISIS Primary Care, primary schools and kindergartens.
The council used the $50,000 to employ a project officer, who will now have to go.
An exit plan is being prepared for the project officer.
One key message of the program is to encourage children to walk or ride their bikes to school, therefore reducing car use.
The council says that without the funding and a dedicated project officer, its ability to develop internal policies and programs that encourage healthy eating and physical activity will be severely limited.
The council was informed late last year that the local government components of the program would determine its future funding.
It says the Government’s decision was taken before completing the evaluation, on the basis that ongoing funding to the 10 local governments was not sustainable.
