June 26, 2026
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SIG N U P N O W!
Providing sanctuary for the lost
Leah and Jason Singh with Fuji, Gypsy and Dolly. (Ivan Kemp) 561257_10
Ocean Grove’s Leah Singh has always gone beyond the call of duty when it comes to caring for animals. A long-time rescuer and foster-carer of abandoned and unhoused pets, Leah established the eco-friendly Gaia Island of Dogs sanctuary in Bali three years ago. Employing eight staff and providing a safe and caring environment for more than 200 dogs rescued from the streets of Bali, the Gaia sanctuary is thriving in terms of impact and its growing international profile. But the sanctuary survives purely through fundraising, with much of that support coming from the local community in Geelong, the Bellarine and especially Ocean Grove. This July, Leah is holding a fundraising event in Ocean Grove to ensure Gaia can continue its mission of rescuing, rehabilitating and protecting dogs who desperately need a place to call home. Turn to page 8 for the full story.
Budget under fire By Matt Hewson For the fi rst time in its 33-year history, the City of Greater Geelong has adopted a budget without presenting a draft document for public evaluation and feedback. Geelong council unanimously approved its 2026-27 budget on Tuesday 23 June, which will deliver an operating deficit of $14.2 million, a cash surplus of $2.4 million and reduce council debt from $156.5 million in 2025-26 to $129 million. The budget delivers a number of major projects, including stage two of the North Bellarine Aquatic Centre, Drysdale Sporting Precinct, fi nal upgrades to Landy Field, Yirrama Community Hub in
Armstrong Creek and the Anakie Garden Organics Processing Facility upgrade. The City will invest $171.6 million into its capital works program, balanced between new works, upgrades and renewal of existing assets. In line with the state government’s mandated 2.75 per cent rate increase cap, ratepayers will pay slightly more, on average $43.45 for residents and $131 for commercial rates. Councillor Andrew Katos said forward estimates showed the deficit falling to $5.8 million next year, with council expecting an operating surplus in 2028-29. “There is a clear path to surplus…and a clear plan,” he said. “What councils are using – bitumen,
concrete, steel – has gone up a lot more than (the rate cap of) 2.75 per cent, so that does create issues and difficult decisions that need to be made.” Councillor Melissa Cadwell said the new budget process had “removed a fundamental aspect of community and residential advocacy”. “The fi rst time the resident is going to see what council is proposing for the following year’s budget is tonight, and having read those budget papers, there’s no capacity for them to advocate or lobby their council to have any of it changed,” she said. “The City of Greater Geelong is…one of nine out of the 79 councils in Victoria that has taken that approach in the last
fi nancial year. As an elected official, I want to hear directly from my community and I think that residents want that opportunity, too. “In my view, we need to go back to that process. It’s worked well for both the council and the residents for 30 years, and I’ll be working hard with the officers to make that happen.” Councillor Anthony Aitken said the main budgetary issue facing the council was its costs. “Personally, I don’t think it is a good budget and…the process wasn’t a good process, either,” he said. “I think we do need to do a mid-year fi nancial review to assist the organisation to bring costs under control.”
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