The Warrnambool Ratepayers Association was formed at a meeting on Wednesday evening, with the group to be incorporated with Ratepayers Victoria.
Former Warrnambool City councillor Brian Kelson was voted president of the group, while co-ordinator and instigator of the initiative Ann Vickery is the vice president.
Joan Kelson is the secretary and Warrnambool businesswoman Angie Paspaliaris is the treasurer.
Glenn “Gator” Heazlewood, Tony Dawson, Willy Benter, Glenda Thompson, David Reid and Richard Ziegler make up the group’s committee.
Mr Kelson said the ratepayer’s group was for all residents and visitors to Warrnambool, including ratepayers, residents, business owners and visitors who had a problem or issue that they needed assistance with.
The group aims to provide a strong, independent avenue for people to have their voice heard on matters concerning them in local and all other levels of government.
It will also work for improved democratic process and participation at a local government level and function as an educational body, providing information on issues affecting the Warrnambool City Council municipality.
Mr Kelson said the group had been formed as the council “continually ignored the wishes of residents”.
Issues raised at the meeting included advertising the council chief executive officer’s position when it came up for renewal, upgrading the Warrnambool harbour, improving waste services collections and changing paid parking and pedestrian crossing implementations in the central business district.
Ms Paspaliaris started a petition late last year, calling for the pedestrian crossings in the city to be removed immediately, amid safety fears for people walking and driving in the CBD.
It garnered nearly 6000 signatures, however city councilors voted against changing the pedestrian crossings.