City of Ballarat, Sebastopol, Des Hudson

CITY OF BALLARAT

Sebastopol Ward

Des Hudson

Occupation:

Youth Officer – Victoria Police.

Resides:

Winter Valley.

How long have you lived in your council/ward?:

Have lived a majority of my life in Ballarat, 50 years plus. Grew up in Sebastopol, attending St James Primary, Sebastopol Technical School.

Community involvement:

Twenty-seven years working with local youth across all Ballarat Schools delivering safety messages and programs.

Life Member of Ballarat Blue Light Inc and Current Chairperson and Facilitator of the monthly Blue Light Dance event for kids in Sebastopol.

Chairperson of the Ballarat & District Suicide Awareness Network. Championed the roll out of the Live 4 Life Program across a majority of Ballarat Schools that is delivering mental health training to Year 8 and Year 10 students.

Long history of involvement with the Sebastopol Vikings Soccer Club as player, coach and club president.

Associated with a political party or movement?:

Current Member of the ALP, Previously a Member of the Liberal Party.

Preferencing:

I’m not indicating preferences in line with the VEC Ballot practice.

Campaign budget? Receiving financial support?:

$3500 Mostly self funded, with a few small donations from friends.

Three most important issues in your ward?:

1. Management of Growth… Housing supply and the implications of the state government housing targets as part of Plan Victoria and an expected 48,700 new homes over the next 28 years. The provision of social and affordable housing, and housing remaining affordable in Ballarat for the next generation of first home buyers… Housing diversity on the type and size of homes constructed.

2. Ongoing maintenance of our road network, and the need for more funding from all tiers of government to better maintain it, making repairs in a timely manner, reviewing the current construction standards to reflect increased traffic volumes, size and weight of vehicles using the road network.

3. Strong advocacy to state and federal governments for Ballarat’s fair share of infrastructure investment…