Hargreaves dons robe, chains as council gets ready to work

AFTER an oath and affirmation of office ceremony on Monday evening, councillors Tracey Hargreaves and Ben Taylor were respectively elected mayor and deputy-mayor of the City of Ballarat for the 2024 to 2025 year.

Voted in by their fellow councillors Damon Saunders (Alfredton Ward), Ted Lapkin (Brown Hill Ward), Tess Morgan (Golden Point Ward), Jay Morrison (Wendouree Ward), Samantha McIntosh (Central Ward), Des Hudson (Sebastopol Ward) and Jim Rinaldi (North Ward), the new-look leadership team was introduced to media by City of Ballarat CEO Evan King on the steps of Town Hall as bells rang on Tuesday morning.

Cr Hargreaves (Delacombe Ward) is a first-time mayor in her second council term, while Cr Taylor (Buninyong Ward) served as mayor in the 2019 to 2020 year, and will be deputy for the first time.

“I thank my fellow councillors for their support and I’m committed to serving in this role with integrity, honesty and dedication,” Cr Hargreaves said.

“We have heard loud and clear from our residents during this election that people overwhelmingly want council to get the basics right.

“With cost of living pressures hurting our community, it is important that we provide the best value for people’s rates.

“This will be front and centre for me as we embark on the next budget cycle and I will also be advocating loudly and strongly to ensure Ballarat gets its fair share of government funding to help us to continue to deliver.”

Cr Taylor has been elected to council for the fourth time, having served from 2008 to 2012, and from 2016 to 2024. He said he was keen to support Cr Hargreaves.

“It’s a real honour to be deputy-mayor, especially at the beginning of the term,” he said.

“I think it’s really good to have change in council which brings a different environment, ideas, atmosphere, perspectives and culture.”

Cr Taylor said he stood for re-election because “the work hadn’t finished” and to provide stability.

“The housing strategy, growth area frameworks, and industrial landscape review are real passion projects of mine,” he said.