Former mayor back to challenge Central candidates

ONE of the City of Ballarat’s former mayors, Stephen Jones is running in this month’s municipal elections.

He said he’s “never lost the urge,” once serving as a councillor for seven years, and people regularly engage him in conversation about local government.

“About once a week when I’m on the green playing bowls, people still ask me about council issues… ‘what should I do here? How should I do it?’,” he said.

“I take a lot of pride in that, to think I did the right thing by a lot of people when I was in last time.”

Keen to reinvigorate the CBD and fill its shops again, he is a Central Ward candidate.

An advocate for forward-thinking roads infrastructure, especially in expanding residential areas of the city, he wants to see better footpath management.

“The Central Ward has brand new homes and 100-year-old homes, but some of the footpaths are in a fairly bad state,” Mr Jones said.

“I’ve had a look over the current budget… I think there’s enough room for a greater spend on footpath replacement and renewal.

“We take a lot of pride in our bluestone gutters, but there are lots of old bitumen footpaths with cracks in them, or that are lifting.”

Roads, rates and rubbish are basic things, but a priority for him, “looking after the present, as well as looking into the future.”

Hiring the right CEO will also be at the fore, “right from the word go.”

“If we don’t get the right person there, we’ll find it hard to move the organisation forward.”

Mr Jones hopes to see some action with the City’s Lawn Bowls Framework, rather than more attention on other high-profile sports. Improvements to green and clubhouse accessibility are front of mind.

He will also push for tourism as a “financial track out of COVID.”

“All the assets are there, it’s just a matter of when people can move around the state more freely,” he said.

Councillors and monthly meetings could be more efficient from Mr Jones’ perspective, and the City organisation should be a happier one for its staff.

“To have so many high-level officers resign, there’s something awry somewhere.”

Looking back on the last time he had a seat at the table, a favourite achievement was reopening the Brown Hill Pool.

“It was 12 months work with the community, and other councillors, to turn their thoughts around and have it reopened.

“To drive past and see it open every summer now, it’s fantastic and it’s doing really well,” Mr Jones said.

He also takes pride in a petition he presented with 19,500 Ballarat signatures on it, to maintain the Bridge Mall as a mall.

Knowing it can take a long time for council to action projects or create change, Mr Jones said seeing results of his City efforts down the line has always been rewarding.

“As mayor I had opportunities to have an input into State Government… and bring about change in a fairly simple way,” he said.

“It makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up to think you started things off.”

Formerly running a plumbing business for 35 years, Mr Jones is married with four children and four grandchildren.

Loving his bowls, he used to manage the Mount Xavier Golf and Bowling Club for over six years.