ONE of the City of Ballarat\u2019s former mayors, Stephen Jones is running in this month\u2019s municipal elections.<\/p>\n
He said he\u2019s \u201cnever lost the urge,\u201d once serving as a councillor for seven years, and people regularly engage him in conversation about local government.<\/p>\n
\u201cAbout once a week when I\u2019m on the green playing bowls, people still ask me about council issues… \u2018what should I do here? How should I do it?\u2019,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Keen to reinvigorate the CBD and fill its shops again, he is a Central Ward candidate.<\/p>\n
An advocate for forward-thinking roads infrastructure, especially in expanding residential areas of the city, he wants to see better footpath management.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Central Ward has brand new homes and 100-year-old homes, but some of the footpaths are in a fairly bad state,\u201d Mr Jones said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve had a look over the current budget… I think there\u2019s enough room for a greater spend on footpath replacement and renewal.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Roads, rates and rubbish are basic things, but a priority for him, \u201clooking after the present, as well as looking into the future.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hiring the right CEO will also be at the fore, \u201cright from the word go.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we don\u2019t get the right person there, we\u2019ll find it hard to move the organisation forward.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Jones hopes to see some action with the City\u2019s Lawn Bowls Framework, rather than more attention on other high-profile sports. Improvements to green and clubhouse accessibility are front of mind.<\/p>\n
He will also push for tourism as a \u201cfinancial track out of COVID.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAll the assets are there, it\u2019s just a matter of when people can move around the state more freely,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Councillors and monthly meetings could be more efficient from Mr Jones\u2019 perspective, and the City organisation should be a happier one for its staff.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo have so many high-level officers resign, there\u2019s something awry somewhere.\u201d<\/p>\n
Looking back on the last time he had a seat at the table, a favourite achievement was reopening the Brown Hill Pool.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was 12 months work with the community, and other councillors, to turn their thoughts around and have it reopened.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo drive past and see it open every summer now, it\u2019s fantastic and it\u2019s doing really well,\u201d Mr Jones said.<\/p>\n
He also takes pride in a petition he presented with 19,500 Ballarat signatures on it, to maintain the Bridge Mall as a mall.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs mayor I had opportunities to have an input into State Government… and bring about change in a fairly simple way,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up to think you started things off.\u201d<\/p>\n
Formerly running a plumbing business for 35 years, Mr Jones is married with four children and four grandchildren.<\/p>\n
Loving his bowls, he used to manage the Mount Xavier Golf and Bowling Club for over six years.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ONE of the City of Ballarat\u2019s former mayors, Stephen Jones is running in this month\u2019s municipal elections. He said he\u2019s \u201cnever lost the urge,\u201d once serving as a councillor for seven years, and people regularly engage him in conversation about local government. \u201cAbout once a week when I\u2019m on the green playing bowls, people still […]<\/p>\n