AFTER eighteen years on the City of Ballarat council, Cr Des Hudson is seeking another term representing South Ward.<\/p>\n
Despite a clear record of electoral success, he\u2019s keen to make sure he doesn\u2019t lose touch with the people who do, or don\u2019t, vote for him.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is a privilege to be the one who\u2019s putting your hand in the air and voting issues 105,000 residents of Ballarat, or the 150,000 people from the regional perspective,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI always take that role really seriously and that passion is still there, it\u2019s never faded.\u201d<\/p>\n
Something else he\u2019s taking seriously is the challenge around the municipality\u2019s executive leadership.<\/p>\n
After the State Ombudsman\u2019s report was handed down in May, council sacked then CEO Justine Linley and appointed Janet Dore into an acting role.<\/p>\n
Now the next group of elected officials will decide who leads the bureaucracy going forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe CEO is charged to mobilise the organisation to carry out the vision of council, and we need to make sure that the search is as far and wide as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
Watching Cr Hudson in the chamber it\u2019s clear he places a focus on community and that comes through on the issues he speaks out on.<\/p>\n
\u201cCouncil needs to be about the people it represents,\u201d he said. \u201cI guess I try and look for what is the benefit to the local community in terms of what we\u2019re doing.<\/p>\n
\u201cThings such as sport and recreation for me have been a no brainer. A healthy community that comes and participates and can play sport can really be positive for mental health and that sense of engagement.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know that not everyone chooses to play sport, so there are other things, like cultural institutions. Whether it\u2019s in the arts or through theatre or wherever, when people are able to come and do things, that\u2019s what driving me to provide support.\u201d<\/p>\n
When focusing on South Ward, Cr Hudson wants to keep building on many of the things already achieved.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve done some really good recreational projects in the last four years,\u201d he said. \u201cUpgrades at Marty Busch Reserve, lighting at the BMX track, new change rooms coming at the netball facilities, a $1.7 million spend at St Georges Reserve and Royal Park, and new change rooms at Mount Clear.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been great to see the real momentum in terms of sport and recreation, but there\u2019s still some projects that need attention, like Marty Busch number 2. So we need to keep going in some of those areas.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s also keenly watching urban sprawl in the Ward.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m certainly mindful of the green belt between Mount Helen and Buninyong and that\u2019s preserved. There\u2019s always pressures around over-development and keeping developers at bay.\u201d<\/p>\n
Running as a Labor Party endorsed candidate, although not factionally aligned, Cr Hudson said the move was more about being open and honest with voters around political allegiances rather than seeking to control council from a power block.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s really about transparency,\u201d he said. \u201cThere is a misconception that the party is funding our campaigns, that couldn\u2019t be any further from the truth.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m happy that people are knowing who they are voting for.\u201d<\/p>\n
And knowing how voting blocks play out in local government is something he has experience in.<\/p>\n
For the least two terms Cr Hudson has entered the chamber faced with a majority grouping on the other side of the political spectrum and each time he\u2019s watched the collations rise, fall and then tear themselves apart.<\/p>\n
\u201cUltimately nine people have to come together,\u201d he said. \u201cYou\u2019ll agree on somethings and disagree on others, but where there are too many of the one view, that\u2019s a risk because sometimes egos will take over, or someone\u2019s competing to be the lead.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt will invariably fall away. I\u2019ve seen it over the last two councils. For me it\u2019s about being patient and working with everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now firmly in ALP ranks, Cr Hudson actually started off as a member of the different political party.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was a former member of the Liberal Party and stood for pre-selection in Ballarat West many years ago,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was not successful, and in what I guess was a knee jerk reaction and a dummy spit and rang the successful candidate and said I\u2019ll stand on your most popular booth and give out your opponent\u2019s how to vote cards.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
AFTER eighteen years on the City of Ballarat council, Cr Des Hudson is seeking another term representing South Ward. Despite a clear record of electoral success, he\u2019s keen to make sure he doesn\u2019t lose touch with the people who do, or don\u2019t, vote for him. \u201cIt is a privilege to be the one who\u2019s putting […]<\/p>\n