Community chooses candidates

OCEAN Grove’s Stephanie Asher says she is delighted and both grateful and humbled by the support of so many people on the Bellarine.

Ms Asher, along with Jim Mason and Trent Sullivan, will represent the Bellarine Ward for the next three years and will be sworn-in at a special public City of Greater Geelong council meeting next Tuesday.

“There is clearly a desire for connection to the decisions at the City of Greater Geelong and our community is wildly passionate about sustainable development and preserving the unique elements of the peninsula,” Ms Asher said.

“The quality of the people in the new team is hugely exciting and I believe it’s a terrific mix of different ideas, personalities and leadership styles – great for the Geelong region!”

Ms Asher said it had been a little frustrating for her having to participate from another continent since last Friday, but whatever the timetable for the next few weeks was, she had to remember it was a three year role.

“Rushing decisions will not serve the community well, so I will be suggesting to those currently setting the agenda at CoGG that we really do treat this as a marathon not a sprint, and behave accordingly.”

Mr Sullivan said the task ahead was not an easy one, and the next few years would be long and hard, but that they would be worthwhile, while Mr Mason paid his respects to those who didn’t make it, and said they did a great job and ran a good, thoughtful campaign.

The Joint Community Associations of the Bellarine said they were looking forward to having the three elected councillors deliver a strong message to CoGG on behalf of the Bellarine.

Sandy Gatehouse from Barwon Heads Association and Deb Sheard from Portarlington Community Association agreed that there was a contrast with the three elected councillors insofar as age, gender and political backgrounds, but they were confident the councillors would work well as a team and with the Bellarine community groups.

Fifty-three candidates nominated for the elections, with 11 councillors elected.

They will be sworn in at a special public council meeting on November 14.

At that same meeting, the council will also elect a mayor for a maximum two-year term.