Meet your council candidates: Bellarine Ward, City of Greater Geelong

Tom O’Connor

Occupation: Full time community activist.

Where do you live? Drysdale

How long have you lived in your ward? 40 plus years in Drysdale

What’s your involvement with the community?  CoGG Councillor 2004-8.

Co-founder and Executive Director of Committee for Bellarine / Bellarine Community Council

active with State, local government and many community groups.

What’s your political allegiance? Independent

Who will you preference? Tom Harrison

What’s your campaign budget? Spent thus far $4,500 and possibly more closer to delivery of ballot papers.

Are you receiving financial support?  No but waiting on bank loan approval.

What are the most important issues in your ward? Empower the individuality of townships and interdependence with all townships. Council’s preparedness to positively & constructively engage with townships and in turn adhere to and meet the needs and expectations. Ward based budget, as a function of City Plan process, to ensure community ownership of the outcomes. Employment opportunities closer to home. Protect, preserve and enhance the quality of life for all. Ensure confidence for all in our future.

Elise Wilkinson

Candidate provided this statement:

I am a social worker, mother of two teenage children and have lived with my partner in Barwon Heads for the last 19 years. Population growth, development and the impacts of climate change are significant issues facing the Bellarine. The Council has declared a Climate Emergency. If elected I would say NO to behaviors, projects, industries and business as usual and YES to smart urban and rural design- for buildings, businesses and communities, focused on water, energy, food, transport, waste and consumption, that creates jobs, regenerates nature and enriches lives. I stand for social justice, equality and accountability in government. Climate Crisis is a health and social justice issue and I stand to give voice to those who are impacted but not old enough to vote. This is my first time standing as an Independent for Bellarine Ward www.putclimatefirst.org.

Stephanie Asher

Occupation: Management Consultancy Owner/Director

Where do you live? Ocean Grove

How long have you lived in your ward? 20 years

What’s your involvement with the community? Mayor of Greater Geelong 2019-20, Councillor since 2017, former Vice President Ocean Grove Surf Life Saving Club, former Board Member Geelong Regional Library Corporation, Committee for Geelong, KidsPlus, Bethany Community Services, OG Connected Communities and committee member of the OG Community Association.

What’s your political allegiance? Liberal Party member

Who will you preference? I have no formal preference arrangements, however having worked with Trent Sullivan I highly recommend him as a dedicated and effective councillor who always operates with intelligence, community interest and great integrity.

What’s your campaign budget? Are you receiving financial support? $500. No

What are the most important issues in your ward? My priority is listening to local voices and helping people with council issues – local people tell me they want rates spent on shared trails, swimming pools, arts venues, libraries, decent roads and local streetscapes, and we all want our peninsula protected and developed in a respectful, sustainable way. I led unanimous council support for prioritising climate change action and considering sustainability across all activities in the organisation. Critically for the Bellarine, our council also endorsed the Settlement Strategy in 2020 which limits new residential developments outside defined town boundaries. If re-elected, I will continue to protect our unique townships, drive the North Bellarine pool project, create trail links and bike paths, involve local expertise and set higher organisational performance targets. My passion is improving professional standards and promoting clear and honest communication from council.

Trent Sullivan

Occupation: Councillor

Where do you live? Portarlington

How long have you lived in your ward? I have lived in the Bellarine for 4 years and worked here for 8.

What’s your involvement with the community? Tourism Greater Geelong & the Bellarine Board, Chair of Bellarine Multi Arts Facility, Geelong Regional Library Corporation Board.

What’s your political allegiance? I am a member of the Liberal Party.

Who will you preference? Stephanie Asher will be the top of my preferences brought on by 3 years of incredible community work.

What’s your campaign budget? Are you receiving financial support? My campaign budget is self-sufficient and all declarations will show

What are the most important issues in your ward? Roads & footpaths, Community Hubs, Town Boundaries, Sporting reserves, Council services, Business support, Arts support, the Environment and COVID recovery. We need to be Clever & Creative about our future, we all live in the Bellarine for what it has to offer, we can increase opportunities and support right here without sacrificing what we already have! Bellarine Ratepayers deserve more return on their dollars.

Naomi Adams

Occupation:  I am a Psychologist with over 20 years experience working in a range of community and health services. Prior to this career I worked predominantly in sales and hospitality sectors. 

Where do you live? Ocean Grove

How long have you lived in your ward? I have lived in Ocean Grove for 13 years and love the community atmosphere and beautiful environment. I live with my two rescue dogs and foster other animals when I can.

What’s your involvement with the community? I am a passionate about social justice, animal advocacy and environmental issues. I am Regional Group Leader for the Animal Justice Party Western Victoria. In my counselling career I supported residents of the Bellarine Peninsula for nine years. I am involved in various local community initiatives including Geelong Against Live Export, animal rescue and rehab groups, and local mental health, LGBTIQ and climate change activities

What’s your political allegiance? I am proudly endorsed by the Animal Justice Party (AJP), whose values are kindness, equality, rationality and non-violence

Who will you preference? AJP preferences independent candidates and parties whose values are most aligned with our own. In this instance I have given my higher preferences to Elise Wilkinson – Put Climate First; and Cory Wolverton – Greens

What’s your campaign budget? Are you receiving financial support? Approximately $1000 for leaflets, posters and social media advertising. AJP fundraises for extra donations from within our community

What are the most important issues in your ward? Lake Connewarre wetlands should become family friendly, safe, eco-tourism locations.Dangerous poison baits (that have devastating effects not only on the targeted species, but on native wildlife and domestic animals) need to be replaced with alternative methods of introduced species control. The Domestic Animal Management Plan (DAMP) needs to address backyard breeding, assist with affordable de-sexing, registration and microchipping, and instant re-unification. Assisting local businesses with recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, especially as the Bellarine is a tourist destination. Protecting green spaces and wildlife corridors and supporting environmental projects that address the climate crisis. Improving public transport and bicycle tracks

Jim Mason

Occupation: City Councillor standing for re-election. Retired Humanitarian Operations Field Director with Engineering, Environmental Science Teaching and International Relations tertiary qualifications

Resides in: Marcus Hill

How long in ward: 15 years – also grew up on the Bellarine Peninsula

Community involvement:

I have made my Councillor position full time over the past three years. My specific involvement has been Sustainable Development, Environment, Rural and Coastal issues and Arts Culture and Heritage.  I have been active on 18 committees and rarely missed a meeting. This includes The Art Gallery Board, The GRLC Board; Chair of the Rural and Peri-Urban and Heritage Advisory Committees; CEO employment and performance; New Civic Building; G21 Education Pillar Deputy, Association of Bayside Municipalities and Coastal Inundation.

Prior to Council I was President of Bellarine Landcare Group making a significant contribution to landscape and waterway restoration; also member of CFA. I was a voluntary Humanitarian Advisor to DFAT training exercises and member or REDR (Registered Engineers Disaster Relief)

Political allegiance? I am a long standing member of the ALP. I am independent, progressive and not formally endorsed.

Preferencing? I have not decided who I will preference yet. It will be those who strongly support Climate Action, the 30-year Council Clever and Creative Vision and Council Plan 2018-2022; Implementation of World Best Practice in environmental, social and urban design; local production and economy; improved transport and other services. Decision making must be based on evidence, science and good, stable governance.

Campaign budget? Receiving financial support? My budget is $15,000. I am funding this through my personal savings and am receiving no other financial support.

Most important issues in your ward? Protection or the rural, and coastal towns and their characters.  Limiting further development to defined town boundaries. Restoring, and protecting the rural and coastal environments. Climate action and circular economy and  waste policy. Improved Social, Sporting, Cultural and City Services. Better transport, transport connections, including active transport and shared trails. More social housing and support for the vulnerable. Sustainable local economy which reinforces the natural character of the Bellarine. Targeted COVID recovery support for business and community.

Michael Fairweather

Candidate provided this statement:

My name is Michael Fairweather, and I am a retired builder living in God’s waiting room (Portarlington) for he past 14 years.

I am a member of the local CFA and have been on the committee of both the Portarlington football and tennis clubs and I am involved in the bequest group for Barwon Health Foundation.

I am non political but will always support the representatives that are showing that they support their electorate and my preference will show that, as yet I have not made that decision.

I have funded my own campaign and the issues on the Bellarine include Appropriate development both residential and commercial, tourism, public transport and our council rates.

Cory Wolverton

Occupation: Specialist child and family practitioner

Where do you live? Ocean Grove

How long have you lived in your ward? Lived in Ocean Grove for 6 years

What’s your involvement with the community? Supporting families and children through the Barwon region, developed a men’s wellbeing program in North Geelong, taking part in tree planting and other environmental groups

What’s your political allegiance? Proudly endorsed by the Greens.

Who will your preference? I will leave that to the voters

What’s your campaign budget? Are you receiving financial support? The Greens don’t take money from big developers. Funded by small individual contributions within the community.

What are the most important issues in your ward? If elected, my priorities will be: 1.) Adequate access to community health programs, particularly youth support programs to help young people overcome challenges relating to mental health, education, family and peer relationships. 2.) Taking action on climate change, which includes environmental sustainability through renewable energy projects and careful land management that protects biodiversity in our coast, wetlands and reserves. 3.) Working to ensure that council achieves the goals stated in the recent reconciliation action plan for Aboriginal people. 4.) Assist in the development and implementation of a LGBTIQA+ action plan for council and seek Rainbow tick approval. 5.) A council/community tree planting program that will actually deliver trees in both rural landscapes and throughout urban street scapes. 6.) Implementing a waste and recycling program where compostable food waste does not end up in landfill and recycling is responsibly processed. 7.) Appropriate strategic vision for town boundaries out on the Bellarine. 8.) Innovative urban design to increase walking and bike paths and improve public spaces.

Tom Harrison

Occupation: Upgrade Manager at Australian Energy Upgrades. Casual Proshop staff member at Clifton Springs Golf Club

Where do you live? Clifton Springs

How long have you lived in your ward? 1 year. Have been a member of Bellarine golf clubs since a teenager

What’s your involvement with the community? Proud member of Clifton Springs Golf Club.

Youth leader in the Geelong region since 2017

What’s your political allegiance? Independent

Who will you preference? Tom O’Connor

What’s your campaign budget? Are you receiving financial support? No specific budget, but estimate costs will be less than $4000. A large portion is self funded. However, I have received a donation.

What are the most important issues in your ward? The most immediately important issue is recovering from the COVID 19 Pandemic. The next few years of economic management will be crucial for the City of Greater Geelong. Encouraging economic growth, and thinking outside the box to help further support local businesses and job creation. The new council need to be organised and prepared for potential stimulus money from the State and Federal Government, to ensure we are in the best position to secure as much funding for local projects as possible. Also making sure appropriate infrastructure is being implemented as the population continues to grow. This should take into consideration infrastructure to handle the visiting population during tourist seasons. These are just a few of many things the next council will need to address.

Stephen Simmonds

Occupation: Stay at home dad, previously in the finance/legal sector.

Where do you live? Moolap

How long have you lived in your ward? 12 Months having moved from East Geelong

What’s your involvement with the community? No current active involvement or affiliation with any community groups but my aim would be to bring all local voices to the table and to act in the best interests of the whole community.

What’s your political allegiance? Independent

Who will you preference? I will personally preference all new, young unaligned candidates.  I believe many of the existing problems, whether that be parking issues, housing density, over development in particular areas etc are a direct result of inaction of the current council or decisions made by older councils and while changing course of such a large ship can be slow, a good start would be get a whole new captain and crew!

What’s your campaign budget? $0 Are you receiving financial support? No

What are the most important issues in your ward? Stop council waste, return to free parking everywhere, free hard waste collection, More libraries and library services not less, more and improved parks for families to enjoy, you shouldn’t have to drive to other wards or indeed other councils for a decent playground!  More support for families that need it, when they need it. Keep boat ramps free and value, celebrate and promote our glorious waterways for all uses including promoting waterskiing much more. We need new saleyard facilities for poultry and large livestock, more bike lanes but not at the loss of traffic lanes or parking and a program for removal of traffic lights and build more roundabouts throughout the region. We need better planning and development to give more weight to future needs. We need to significantly slow down development until adequate provision of infrastructure is made. The current system is clearly failing with ever increasing traffic problems throughout the region and the only solution seems to be a speed hump here, a traffic light there, parking meters everywhere. I want accountability returned to public office! We need a better broadband network and need a council to make this happen. We need more off leash dog areas, we need dedicated motocross tracks to return after the closure of existing facilities over the years followed by endless promises to relocate. I am a member of RGYC, and have worked in both the public and private sectors and established and ran a successful small business based in Geelong.