Thanks, Stephanie

OUR community is fortunate to have benefited from the leadership and drive of Stephanie Asher.

I am personally pleased for her, as she embarks on an exciting new phase in her career that will see her spend a lot more time in Melbourne.

But from a Council perspective, she leaves a fantastic legacy and will be sorely missed.

I was first elected to Council in 2017, at the same time as Stephanie.

I was honoured to serve as deputy mayor under her leadership, and her skilled guidance and advice helped prepare me for taking on the role as mayor last year.

During Stephanie’s time as mayor – which was the second-longest stint in the City’s history – Council acted quickly and responsively to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Council prioritised creating and maintaining jobs, supporting sectors of the community hardest hit by the lockdowns, and providing opportunities for residents to improve their physical and mental health.

Stephanie’s time as mayor also saw Council commit to record levels of capital investment, which is delivering major infrastructure improvements in all corners of Greater Geelong.

A key feature of successive Council budgets was a massive capital investment in community projects, which had the benefit of supporting local jobs and providing a range of long-term assets.

This has seen major initiatives delivered and in the pipeline right across the municipality.

One initiative that Stephanie had been particularly keen to deliver was an aquatic centre for the North Bellarine.

Her advocacy in this space was instrumental in seeing three levels of government invest in a two-stage facility at Drysdale.

The first stage – an outdoor, heated 25-metre pool – is opening later this year.

On behalf of Council, I thank Stephanie Asher for her valuable contribution and wish her well.

A new Bellarine Ward councillor will be elected via a countback of votes from the 2020 general election.

The Victorian Electoral Commission is overseeing this process, with a new councillor to be elected on Monday, August 28.

There are more skate parks per capita in Greater Geelong than any other municipality.

Council invests in them as they are a fantastic facility for skate boarders, bike riders and bladers of all ages and abilities.

The redevelopment of the St Leonards skate park has been a while in the making.

Young people in the area have advocated strongly for the space to be improved, so I’m pleased Council and the State Government are working together to make it a more attractive facility.

It was great to visit St Leonards last week to mark the start of the second phase of the upgrade.

Stage one of the project was completed earlier this year.

It included a demolition of the existing skate park, resurfacing on the sports court and the installation of two basketball/futsal goals and two netball rings.

Construction works on the remainder of the improvements are now under way, and include:

• An expanded skate area
• Plaza and park features
• A new shelter and seating areas; and
• A drinking fountain

The concept design for this second stage was developed with input from local skaters and the wider community.

The project is being delivered with funding from Sport & Recreation Victoria ($360,532) and the City of Greater Geelong ($310,060).

Works are expected to be completed in November, so skaters can look forward to a great summer in St Leonards.

You can find our other facilities at geelongaustralia.com.au/skate

Cr Trent Sullivan

Mayor, City of Greater Geelong