Vote and have your voice heard

THE coming Victorian local government elections in October are an important opportunity for residents to shape the future of our community.

Voting in local elections isn’t just a civic duty – it’s a powerful way to influence how our city is run.

The City of Greater Geelong will be responsible for delivering almost $400 million of services in the 2024-25 financial year.

These services directly impact daily life in our local communities.

Council maintains essential infrastructure such as local roads, footpaths and public spaces like parks, gardens and sports facilities.

We oversee waste collection and recycling, among many other services, to ensure that our community remains clean and environmentally sustainable.

We also manage many of our community’s pools, recreation facilities, childcare centres, youth and community hubs and a variety of other facilities.

By voting in local elections, residents influence how councils prioritise spending, ensuring that their community’s needs and values are reflected in the decisions that affect everyday life.

As your representatives, councillors vote on the projects and policies that decide our region’s future.

One of the most important ways you can help shape this future is to vote for the candidate or candidates that you believe will best represent you.

This February, the Minister for Local Government announced that the City of Greater Geelong would have a new electoral structure.

For the 2024 election, instead of four wards with 11 councillors, there will be 11 single-councillor wards.

Instead of the Bellarine ward we now have three new wards across the Bellarine Peninsula: Connewarre, Murradoc and Leopold.

The other eight wards are Barrabool Hills, Charlemont, Cheetham, Corio, Deakin, Hamlyn Heights, Kardinia and You Yangs.

I encourage you all to check out the new structure at vec.vic.gov.au/electoral-boundaries/local-councils/greater-geelong-city-council

This year, voting will take place only by postal ballot, and the Victorian Election Commission will mail ballot packs to all enrolled voters beginning Monday, October 7.

Follow the instructions in your ballot pack to complete your vote. Make sure you post it or drop it off at the election office before 6pm on Friday, October 25.

For more information, head to vec.vic.gov.au/voting/2024-local-council-elections/greater-geelong-city-council

Meanwhile, with councillor candidate nominations now closed, the City of Greater Geelong has entered the election period – commonly referred to as “caretaker period”.

So, what is the caretaker period, and what does it mean for our councillors and our organisation?

Firstly, that is why I am speaking to you in this column instead of a councillor.

The chief executive officer – or acting CEO, in my case – must act as the council’s chief spokesperson during the caretaker period.

City-issued columns cannot feature councillors during the election period, as this could give those running again an unfair advantage over other candidates.

It also means that the City of Greater Geelong will hold off on any major decisions until the next group of councillors are sworn in and can vote on these decisions on behalf of their community.

So again, please vote to ensure that everyone’s voice is heard.

We look forward to welcoming the next group of councillors, ready to continue building a stronger, more vibrant community for all of us.

Troy Edwards

Acting chief executive officer, City of Greater Geelong