Former mayor resigns from Geelong council

CITY of Greater Geelong councillor and former mayor Stephanie Asher has resigned from the role, effective immediately.

In a statement to incumbent mayor Trent Sullivan and acting chief executive officer Kaarina Phyland sent yesterday (Saturday, July 29), Cr Asher said she had enjoyed managed her council duties alongside work, family and caring commitments, but “this is no longer sustainable” given her job as a Melbourne-based project director.

Cr Asher stated she would also soon move her home from Ocean Grove to somewhere outside of the Greater Geelong municipality.

“I am confident the council, along with our new CEO, will continue the good work achieved for the community and the Greater Geelong region.

“Reflecting on my 68 months spent as a member of Geelong council, 33 months as mayor, I feel deeply honoured to have served this passionate community and contributed to some significant changes which will help shape the future.”

Cr Asher was Geelong’s second-longest serving Mayor, serving a term of nearly three years.

“I am indebted to our wonderful community, the City staff and my dedicated councillor colleagues for their support and contribution throughout 2019-22,” Cr Asher said.

“There are many fabulous achievements to celebrate and, having led the City through the pandemic years, I am deeply grateful for the efforts of everyone involved in bringing Geelong through an incredible period of challenge, growth and change.”

Cr Asher’s departure is the third shakeup for the City of Greater Geelong council in recent months, following the departures of Sarah Mansfield to the Victorian Upper House (replaced by Melissa Cadwell) and the resignation of Kylie Grzybek (replaced by Sarah Hathway).

Cr Asher’s resignation statement:

Dear Mayor Sullivan and Acting CEO Kaarina Phyland,

I am writing to advise you of my resignation from the role of City of Greater Geelong Councillor.

While I have greatly enjoyed managing my council duties alongside work, family and caring commitments to date, this is no longer sustainable, given my current work obligations as a Melbourne-based project director.

I will also soon be moving out of the Geelong municipality.

I am confident the council, along with our new CEO, will continue the good work achieved for the community and the Greater Geelong region.

Reflecting on my 68 months spent as a member of Geelong council, 33 months as mayor, I feel deeply honoured to have served this passionate community and contributed to some significant changes which will help shape the future.

As the second-longest serving Mayor of Greater Geelong, my nearly three years in the leadership role were extremely positive and I am indebted to our wonderful community, the City staff and my dedicated councillor colleagues for their support and contribution throughout 2019-22.

There are many fabulous achievements to celebrate and, having led the City through the pandemic years, I am deeply grateful for the efforts of everyone involved in bringing Geelong through an incredible period of challenge, growth and change.

It is perhaps my proudest legacy to have led Geelong through an unprecedented time of State, Federal and global intervention in overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic, and actively encouraging our community to respond positively to the panic of an international health crisis. Through that time, we maintained employment of staff, in fact set the benchmark in redeployment of the City team, we promoted local businesses, created connection opportunities and we councillors immediately prioritised hardship funding packages.

I personally urged the State Premier to encourage outdoor activities and we kept the pools open, encouraged use of running trails, parks and, most importantly, advocated strongly to keep the beaches open. Our beautiful natural environment played a powerful part in the push to keep people in the sunshine and fresh air. To me, this was vital in maintaining physical and mental health in the COVID-19 crisis. I am so proud of how absolutely resilient, sensible and stoic the people of this region proved to be under pressure.

Six years and more than 90 public meetings ago, when we were first elected by our communities, I had several key priorities for local residents and ratepayers – addressing the overdevelopment of the Bellarine, responding to the need for a 50m pool in our Ward and linking shared trails to provide sustainable public transport options.

Long-term planning decisions needed to be made and endorsing the 2020 Settlement Strategy and directing future growth away from the Bellarine is a key highlight of my time as mayor. We all want a sustainable future and to create, implement and embed a Sustainability Policy and Framework was another significant shift endorsed by Council in 2020-21. As a result, Greater Geelong won the 2021 Victorian Sustainable City Award due to the breadth and depth of achievements.

I also applaud and thank everyone involved in supporting the funding and construction of both the 50m outdoor pool in Drysdale which will be open this summer, and the Northern Aquatic and Community Hub in Norlane (NACH). I give particular thanks to my colleague and friend, Councillor Anthony Aitken, for helping drive the delivery of the NACH.

The work with shared trails is progressing through the region-wide Shared Trails Master Plan. The opening of 13th Beach Road trail was a huge win in 2022 and I look forward to more trails being created.

Special thanks to you, Trent, for your consistent. loyal and professional support as my deputy 2020-22. Once again, thank you and congratulations on providing well-mannered and steady leadership as Mayor from 2022 and throughout 2023. I also want to pay tribute to Cr Kylie Grzybek for her role as deputy from 2019-20 and to my councillor colleagues for their ongoing commitment to community service and for being so professional.

The officers and executive team at the City also deserve thanks and gratitude, with a special acknowledgement to you, Kaarina, for outstanding courage and tenacity in steering the team as Acting CEO for what will be nearly 12 months. I commend you on a job very well done in challenging circumstances.

The region is growing at pace and it has been exciting to be at the forefront of continued strong progress. Wishing you all the best for continued success serving the people of Greater Geelong.