‘Make the CBD great again’: Stretch Kontelj elected Geelong mayor

SRECHKO “Stretch” Kontelj has been elected unopposed as the new mayor of the City of Greater Geelong.

Voted in by the city’s new 11-member council at tonight’s (Tuesday, November 26) meeting at City Hall, Cr Kontelj will serve in the role for a term of two years.

He succeeds Trent Sullivan, who was elected mayor in November 2022 but did not raise his hand this evening for a shot at a second term.

The city’s new deputy mayor, long-time councillor Ron Nelson, was also elected unopposed.

Speaking during tonight’s meeting, Cr Kontelj thanked his fellow councillors for their support and acknowledged the “great privilege and responsibility” that comes with the top job.

“I think we’ve got some amazing opportunities here as a city and lots of tough decisions to make, but I think we’ve got the right team on the pitch,” he said.

Cr Kontelj made it clear he has bold plans for the future, with the revitalisation of the city’s embattled CBD and a “back to basics” approach to delivering core services firmly in his sights.

“Let’s make our CBD great again,” he said.

“[Geelong] is now the fastest growing city in Australia, but it’s got its challenges, but we will work together, and we will look to make the CBD equivalent to what is now this cultural precinct and equivalent to what is the Waterfront.

“I think council can play a significant leadership role in bringing together into the room all the people who can have a say in what the CBD should be – representatives of state government, federal government, local government, developers – and let’s find out what is holding up the development of the various sites and ensuring that the CBD can prosper to the best of its potential.

“With strategic leadership and collaboration with the councillor group, the officers and the community, I’m sure we can ensure that Geelong continues to thrive, is inclusive and is a competitive and thriving hub.”

Cr Kontelj was first elected to the council in 1998 and served for 17 years, including a 12-month stint as mayor in 2001 and six months as deputy mayor in 2002.

He resigned in 2015 when his work took him overseas.

Cr Nelson said he looked forward to working with the new-look Geelong council to “get the things that we need to get done”.

“I’d like to thank the mayor for putting his faith and trust in me, and I’ll always have your back to make sure we get things done for our city.”