Trio vows to make Geelong greener, one ward at a time

THE Greens have announced three candidates for this year’s council elections in Greater Geelong.

The party aims to bring fresh energy and bold ideas to local governance.

Emilie Flynn, Maddie Slater, and Joey Nicita will represent the Greens, each bringing a unique vision and expertise to the community.

Ms Flynn, running for Kardinia Ward, has a background in climate and sustainability work.

She said the housing crisis must be addressed to enable communities to embrace climate action.

“We are committed to finding local government solutions to the housing crisis and safeguarding our future from the climate crisis.”

Ms Flynn said the Greens were advocating for sustainable developments and improved infrastructure.

“We are looking to push for human-scale developments that are sustainable, climate-appropriate, and support our fast-growing and diverse community. We want to see property developers building a minimum of 30 per cent public and genuinely affordable housing in new developments.

“We are pushing for FOGO (food organics and garden organics), composting, and glass recycling to be implemented in Geelong’s waste system.

“We believe that this is the real solution to our growing waste problem, not incinerating rubbish at the proposed Lara facility.”

Ms Slater, from Corio, wants to improve public transport and cycling infrastructure.

“Creating better and more diverse transport connections isn’t just about convenience, it’s about building a more sustainable and inclusive Geelong, where everyone can easily access opportunities while reducing our carbon footprint.”

Mr Nicita, who is contesting the Hamlyn Heights Ward, wants to restore community trust and ensure the council is transparent and accountable.

“It is important that we see candidates offering diverse voices and accountable local representation to ensure the City of Greater Geelong council delivers results that are truly reflective of the community and its needs,” he said.