Golden Plains Shire council elections 2020

All our reporting on the Golden Plains Shire council elections set for October 2020.

 

Forum links candidates with voters

BY EDWINA WILLIAMS

GOLDEN Plains Shire council election candidates took part in a forum facilitated by the Golden Plains Times on Monday evening.

Gavin Gamble, Tim Harrop, Cameron Steele, Brett Cunningham, Greg Nyary, Clayton Whitfield, Ian Getsom, Cr Les Rowe, Cr Owen Sharkey, Cr Joanne Gilbert, Cr Helena Kirby and Cr Nathan Hansford, appeared live.

Streaming on Facebook, with candidates gathering on Zoom, each person had two minutes to introduce themselves and what they’re advocating for, a chance to answer submitted questions from residents and a minute at the end to sum up their case.

The first question asked of candidates surrounded their opinions on the Midland Highway in Batesford, and the community’s bypass proposal made to the State Government.

Cr Sharkey said he put forward a motion at a past council meeting to say the highway route through Batesford was not a preferred option of the Shire.

“I stand by the motion,” he said.

Mr Steele said a decision needs to be made that respects the Batesford area’s waterways and wildlife.

Cr Rowe said the decision will probably lie with the State, but an elected Shire council is there to support the people of Batesford.

Another question was asked about public transport between towns, specifically Bannockburn.

Mr Gamble said he would like to consult with the community, and see if there is a “reasonably economic need” for more public transport due to cost, as well as safe infrastructure for other modes of transport like electric bikes.

Cr Gilbert said the Shire could lobby with bus companies in Geelong to help students travel around the Shire.

When asked about rate cuts and sourcing funds for projects elsewhere, Mr Nyary said “we need to reduce employee costs” in house.

All candidates, bar one, were present at the forum. Mr Getsom and Cr Hansford experienced some technical difficulties during some of their opportunities to speak.

Andrea Mahon was absent as she was unwell and had lost her voice.

 

Candidate Profiles 

All candidate profiles are presented in order as drawn on the ballot.

 

Gavin Gamble – The Greens

BY ALISTAIR FINLAY

THE first endorsed candidate from a major political party standing in October’s Golden Plains Shire council elections has been announced, and he’s from the Greens.

Teedale’s Gavin Gamble has been given the nod to represent the party at the upcoming vote and he’s looking to put a range of issues on the agenda.

“I want to try and make a difference to improve our community in a number of different ways and also support the people who are doing good work,” he said. “If they have a voice on council it’s definitely going to help.

“I also believe there’s a large portion of the Shire that isn’t really represented by the councillors that are current on the council.

“I think I can draw support from a bigger spectrum than just your traditional Greens voters. People who want to see a more progressive and alternative view point.”

A self-employed gardener, Mr Gamble works in both the Shire and Geelong and has lived in Teesdale for 18 years with his wife and children.

He said that he’s had involvement in range of community activities, from taking part in the town’s streetscape consultation, to the local events committee, as well as in junior football and cubs and scouts, and that’s given him the drive to take his involvement further.

“I want the Shire to be a better place to live, for the community, for the younger generation. I want them to be proud of where they come from and to stay, to try and find work here and doing things here,” Mr Gamble said.

While campaigning, and if elected, Mr Gamble said there was a range of issues he wanted to focus on.

They include climate action, managing sprawling development, better connectivity between towns, and increasing employment options within the Shire.

“I’d like to see more actions to address suitability going into the future,” he said. “Climate change is a big issue in our electorate. We’ve already seen a lot more fire risk, changing season patterns, and different types of birds and animals are becoming more dominant or at risk of extinction.

“As well as that I’d like to look at changing the development patterns of Bannockburn and around the Shire. The amount of subdivisions that are going up, I’d like to go into that more and see what’s driving it and whether it’s in the best interests if the council or the townships.

“There’s also building better cycling infrastructure and the ability for people to interlink the townships with Bannockburn as the centre. Different transport modes should be encouraged and promoted.”

For Mr Gamble, who has never stood for, or held, political office before, being backed by the Greens was a benefit as he could call on the resources of the party and its people when needed.

“I’d be networking with other Greens people that have been in similar local government areas,” he said. “I’ve been working with Cr Stephen Hart from Colac Otway Shire.”

While he lives in Teesdale, Mr Gamble said the large and geographically odd make up of Golden Plains was no problem, as he has familial links to the northern regions.

“I’m pretty familiar with the top end of the Shire because my wife’s family are in Snake Valley,” he said. “We often go to Linton and Smythesdale shops.

“Also, I’m a keen road cyclist, so quite often I’ll travel from Rokewood, northwards through a lot of the towns. So I get around and see the place.”

 

Tim Harrop

BY RUBY STALEY

AFTER running the Moorabool Ridge Vineyard for almost thirty years, Tim Harrop has decided to put his skills to use and run as an independent candidate for the Golden Plains Shire council.

As a first-time candidate, Mr Harrop said he’s most interested in using his expertise to serve his community in a great time of need.

“I’ve been interested in the concept of being councillor since I worked for Broadmeadows City Council many years ago and I’ve worked for the corporation of London, in England for a while,” he said.

“After my time in the public service, I figured the government has spent 37 years training me as an executive manager, maybe I can use some of that in the local community to help people and the council do better.

“With the COVID downturn there’s going to be a lot of constraint on the budget and there is going to be a need for better managers at hard times and I don’t want the council to revert to its usual practice which is every time there’s a short fall in the budget, they whack up the rates.”

Aside from his bureaucratic experience and proposals for the council, as a farmer and winemaker Mr Harrop said he has a vested interest in the Shire’s natural environment.

While he supports the ongoing improvement of the Shire’s amenities, he said that the mad rush to develop beyond financial means is counterintuitive to why people love living in the area.

“We are an urban fringe community and urban growth tends to drive costs and if we are not careful managers of that, those costs can run away compared to the small rate base that we have,” he said.

“A lot of people have lived here for a long time and enjoy the rural environment, and are not all that impressed with all the development going on.

“We have to find a balance between the rural lifestyle but also having the services that people need.”

Beyond simply conserving the untouched natural landscape within the Shire, Mr Harrop said as a community member and potential councillor he’s also interested in environmental and agriculture innovation.

“There’s lots of innovation in farming technology and water management that could be implemented and bring employment and support farmers in the local area,” he said.

“Environmental industries around renewable energy, recycling, using the green waste as a product that could be turned into fertiliser all have employment opportunities that we should explore.

“I would like to see the council be an active promoter on those things rather than sitting back and waiting.”

Moving towards a COVID-free future, Mr Harrop said the most important thing is to continue the message of staying safe because although people are getting tired of it, the Shire will need to work together to get through this.

“We need to get as many mental health support services out here as possible, it’s not an area with a lot of mental health support services.”

“We need to be encouraging support within each other in the community and doing as much as we can within the restraints of the COVID restrictions.

“I want to work collaboratively with the other councillors and everyone in the council to deliver better services to the community.”

 

Cameron Steele

BY ALISTAIR FINLAY

EVERY council has at least one.

A person who’s not a councillor but attends every meeting. Listening, watching, engaging with the process.

Through all that they often they get a good understanding on the role of a councillor and council, and end up having an impact on the way things play out.

In the case of Golden Plains Shire that person is Cameron Steele and now he’s on the ballot for a seat at the table.

“I’ve attended the majority of meetings and made submissions on behalf of residents, so I have a head start and am a bit more job ready,” he said.

“You’ve got to deeply understand the range of issues facing our Shire and I’ve been able to form a relationship with the councillors and discuss issues that’s I’m passionate about.

“I’m very protective of the Shire, the people in it, it’s environment. I think if you’re true to that then you get yourself involved.”

This October won’t be the first time Mr Steele has put his hand up for election to council. He did the same thing in 2016 with not a lot of success, and that’s why, in part he’s put in the hard yards over the last four years.

He said the experience has given him the insight into what’s required to be a meaningful and successful councillor.

“It’s not an easy decision,” he said. “Any candidate who is standing has to think of the amount of work that is involved if you really want to make change.

“I think a couple of the current councillors did struggle a little bit managing that and I think it’s something any new candidate really needs to keep in the front of their mind.”

So what does Mr Steele see for the Shire over the next four years? He has some broad strokes and some detailed ideas.

“It’s that strategic thinking,” he said. “We’re getting to a point where it’s really needed in the Shire and we’re going to be wanting to shape a future that protects the things that we value living in this place.

“How do we maintain a low crime rate? What things do we bring in for our youth? How do we protect our rivers?”

Perhaps in part because of his consistent council watching, the issues Mr Steele wants to put on the agenda are well formed and come with solutions.

Take, for example, transparency. Not only does he want council’s decision making to be more open and accountable, to achieve that he’s suggesting councillor briefings are miniated and made publicly available.

On rates he’s critical of the increase in the municipal charge, saying while it broadens the tax payer base it unfairly affects the least able to pay the most.

“I’ve been pushing for better rate equity,” Mr Steele said. “I was very firmly against the rise in the municipal charge. Our Shire has one of the highest percentage of its rates taken by the municipal charge.

“What it means is rate relief is given to the top end of property values at the expense of those at the bottom.”

Politically, Mr Steele describes him self as an “old school Australia Democrat” seeking to keep “the bastards honest.”

Whether you take that to mean he occupies the sensible centre, or the mushy middle, depends on your political outlook.

Yet taking a position in the middle ground means he’s able see things from many different points of view, and that could be helpful with the potential for groupings and factions in the chamber once votes are counted.

“There’s issues that will come before us as our Shire grows, and there’s going to be tensions there,” Mr Steele said. “Managing that future is one of the pivotal roles for a councillor.”

But there’s a difference between standing on the outside looking in and having a seat at the table.

Should Mr Steele be successful in his run, he’s looking forward to what that might mean.

“The ability to get in and have a deep dive on issues is something not really available to those outside council,” he said. “Councillors are far more widely briefed than the ordinary person.

“I really feel that if I had the chance, and got into council, that I could work with the information that’s available and hopefully join a group of energized, forward thinking councillors who are really prepared to sit down and have that kind of forward thinking we’re going to need.”

 

Cr Les Rowe

BY ALISTAIR FINLAY

WITH an eye on a second term on Golden Plains Shire council, Cr Les Rowe is keen to underline his credentials not just as choice for farmers across the district, but also the wider community.

While the sheep and grain grower from Sutherlands Creek is keen to point out his hand in lowering the overall municipal rate burden for farmers, he’s also draws attention to other wins like roads and bridge maintenance as well as sports and recreation upgrades.

“I’m running again to continue the good things already started,” Cr Rowe said.

“For example; lobbying for further funding for a road and bridge network. Assisting business is vital for driving job creation within our Shire, without active businesses where are the jobs going to come from?

“We need to promote increased participation in physical education and sport and recreation and I’m planning on lobbying for more activity in the Shire.

“I want to keep being a link in the chain for local community in how they can action change.”

With the agricultural sector a key player in the Shire’s economy, achieving a five per cent reduction on the farm rate is an issue that Cr Rowe prides himself on.

“Farming contributes something like $279 million to our Golden Plains economy,” he said. “Not only that, when you get down to tin tacks the agricultural industries create 23 per cent of the employment.

“It’s vitally important that there’s someone there supporting our rural areas. It’s vital they have a voice.”

Now in his 60th year, Cr Rowe points out that means he’s lived six decades in the Shire, with a family history going back an additional century.

Living at Sutherlands Creek with his wife, his family – including three daughters – have been focusing on farming fat lambs recently.

He was also the president of the Bannockburn Primary School council – lobbying for the new P-12 school – and pushed for the Bannockburn Library. He also played footy at Inverleigh.

“I’ve got a bit of muscle in the community and the Shire, as far as I’m concerned I have to be local,” he said. “When you’ve got a bit of muscle in it, it means a lot.”

Coming on to council as an outsider four years ago, Cr Rowe said he’s had to relearn the way he goes about creating change.

“I thought I could do more in relation to operational matters,” he said. “I soon found out I couldn’t. I was a bit blind.

“I’m very passionate about the road network, so I worked pretty hard on the Roads Policy. The original policy wanted to have the pothole intervention level at 150 millimetres, I fought tooth and nail that that wasn’t appropriate. I lobbied hard and got it back to 100 millimetres.

“You’ve got to work in a different direction, and that was one of the directions I worked in.”

Towards the end of the current council term, Cr Rowe got caught up in the middle of a conflict between retiring councillors Des Phelan and David Evans.

While Cr Rowe was unwilling to comment on the specific allegation that Cr Evans called his house and was abusive to his family, he was willing to address Cr Evans record of achievement and behaviour, especially over the last 12 months.

He also sounded a warning on the realities of protest candidates who “promise the world.”

“David got very, very bitter,” he said. “He and I did some good things in the early part, but he didn’t present to fellow councillors as a team player.

“In the final year, after his unsuccessful tilt at becoming mayor, he became a very different councillor, one of isolation and bitterness, in my book.

“I’m finding at the present time he’s the sole driver behind the scenes trying to dislodge many of the re-standing councillors. I just plead to the voters of the Golden Plains Shire to choose the candidates who have the Shire at their hearts.

“Some of these ones that go out spruiking what they are going to do, they promise the world and deliver nothing.”

 

Cr Owen Sharkey

BY ALISTAIR FINLAY

IN four years, Cr Owen Sharkey went from being an outsider running a ratepayer’s association, then elected to Golden Plains Shire council on quota. In 2018 he became mayor.

While the journey isn’t unprecedented, his rise to the top of Shire politics has been fast.

“The most humbling thing about having become a councillor is not that long ago I was in the workforce with no inkling to get into local government or politics,” he said.

“To be elected to mayor after two years, and go onto chair Central Highlands Councils Victoria and sit on G21, I still sometimes I pinch myself.

“Four years on council is the same length of time it took me to do my bricklaying apprenticeship, and I do see this as an apprenticeship. I’ve had the accelerated course, but there’s parts of council I definitely would miss and some big picture goals I’d like to achieve in another term.”

With October’s municipal election looming, Cr Sharkey said the view from the big chair has given him an appreciation of the Shire as a whole and not just one patch of it.

“When you initially get onto council you can tend to have a smaller perspective of things,” he said.

“One of the greatest things I’ve taken away from council and my two years as mayor is really looking at the bigger picture items.

“I think being the chair of Central Highlands and a board member of G21 have really forced me to open my eyes that much wider to see how we’re travelling into the future.”

As for what Cr Sharkey would like to put on the agenda in the Shire for the next four years, that’s been influenced by his time at the top.

“Our community have now put together the 2040 vision and that’s fantastic document to see where the community wants to be into the future,” he said,

“That’s our role as councillors and mayor and representatives in our region to shape those visions and there’s definitely lots of visions there I’d like to part of for the next for years.

“Looking from the perspective of youth in the Shire, there’s a lot we need to do. Through this pandemic there’s going to be a lot of work that needs to be done in the youth space.”

As an individual and a council, Cr Sharkey said one major issue stands out as his biggest success during his freshman term, and it plays off the reason why he stood for council in the first place.

“I’m extremely proud of the work we’ve done on rates,” he said.

“It’s something I very strongly disagreed with as a ratepayer. There were lots of things I wanted to see changed and we just didn’t get that change. Now, having brought those same ideas to council over the last four years, we’ve seen those changes implemented.

“We’ve seen growth rates removed, the municipal charge added to help spread the burden, we’ve decreased farmers’ rate in the dollar.

“There’s still work to be done, and I believe the work needs to be done at a state level, but this year alone I’ve probably received the least amount of complaints on the rate front so far.”

Cr Sharkey said he’s also come to appreciate the difference between standing on the outside looking in as a member of a ratepayer’s association and being a member of council.

“Being in that chamber has forced me to go to a far deeper level of understanding on a lot of issues,” he said.

“There’s a lot of issues where I’ve done a backflip in my thinking because I was looking at it from the perspective of a ratepayer, but when you read an 800 page report on an issue you’re going to shape a different outlook on things.”

With the voting yet to start, Cr Sharkey said his focus was solely on re-election once council heads into caretaker mode from 24 September.

Any ideas about returning to the mayor’s chair would be put aside until after the ballots are tallied.

“Firstly, I’m absolutely concentrating on being re-elected,” he said. “If I am one of the seven councillors I’d strongly advocate for the best person to be mayor.

“If the collective group of councillors thought that was me, I’d be happy to again rise to the occasion.”

 

Cr Joanne Gilbert

BY ALISTAIR FINLAY

AFTER four year of her first term on Golden Plains Shire council, deputy-mayor Cr Joanne Gilbert describes the experience as an “apprenticeship.”

“I feel like I’m now starting to know what I’m trying to do and what I’m trying to achieve and hopefully the next four years will be a bit more productive,” she said.

“I’ve learned that I’m one councillor and that there are seven of us making decisions and that’s fantastic.

“But I’ve also learned that it’s a difficult process, it’s not just as easy as; go in and make a decision. There’s a lot of homework, and there’s so much to learn about things like meeting procedure, and those things don’t naturally come.”

Currently, with a majority of declared candidates in either the south or centre of the Shire, providing a strong voice for the north was a big part of Cr Gilbert’s consideration in re-standing.

“The north of the Shire needs representation,” she said. “That’s probably been the biggest deciding factor for me and wanting to make sure the Shire is full represented from all areas.

“I’ve grown up in a small town, am pretty passionate about small communities and understand they need a voice.”

That’s not to say Cr Gilbert is parochial when it comes to the north of Golden Plains.

The same desire to see people in the top half of the Shire represented extends to the whole of the municipality.

“It would be great to see people standing from all around the Shire, not those areas that are heavily populated,” she said.

“It’s also good to see people come from different backgrounds, a bit of diversity, I’m pretty keen for that too.

“I don’t care whether it’s in the north or deep down in the heart of the Shire. Those communities still need a voice.”

There have been times during the last four years when the council chamber, and those siting within it, have been fractured.

Some might call it robust debate, others bickering, yet through all that Cr Gilbert has managed to retain a level of independence and grace, often rising above the din to be the voice of reason.

It’s an ability she said is drawn from her personal outlook and belief in what local council and councillors should be.

“I think it’s safe to say that my opinion is not something that’s shared by everybody all of the time,” she said.

“So therefore I think it’s fair to look at other people and say, ‘We don’t always share the same ideas’, but I truly believe there’s one common goal and that is to represent the community and do what is fair and what is reasonable.

“There have been some members of the council previously who’ve clashed, there’s no doubt about that, but everybody had something valuable to bring to the table.”

While most people set to run at October’s local government election have to be looking at the role council can play in COVID-19 recovery, Cr Gilbert also has one key issue she wants to keep on the agenda – planning.

“Planning in the northern and southern growth areas of the Shire is so important,” she said. “We’ve got to get it right.

“Those big cities either side of us a growing quickly and pressing in on us and therefore we need to be really carful about how we plan the areas that are mostly affected and make sure that when we do it we protect the amenity.

“The northern settlement strategy is a fabulous document. I will always say we can’t just produce these documents and then pop them on the shelf and say, ‘Look what a good job we did’.”

You could say Cr Gilbert has local government in her DNA.

Her father and aunt both served on Golden Plains Shire council with her dad filling the role of mayor, while back in the days of Buninyong Shire both her uncle and grandfather took seats in that municipal chamber.

Coming to the end of her second year as deputy-mayor, Cr Gilbert didn’t rule out a crack at the big chair in chambers herself, if re-elected.

However, she also puts a number of strong caveats on any desire she might have to lead council.

“Sitting in the mayoral chair is a position of great responsibility and you sit there when the timing is right in your life,” she said.

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed supporting the mayor, and I’ve had quite a number of opportunities to hop in the chair and run a meeting and that’s been great. Owen and I have tried to share the load between the north and the south of the Shire, and that’s been a great learning experience.

“I’m not ruling it out, you just have to think carefully before you do it as it’s a big responsibility and I think it’s a real privilege to have that honour.”

 

Brett Cunningham

BY ALISTAIR FINLAY

BRETT Cunningham doesn’t want to just get elected to Golden Plains Shire council, he wants to take control of it.

To that end he said he’s part of a coalition of candidates including Clayton Whitfield at Inverleigh, Andrea Mahon from Lethbridge and Piggoreet’s Ian Getsom who are seeking a majority of the Shire’s seven seats.

“We’ve put a bit of a working group together and will be promoting ourselves to the residents,” Mr Cunningham said. “It’s a good mix.

“To be honest, the only way that we can have change and try and rebuild the faith and confidence at the council is to pretty much have a clean sheet and that’s what I’ll be pushing for.

“This council election ratepayers have two choices, they can either re-elect the majority of returning councillors, and they know what their performance has been. Or they have the opportunity to vote a new team in that will start a fresh.”

Having lived in the Shire, or what would become Golden Plains Shire, for that last 36 years, with most of the time in Teesdale before moving to Bannockburn six years ago, Mr Cunningham said recent developments within council have been the driver of his desire for change.

“Over the last two years I don’t think that I’ve ever known, and heard from fellow ratepayers, such a disconnect from the current group of councillors,” he said. “There seems to be a lack of faith and confidence in the group.”

He was also highly critical of a number issues council had a hand in.

They include what he sees and financial wastage, poor community consultation, the Inverleigh street scape plan and the decision to increase rates.

“I just think there’s a real disconnect, a lack of faith and a lack of confidence,” he said.

“Over the past four years the results of the [municipal satisfaction survey] have been about the worst in the state. There’s been times where they’ve [council] consulted but haven’t listened.

“There has been a bit of wastage on money. We had the heart of Bannockburn – great community project – but that blew out by about $300,000. Bus parking up near the Bannockburn school that blew out by about 300 per cent.

“One-way no-way landscape over in Inverleigh, that was a debacle.”

But what if he gets elected but can’t take a majority control of the chamber with is allies?

On that outcome Mr Cunningham is a little more conciliatory, but he’d rather focus on the idea of all or nothing and said also he’s only having one crack at it.

“Say two councillors are coming off and I got on, to me that’s not going to make a lot of difference, because you’re still going to have the majority of retuning councillors there,” he said.

“If I’m fortunate enough to be elected, hopefully along with my other three people I’m working with, that would be great. If not, I’d do my best to work with who was elected to council.

“I’m only going to give this one shot. If I get elected, I’ll do the best job that I can, but if I don’t, I’ve got other projects.”

If you’ve ever been on a social media group or page relating to the Shire, and especially in the south, you’ve probably come across Mr Cunningham.

While he’s been highly active in the past, with a tendency to be critical of decisions of councillors, Mr Cunningham said that’s come to an end for the time being.

“People might say, “You’ve got lots to say about bashing the council’, or whatever, we’ll I’m putting my hand up and saying, well I’m going to stand up and try and get on council and try to implement some change and achieve a few things.

“I think social media is going to play a big part in this. I’ve went very quiet that last week or so as I’ve put my nomination in. Apart from positing my candidate bio on page, that’ll be about it from me.”

 

Cr Nathan Hansford

BY EDWINA WILLIAMS

WILLING to be the Golden Plains Shire’s next mayor, Cr Nathan Hansford is looking ahead to the upcoming municipal elections.

With a “strong focus” on finding the balance between service provision in the “rapidly expanding” LGA and maintaining affordable rates, he said he will work to ensure residents continue to enjoy where they live.

“When we ask what they want, they want it to remain a rural feel. That’s very loud, and it’s something I want too,” he said.

“It’s why I moved to Golden Plains in 1996, for that very reason; the rural aspect and feel.

“Bannockburn is not going to be a rural town forever, and certainly, managing that growth and surrounding towns is going to be something that will take up a lot of council’s time in the not-too-distant future.”

Cr Hansford said the Bannockburn South precinct will “dominate” Shire planning in the immediate term, but there’s one crucial issue already at the fore that council can’t afford to get wrong.

“The absolute number one thing that we have to get right, with a lot of effort, is recovery from COVID. That’s a standout priority for the new council for sure.

“We’ll need to plan in a way that will help growth in every aspect; residentially, in business, what we do with grants, and managing sporting facilities,” he said

“But a key thing that will help us bounce out of this is that people can connect again and feel they’re part of the community, so sporting clubs and recreation activities are high on that list.”

In this recent Shire term, Cr Hansford has been a representative and board member for the Municipal Association of Victoria, and Geelong Regional Libraries.

“I’ve enjoyed being able to grow in those areas, and as a councillor, understanding more about how things work and fit together to make a community.

“There’s something new and a challenge every day. We speak to the public, get 25 different points of view, and then try to make as many people happy as we can in the middle of that,” he said.

“It’s very enjoyable to speak with a lot of people and then form something that will guide the community into the future.”

The launch of the Bannockburn Heart project – “an exceptional community asset” – is a recent highlight.

Proud to be a “true independent,” Cr Hansford believes there is “no room in local government for party politics.”

If given the opportunity to continue on council, he hopes the group will work collaboratively and more productively as a team.

“I would implore voters to vote with their feet about having seven councillors that can work together, and can govern in a matter that is conducive to good business,” he said.

Behind the scenes, Cr Hansford is married with six children. Previously the owners of Bannockburn’s hardware store, the Hansfords run a café in the town, and a refrigerated transport business.

A lover of cricket and motorsports, Cr Hansford is also the controller of Bannockburn SES.

Although he recognises it “sounds cliché,” Cr Hansford enjoys the opportunity to help other people.

“Whether that’s supporting our next-door neighbour in her day-to-day life, or with the emergency services, it puts a smile on my face, warms my heart, and that’s what I love to do.”

 

Cr Helena Kirby

BY EDWINA WILLIAMS

FORMER Golden Plains Shire mayor, Helena Kirby is again a candidate in the upcoming municipal elections.

The Rokewood small business owner said there are issues carrying over from her latest term that she wants to address, and hopes the elected councillors can work affectively and cohesively as a team.

“There are bigger projects, like the Rokewood Recreation Reserve that needs a total overhaul. I want to make sure they’re followed through and we see some results there,” she said.

“For the small rural towns, I want to make sure they’ve got a voice and are being heard. We cover a big area, with 52 communities, so we’ve got to be on the ball and make sure they can talk to us.”

Cr Kirby would like to see more economic development, which is a passion of hers.

“With the amount of people moving into the Shire, subdivisions and projections for 18,000 more residents down at the Bannockburn end… we need more economic development in the north and centre of Golden Plains,” she said.

“I’d like to see more land opened up for small businesses. We have a lot of home businesses in the Shire. It would be great to think there could be room to expand them if this is looked at, and opened up.

“Teesdale and Smythesdale are growing in stature with families. Since COVID, houses and land seem to be selling that fast, so if we want to have residents living in the Shire, we need that business support for them as well.”

A voice for women as a councillor and candidate, she hopes more female community members have the confidence to put their hand up.

“I’m part of the Rural Women’s Network group, but we haven’t been able to get out, search for women and encourage them to run for council this time around.

“If there are any young women interested, we have to be on the front foot with them and encourage them, because it’s such a good thing for community-minded people,” Cr Kirby said.

“It’s good for your independence and a fantastic challenge for within yourself. If I can help any other women out there, then I will.”

In her time as a councillor and as mayor, Cr Kirby has enjoyed meeting with residents and businesses owners, developing community relationships.

“I own the Rokewood Takeaway, and I’m running the post office-newsagents while my daughter is a home mum with her children.

“I’m in the centre of the Shire, and I’m talking to the community all the time. It’s easy for people to call through and have a chat to me because they know I’m a councillor,” she said.

“It’s lovely to know that’s what I’m there for. I get so much positive feedback and I love to share that with council.”

Working with Federation University to encourage young people in Golden Plains Shire to strive for jobs in renewable energies, like the local windfarms, has also been a highlight.

In her own time, Ms Kirby loves sport, having played and coached basketball and netball.

“I want to make sure kids have a positive outlook on life and something active to do,” she said.

“The Golden Plains Shire Community Vision 2040 and Sport and Active Recreation Strategy 2020 – 2030 have been rewarding, where everyone can have a say.

“Not everyone is into football or netball, although women’s football for example is really taking off. There are lots of other sports people enjoy, even walking groups involved in the community, and I want to make sure they’ve got facilities and things to look forward to.”

 

Greg Nyary

BY EDWINA WILLIAMS

DEREEL independent, Greg Nyary is a Golden Plains Shire council candidate in this month’s elections.

Wanting to “put a voice where I live,” and listen, he said he’s a “sensible bloke wanting to get things done” for the north and central areas of the Shire.

Living just below the Enfield State Park for the last 25 years while raising his family, he said “very little” work has been done in his neighbourhood.

“Everyone complains about the roads. It’s all very well, but if you don’t step up and have a go, what’s the point in complaining?” he said.

“Out of curiosity, I decided to investigate the budgets of the last couple of years to find out where everything was being spent.

“Everyone talks about all the money spent in Bannockburn, and I never believed it, but when I looked into the budgets, I changed my mind completely. We need more things done out here.”

Mr Nyary said one of the most important issues that should be addressed in the Shire is fire and evacuation access, out of or into properties.

“In the budgets two years ago, $8000 had been allocated for fire tracks. Where I live, we’ve had three or four fires in the last five years, and part of the area with a high population only has one way in and one way out,” he said.

“There are fire tracks there, but none of them have been maintained, and if someone gets caught down there, they’re gone. We should put more maintenance and funding into fire tracks, and this area.”

He wants rural roads to be maintained more often, council officers to have access to the best, smartest IT systems, and for Shire rates to cover more capital works.

He also “totally disagrees” with the Shire’s Local Law No. 2 surrounding general public amenities which controls a range of recreational activities including motorbiking.

He wants to see his neighbours and Shire residents use the public assets on offer with ease.

“On a Saturday or Sunday afternoon, there might be ten incidences of people riding motorbikes across the large Shire.

“We’ve already got EPA, police, VCAT… Are we going to employ three council officers to go out, sit on the side of the road and wait for a motorbike to go past on a property?” Mr Nyary said.

“We’re now going to charge people to put a container on their property. When do we stop charging everything? How much does it cost to enforce a $5000 collection fee? It’s crazy.”

Self-employed for 30 years Mr Nyary is a designer furniture builder, has been on school council at Napoleons Primary School, and a volunteer at Rokewood Football Club.

 

Clayton Whitfield

BY ALISTAIR FINLAY

WHILE a lack of community consultation around the Inverleigh street scape plan might have been the catalyst for Clayton Whitfield’s run at Golden Plains Shire council, it’s not the only thing pushing him.

Along with community engagement within the municipality, the former Australian Army sapper, chippy, builder and educator also sees assets management, youth recreation opportunities and mental health as areas he can make a difference.

“The residents of Inverleigh have been left a bit disenchanted with council after the street scape process,” he said.

“I looked around to see if anyone was going to stand up to see if we were properly consulted in the future and didn’t seen anybody putting there hand up, so I thought I would.

“If elected I’ll be making decisions based on research and consultation. Just because I’m an Inverleigh local doesn’t mean I can’t make those considered decisions for other parts of the Shire.”

As a former army engineer who served multiple tours of East Timor, earning himself a Chief of Defence Force commendation in the process, Mr Whitfield said roads and road maintenance should be an area of focus across the Shire.

“Drainage is something that seems to have been ignored for decades,” he said. “Water pooling beside a road seeps under a road which destabilises the surface. Then it requires more maintenance.

“Our roads could always be better maintained. I believe our current spending is about $1.5 million per year, even though an asset maintenance report was done showing we need to be spending almost five times that.”

While Mr Whitfield said he’d be guided by community needs if elected, one thing he was keen to put on the table related to mental health access.

“I do have one idea that I think might be of value,” he said. “During this pandemic lockdown and restrictions, I see benefit in a mobile mental health van to get out to the rural communities.

“It’s something I’d like to work towards.”

When it comes to youth services, Mr Whitfield said the organised activities of the municipality were good, but it’s the ability for young people to get out and run free he’d like to focus on.

“In some of the communities I’d like to see better catering of the demographic of around age 15,” he said. “They just need somewhere to go for that free time, non-structured activity.

“There are some terrific youth programs already available, but they’re all structured and that 15-year-old needs a lift from his parents to get there.

“In the rural towns I’d like to see some better facilities available for that demographic.”

On how the municipality might pay for those ideas and more, Mr Whitfield said he was about balance.

“There is only a certain pot of money from the ratepayers and there are essential services that need to be catered for first,” he said “I’m big on budget efficiency. Value for the ratepayer dollar is important.

“If three kids from a rural town want a BMX track, it’s unlikely it’s going to go ahead. But if they can have a busines case or feasibility study showing just cause for what they need then I’m more than happy to support them.”

The combination of growing up on a farm west of Melbourne and living in Inverleigh for 14 years has given Mr Whitfield a love of the Shire, and it’s not just the countryside that he appreciates.

“It is the rural ambiance that I’m here for,” he said. “But the community spirit is unlike I’ve seen anywhere else.

“We’ve got walking groups, Friends of the Common, the Progress Association, historical societies, everyone has buy in in the local community.”

 

Ian Getsom

BY EDWINA WILLIAMS       

 

BUS driver and community volunteer, Ian Getsom is a candidate in this month’s Golden Plains Shire council election.

Living on a farm in Piggoreet, he said the north of the Shire hasn’t been well represented in the last term.

“We need to have connection with the community which has been lost over a few years, and look after the northern people which have been almost forgotten about,” he said.

“I want to make sure we can cater for the community and plan ahead for the future, with communication and feedback from them, because they’re the ones than pay the rates and deserve to have an input into where and how the money is spent.”

Mr Getsom said the municipality needs to improve the maintenance and standard of “our country roads,” and as an experienced Linton CFA volunteer of 37 years, he is mindful of preparing residents for the risk of fire.

“Where I live, we’re very heavily timber populated, with several trees falling over the roads all the time.

“It’s a bushfire prone area, and at this stage we’re looking at a very bad season coming up,” he said.

Ready to “improve everything for the country,” he expects areas like Linton and Haddon will grow quickly with an influx of new residents.

“We’ve got one of the best shires in Victoria. I’m proud of our Shire. We need to make sure we’ve got good, affordable facilities, and affordable, sustainable rates.

“I’m hoping the people of the north realise that this is their last chance to vote for four years for a candidate at this end, and if I’m lucky enough to get in, then we’ve got a voice which is desperately needed,” he said.

Interested in the wellbeing of the community, Mr Getsom is involved with the organisation of Scarsdale Old Boys Reunions and Piggoreet Past Students Reunions, and is the president of the Happy Valley School Hall restoration group.

He is a retired football goal umpire, having contributed to games in Linton, Skipton, Smythesdale and Ballarat, and coordinated a bushfire relief initiative for Gippsland in 2003 and 2004.

The Victorian Farmers’ Federation’s inaugural volunteer award was presented to Mr Getsom, and he also received a letter of commendation from Victoria Police for helping rearrange a shooting gallery for training officers.

An employee of Christians Bus Ballarat, he enjoys driving school coaches.

I Love looking after the young children and have a great rapport with them. I treat them like they’re my own,” Mr Getsom said.

He has four sons with wife, Gwenda including anti-bullying campaigner Luke Getsom, the Golden Plains Shire’s Young Citizen of the Year for 2019.

 

Andrea Mahon

BY ALISTAIR FINLAY

WITH the full complement of candidates for next month’s municipal election now set, a third woman has put her name forward for consideration by voters.

Lethbridge based horse breeder and member of the group of four candidates standing as a block and seeking control of council, Andrea Mahon, said there were several motivations behind her run.

“The main instigator was when I sat and watched a council meeting where they all behaved really badly, like private school boys yelling and shouting and hitting the table,” she said.

“I sat back and thought, are these the people we want running our Shire?”

While that experience might have put some people off from taking a seat at the council table, Ms Mahon said her gender could make a difference to behaviour in the chamber.

“Being female, I feel like that quiet determination without the private school boy attitude can only improve our Shire,” she said.

As part of the block that’s seeking to take majority control of council that also includes Brett Cunningham from Bannockburn, Inverleigh’s Clayton Whitfield and Ian Getsom out at Piggoreet, Ms Mahon said all four candidates were on the same page.

“We’re very much like minded,” she said. “None of us are there for self-gain and all four of us have the same attitude of let’s get Golden Plains back to what it was.

“At the moment it’s not great. I could sit back and be a keyboard warrior, which is the easy way, or I could try and do something.”

While getting four new councillors elected is a big ask, especially considering the number of incumbents re-standing, Ms Mahon said if she was successful but wasn’t part of a majority she would play the hand that’s delt her.

“It’s going to be tricky but you just have work with what you’ve got,” she said.

“We’re not saying that others who get elected aren’t all like minded but you hope that the majority of people for council want to improve it, not get self-gain out of it.”

As for what issues she’d like to put on the agenda, youth activities was one thing she was keen on raising, taking aim at a recent minor controversy where some dirt jumps for pushbikes were built on Shire land near Inverleigh but removed by the municipality.

“There’s nothing for the kids and teenagers to do in your towns,” she said. “Why not build them some bike tracks where they can get involved and build the jumps and design it.

“That’s what we did when we were growing up, we were outside doing stuff. We want them to be outside improving themselves, not playing Xbox.”

When is comes to issues currently before council, like Local Law Number 2, Ms Mahon preferred to keep her powder dry, though she did want council to look beyond one town in particular.

“At the moment were concentrating in the cash cow of Bannockburn,” she said. “It’ll be really hard to get the mindset over to the other towns. Improving them, providing facilities, roads, all the basic stuff council should be doing and they’re not doing well.”