Meet your council candidates: Anglesea Ward, Surf Coast Shire

Libby Stapleton

Occupation:  Self-employed PR Consultant & operator of Aireys Inlet Market

Resides in:  Aireys Inlet

How long in ward: 18 years

Community involvement:  I am immersed in community life.  Having raised three children in Aireys, I served many years as committee member for Anglesea Kindergarten, then Aireys Inlet Primary Parents & Friends, and School Council.  I’m currently a member of Anglesea Community House, editor of our NewsAngle magazine, committee member and actor with Anglesea Performing Arts, volunteer stage manager with The Sound Doctor, committee member for Aireys Hall, and volunteered as MC for 10 years with Aireys Open Mic Music Festival. I have worked for businesses in Anglesea and Aireys, consulted on projects for the Surf Coast Shire Council, Vic Roads and local tourism groups.  I run the Aireys Inlet Market with a commitment to local makers and growers. I read with our local bookclub and sing with the Aireys choir (but not currently!).  My children have played basketball and soccer with Surf Coast, footy with Anglesea and tennis in Aireys. I care deeply about decision-making that impacts how we live in our community.

Political allegiance: None

Preferencing:  Liz Wood

Campaign budget? Receiving financial support? $1,200. No

Most important issues in your ward: To retain the character of the Surf Coast; we need to protect environment, demand planning that respects community values and advocate for responsible tourism. We must help prepare communities for increased bushfire risk; seek out innovative ways to support small business through COVID recovery and lobby for authentic community consultation on key issues, particularly in relation to future use of Alcoa site and proposed Bells viewing platform. Strong and transparent leadership is needed to advocate for issues important to our community and to demand better outcomes.  First and foremost, we must appoint a CEO who will help realise the vision of the new council, then develop a strategic plan that delivers this.

Tony Revell

Occupation: Councillor, Surf Coast Shire. Previous career was at CEO and General Management level in the corporate world.

Where do you live? Anglesea

How long have you lived in your ward?  16 years

What’s your involvement with the community?  CFA Anglesea Firefighter and member of the Brigade Management Team. President of the Anglesea Community Rock Choir. Active participant in the Anglesea Cycling Club

What’s your political allegiance? No political allegiance. I maintain a position that the Councillors should represent the views of their community and not those of a political party.

Who will you preference?  Undecided if I will direct preferences.  I oppose the idea of directing preferences  to maximise the vote.  If I do decide to direct preferences it will be to those whose values align with my own.

What’s your campaign budget? Are you receiving financial support? Anticipate spending up to $2,000 on the campaign.  I am not receiving any financial support and remain truly independent.

What are the most important issues in your ward?  Protecting the unique character of our towns and the natural environment. Economic recovery in our coastal towns that are severely impacted by COVID-19 and supporting the community in dealing with the social impact.  Financial management over the next four years and how we respond to the budgetary challenges the Shire will be facing.

Raylene Fordham

 Occupation: Business Owner – Retail Services (Aust) Pty, Ltd and the Anglesea Backpackers.

Where do you live? Anglesea

How long have you lived in your ward? 12 years

What’s your involvement with the community?  Treasurer, Anglesea Community Network and Deputy Chair of Anglesea, Winchelsea and Lorne Community Bank Company, former President BATA.

What’s your political allegiance? Independent

Who will you preference? I am not preferencing any candidate, although I think our ward would be best served by having reps from both Anglesea and Aireys Inlet

What’s your campaign budget? Self funded, approx. $700

Are you receiving financial support? No

What are the most important issues in your ward? The CEO appointment is the most urgent issue facing Council; appointment of an organisational leader with the right skills and expertise will set up Council for success into the future.
Local livability: It’s taken a pandemic for us to recognise the value of a strong local economy – the traders and tradies that keep our local wheels turning and of friends and local support networks. The interconnection between livability – access to the goods and services we need, a connected supportive community and our unique natural environment has never been more stark. I will advocate to Council that these three pillars form a critical part of all decision making. I will support Councils continued efforts in Climate change mitigation and waste reduction strategies.
Visitation pressures: Many of us relocated here because of our time as a visitor, so we know the importance of local amenity and environment. Visitation must be actively and thoughtfully managed to preserve what we’ve got, so that it’s not ruined for visitors and locals alike – this applies equally to proposals like Eden and any neighbourhood projects. We have to get the balance right.
People & nature:  As a leader of the Anglesea KAOS (Kids Adventure Outdoors Festival) I‘ve seen the mental health and wellbeing benefits when not only children, but all age groups, develop a love of nature by being able to meaningfully engaged with it. A love of nature fosters ambassadors for the protection of our planet. I will work with Council to enhance opportunities for environmental wellbeing partnerships.
Although campaign time is about the individual candidate, once elected you must be able to collaborate with other councillors to achieve outcomes. This is one of my strengths – a collaborative leadership style, which brings people together to work and achieve. Combined with governance, compliance and corporate expertise, I have well rounded experience to bring to the role.  I’ve honed these skills through consistent commitment and hard work, here in this community, over a long period of time. I walk my talk.

Mike Bodsworth

Occupation: I’m a Landscape Architect and planner by profession, but currently a house-dad, supporting my small-business-owning wife.

Where do you live? Anglesea

How long have you lived in your ward? 14 years – since 2006

What’s your involvement with the community? I moved here to work as ‘Coastal Projects Manager’ at the Great Ocean Road Coast Committee (GORCC) in Torquay. Eight years at GORCC brought me into contact with a wide range of individuals and groups in the local community, spanning conservation, recreation, tourism, community groups, sporting clubs, Aboriginal groups, local schools, other public agencies and more. A very rewarding, community-focused job. I settled in Anglesea with Isabelle in 2006 and joined the Anglesea Bike Park Committee of Management.  I’ve chaired it for almost ten years. Our kids have grown up here, so we’ve been involved at kinder and school. I’ve also done hooded plover monitoring, weed control, track care and mountain-bike advocacy. I love volunteering at the Anglesea Tip resale shed!

What’s your political allegiance? None. I’m independent.

Who will you preference? After myself, I support Libby and Liz for Anglesea Ward. All of the candidates deserve respect for putting their hands up.

What’s your campaign budget? Are you receiving financial support? No, apart from the support of my wife Isabelle – for which I’m very grateful!

What are the most important issues in your ward? Firstly, Covid. We need to stay positive; people are gagging to get back here.
Protection of the natural, unspoiled character of our coast and hinterland. Previous generations resisted overdevelopment; now it’s our turn. I’ve been involved in every stage of planning for ‘Anglesea After Alcoa’ and I see vested interests queueing up, not to enhance this special place but to exploit it. Our unspoiled character, once lost, can’t be regained. That character is at the heart of our quality of life and our visitor economy.
Local communities have required Freedom of Information laws to access information of public interest, relating to Bells Beach and DELWP’s ‘Anglesea Futures’ project. That points to a breakdown in transparency and respect for community. Data obtained via FOI indicates 70-80% community opposition to ‘Anglesea Futures’ development proposals. Talk of ‘resilience’ and ‘community empowerment’ is hollow when community views are overridden by powerful corporate and government interests.
Other issues include housing availability, wildfire preparedness, demographic trends (e.g. Covid-triggered population increase), public transport availability, Council responsiveness (or not) to Community vision, goals and aspirations.

Liz Wood

Occupation: Social and urban planner

Where do you live? Aireys Inlet

How long have you lived in your ward? 20 years

What’s your involvement with the community?   President of Community Garden 3231, Estuary Watch water quality monitor, weeder with Friends of Allen Noble Sanctuary. Resale Shed volunteer (Anglesea Resource Recovery Centre), Queenscliff Music Festival, member of AIDA, ANGAIR, SCS COVID Aireys Leadership Network

What’s your political allegiance? Independent

Who will you preference? Libby Stapleton

What’s your campaign budget? Are you receiving financial support? Currently I’ve spent about $2,000. No. I’ve had a lot of in-kind support.

What are the most important issues in your ward? Campaigning means talking with and listening to many people. I’ve heard about both long term and immediate issues. Managing through COVID recovery and the upcoming summer are widespread community concerns.  Bushfire preparedness is an issue along with maintaining community health and wellbeing. A COVID lens must continue to be applied to many aspects of our lives. I’m hearing that people are deeply concerned about the Eden Project and it is a very divisive community issue.  While Eden promises much, key questions must be answered and a greater level of community support is required if it is to succeed.
People understand that our natural environment is what makes our towns special places to live and visit. The impact of tourism and development must not compromise our natural environment any further.  People want greater protection of indigenous flora and fauna (especially the hooded plover). People are deeply concerned about the Climate Emergency and its impacts, the establishment of the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority, inappropriate development, the need for greater local input into decision-making and local government transparency. Young people want improved recognition of and relationships with traditional owners, and improvement in our recycling efforts.  Traders have raised their concerns about the financial impact of markets on local businesses.