Improving roads and social networks … providing hopes and jobs for young people … the newly elected Moorabool councillors reflect on their goals for the next four years.
EAST MOORABOOL WARD
David Edwards (Mayor)
Age: 46
Suburb: Maddingley
Why did you put your hand up for the job?
After basically doing an apprenticeship as a councillor for the past four years, I have a lot to offer with my role as an engineer, manager, negotiation skills, conflict resolution and public speaking.
What skills do you have that will complement this council?
Honesty, transparency. I believe I’ve got the moral courage to make a difference.
What are the pressing issues in your ward?
There’s an obvious one in traffic congestion; we’re halfway to putting in the pieces of the jigsaw. We need to work on a truck bypass. We met with Luke Donnellan and had some very good discussions on how Bacchus Marsh needs to reduce the traffic problem. We have a massive problem of infill development. There’s no developer contributions for infill so we’re struggling to get the funds to build much-needed infrastructure, sports ovals, etc.
Tonia Dudzik (Deputy mayor)
Age: 47
Suburb: Long Forest
Why did you put your hand up for the job?
When I was a teenager I believed anything is possible, but I soon discovered the many obstacles that stop women from achieving their dreams. I experienced some of these.
What skills do you have that will complement this council?
I have over 10 years experience working in local government training staff in process and procedures. I am an ISO-qualified quality auditor to an international standard and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company directors.
What are the pressing issues in your ward?
Road infrastructure to address traffic problems in Bacchus Marsh. Hallets Way extension will be a massive improvement for Bacchus Marsh, but there will need to be further traffic measures and solutions implemented moving forward. We need funding for a dedicated youth space.
Jarrod Bingham
Age: 26
Suburb: Bacchus Marsh
Why did you put your hand up for the job?
I wanted the opportunity to help change people’s lives.
What skills do you have that will complement this council?
Our youth have got issues and concerns and they’re going to feel a lot more comfortable approaching someone closer to their age bracket as opposed to someone from the older generation.
What are the pressing issues for your ward?
Youth disengaging from the community and traffic problems … hopefully Halletts Way will help ease some of that but in the next few years we need to look into a truck bypass.
Another one is illegal rubbish dumping around the shire.
John Keogh
Age: (undisclosed)
Suburb: Pentland Hills
Why did you put your hand up for the job?
I’ve been an officer in local government for a long time and feel I have something to offer the community.
What skills do you have that will complement this council?
I’m [an] engineer … engineering matters are always on our agenda.
What are the pressing issues in your ward?
Rates. They must come down, they’re just too high; traffic congestion and youth unemployment.
WEST MOORABOOL WARD
Tom Sullivan
Age: 64
Suburb: Millbrook
Why did you put your hand up for the job?
I’ve been on council for 20 years. There have been major projects undertaken by the previous council and there’s an opportunity now to see some of those come to fruition.
What skills do you have that will complement this council?
I’ve been mayor twice so I have an understanding of how local government works. I think the critical thing is using the skills of all councillors. I use the analogy if you don’t use the skills of everyone, ‘it’s like a two-legged stool; it doesn’t work’.
What are the pressing issues in your ward?
The inability of some towns [such as Bungaree and Dunnstown] to grow, which is tied up with sewerage issues. Another issue is the dispersed populations in rural areas and being able to service those populations. And it’s the empowering of communities; council can only do so much.
WOODLANDS WARDS
Pat Toohey
Age: 55
Suburb: Springbank
Why did you put your hand up for the job?
There needs to be continued strong representation for our community, both at a local level but state and federally as well to make sure our residents receive a fair share of their tax dollars back on needed infrastructure and community facilities.
What skills do you have that will complement this council?
I bring a degree of experience in regards to many committees and community groups I’ve been a part of. I’m experienced in business and have been on council 12 years.
What are the pressing issues for your ward?
It’s not so much about the ward; it’s the whole of Moorabool. We have tight budgets and a very large council area to look after – large road and footpath networks, a large number of community facilities spread through the shire. And a lot of issues with telecommunications and fire-risk management.
CENTRAL MOORABOOL WARD
Paul Tatchell
Age: 57
Suburb: Ballan
Why did you put your hand up for the job?
I thought long and hard about it. I wondered if it was actually achieving something in terms of the bigger picture, but I also wondered whether local and state government has become an issue of over- governance. But while we still have local government, if I’m going to do one more term, we have to start to look at where we’re going to be long after I’m gone. I’ll certainly be taking a much more pragmatic approach in this term; less politics and more people.
What skills do you have that will complement this council?
I still don’t have an agenda; I have a broad view of what we should do. You need to walk with the people, not dance around them during election time. I understand we have a massive problem. We’re a lopsided shire and have ridiculous growth. We’ve done a lot of strategic work in the past four years and I want to make sure those things are followed through.
What are the pressing issues facing your ward?
I think the loss of Fiskville was outrageous, the fact [state governments and the CFA] didn’t respond to that quickly; 36 families of real people in a real place were moved along for all the wrong reasons. We’ve been neglected for so long and we’ve come so far in population that trying to bridge that gap is going to be difficult. And the third thing is bringing the people together. Ballan has a different demographic as it grows … but I want to make sure that it has its own identity and its own brand.
