If there’s a local issue or project you’ve been wanting to raise with your councillors, Saturday 20 November is the day to do it.
All three Bellarine Ward councillors will be out together in the community and available for a chat about anything you’d like to discuss.
You’ll find us at the following locations:
9am-10.30am: corner of Hitchcock Ave and Bridge Rd, Barwon Heads;
11am-noon: outside St Leonards IGA, St Leonards; and
12.30pm -2pm: inside Leopold Gateway Plaza, near Coles, Leopold.
These ‘Listening Post’ sessions are part of a commitment all councillors have made to being available to the community. We held similar sessions in Ocean Grove, Drysdale and Portarlington earlier this year.
A fundamental of our democracy is that elected representatives need to listen to a wide range of community views and make decisions that reflect what we hear.
The best way to actually understand what residents are thinking is to get out and talk to people – and this is something that has been more challenging through the restrictions of the past two years.
Online meetings have gone some way to filling the void and we’ve certainly participated in plenty of those, but there’s nothing quite like a face-to-face discussion.
The opportunity to speak in person about various topics is something I’m really looking forward to, and we’re hoping many people will come up and say hello.
And given some of the Council-related projects and issues in and around Ocean Grove at the moment – including the South-East Bellarine Coastal Strategy, footpaths, and dog rules on local beaches, we will have plenty to discuss.
So, if you are around on Saturday, please stop off for a chat. Everyone is welcome and there is no need to pre-register.
Of course, if you can’t make it Saturday, I’m always available via phone or email. You can reach me on 0434-307 048 or via jmason@geelongcity.vic.gov.au.
