Geelong council is set for a shake-up as the 2024 election approaches, with the ballot finalised this week.
Three of the 11 current councillors – Bruce Harwood, Jim Mason and Belinda Moloney – will not contest their seats on the council, while the restructuring of Greater Geelong wards will add a further twist.
The current structure has four wards, each represented by two or three councillors, while the new structure organises the region into 11 wards of one councillor each.
The reorganisation will see some wards contested entirely by new candidates and two current councillors fighting for one seat in Corio.
Outgoing Bellarine Ward councillor Jim Mason joined the Greater Geelong council in 2017.
He said new councillors needed to bear in mind that local government had “many checks and balances” and often it was “important to get something done rather than nothing”.
“Sometimes a relentless striving for the perfect will get us nowhere,” Cr Mason said.
“One has to ensure that the big beast of the council continues to be as effective as possible for all people, not just the majority but the various minority groups as well.
“(New councillors) should be well researched; there’s no point promising something you can’t deliver and disrupting council for the next year or two trying to deliver something that’s impossible.
“It’s a complex job. There will always have to be compromises and an understanding of the bigger issues.”
The new Connewarre Ward includes Ocean Grove, Barwon Heads and Breamlea. Geelong’s most recent councillor Elise Wilkinson has only one opponent in the ward in Angela Shearman.
Current Geelong mayor Trent Sullivan will look to keep his spot on council in the contest for Leopold Ward, which encapsulates that township as well as parts of Drysdale and Clifton Springs. Mayor Sullivan faces two new contenders in Shona McKeen and David Lynch.
Murradoc Ward covers most of the Bellarine Peninusula, including Portarlington, St Leonards, the western edge of Point Lonsdale and the eastern sections of Clifton Springs and Drysdale.
Murradoc is also guaranteed to produce a new councillor in either Rowan D Story or Kate Lockhart.
Geelong Council elections are held via postal voting. Voting opens Tuesday, September 17 and closes at 6pm on Saturday, October 26.
Visit vec.vic.gov.au/voting/2024-local-council-elections/greater-geelong-city-council/nominations for more information on candidates or visit geelongaustralia.com.au/elections for information on the election and the new wards structure.
