Lindsay ‘had enough’

Erin Pearson
SURF COAST councillor Linsday Schroeter has retired after more than two decades fighting for Winchelsea residents, he has told the Independent.
The 77-year-old said he had brought forward his retirement after initially planning to finish his civic service at the end of council’s term in 2011.
Cr Schroeter said he had grown increasingly frustrated with a “lack of council support” for Winchelsea and Lorne.
“I’m the only councillor who’s taken any interest or had anything to do with Winchelsea and Lorne,” he said.
“Winchelsea has really been ignored and it’s very frustrating.
“Everything the shire does is Torquay focused. Everything is happening down there and I’m sick of it.”
Cr Schroeter hoped his predecessor would continue to fight for the rural parts of the shire.
A Victorian Electoral spokesperson said the commission would announce Cr Schroeter’s replacement in the next few weeks.
The commission would run a count-back of preferences rather than hold a by-election because the shire did not have wards.
“Voters won’t need to vote again as preferences for second, third, fourth, fifth etcetera will be reallocated according to the remaining candidates.”
Unsuccessful 2008 candidates in order of the most primary votes were Michael Lewis, Garry Kerr, Ron Humphrey, Rodney Foord and Elizabeth Wapshott.
Cr Schroeter was a councillor on Winchelsea Shire for seven years before local government amalgamations in 1994. He then spent 15 years serving as a councillor on the new Surf Coast Shire.
Cr Schroeter won headlines for voting to save kangaroos in Anglesea and Airey’s Inlet amid concerns about road safety, for backing a wind farm at Gnarwarre and for fighting to keep taxis at Winchelsea.
He also controversially threatened to slash overgrown roundabouts at Winchelsea himself after residents had complained about traffic and fire threats.