It’s been 26 years – last century in 1998 – since I was first sworn in as a councillor for the City of Greater Geelong.
But my passion for our beautiful part of the world is as strong now as it was then.
A lot has happened in Greater Geelong since I was first elected as mayor in 2001 and it’s exciting to see buildings rising across our central business district (CBD).
These developments serve as a visual reminder for just how quickly our city is expanding, both in the CBD and growth areas such as Armstrong Creek.
Our city is one of the fastest growing in Australia, but we – as a council – must make sure this growth is well-planned, so no one is left behind.
As mayor, the revitalisation of our CBD is of utmost importance to me, and we must explore all options to help central Geelong reach its full potential.
Geelong is home to Australia’s most stunning waterfront – in my opinion – and Little Malop Street and Pakington Street are thriving cosmopolitan hubs.
But there are still sites across our city that we need to improve, such as Market Square, and I look forward to building on work by the previous council in this space.
We need to work closely with stakeholders to ensure these sites reach their full potential and become destinations that attract visitors to central Geelong.
Public art also adds colour and vibrancy to our CBD and we already have so many fantastic examples of this across Geelong.
During my travels in Europe, I’ve seen many fantastic public artworks that draw visitors to towns and cities from far and wide.
A Clever and Creative city needs art and culture to inspire and stimulate minds, and I want Geelong to be renowned for its public art.
Recently, I was thrilled to see the installation of Momenta at Rippleside, as part of our City Deal with the federal and state governments.
This three-metre-high abstract sculpture marks the start of the scenic drive into central Geelong and reflects the deep significance of fish and water to this place.
I’m passionate about public art and revitalising our waterfront bollards, which have been a tremendous tourist attraction, and as mayor I want to push for more art in new developments across our city.
But while it’s important we support initiatives attracting people to our city, it’s equally crucial to explore how we can improve the many services that we provide our residents.
As a council, we will explore ways to provide these services – including core services like road maintenance, footpaths and drains – more efficiently and effectively.
I believe we, as a council, have the right team to do this and I’m thrilled to lead this terrific group of people who are motivated to make our city an even greater place to work, live and play.
