Stephanie Asher
As I depart the mayoral role, I want to say how grateful I am to have led a Council that has given its absolute all to advancing the cause of our region.
Geelong is realising the potential we have all known it has had for so long and it is so wonderful to see.
There are so many highlights and achievements this Council group can be proud of, but I’ve picked out a top 10:
Our 2020 Settlement Strategy met a clear community desire to direct future population growth away from the Bellarine Peninsula and towards new growth areas to the north and west of the city.
Our submissions to the state government’s Distinctive Areas and Landscapes process support locking in Bellarine township boundaries, to preserve green wedges and the unique character of each town.
Through our Sustainability Framework and Action Plan, we made environmental, economic and social sustainability a core focus of every decision and action of the City.
We set targets of net zero by 2025 for the City’s operations and 2035 community-wide, established a Sustainability Advisory Committee, and endorsed a comprehensive Climate Change Response Plan.
The breadth and depth of our work – both councillors and staff – earned Geelong th 2021 Sustainable City Award for Victoria.
Keeping the Kardinia Pool open during winter was another landmark success and proved the desire for year-round outdoor 50-metre pool facilities.
We funded and started building critical aquatic facilities in Norlane (the Northern Aquatic and Community Hub) and Drysdale (stage 1 of the North Bellarine Aquatic Centre).
Our Shared Trails Master Plan, which sets out to create a fully connected network of trails right across the region, is now well underway. I’m thrilled that my personal passion project, the 13th Beach Trail, is almost complete.
We moved to longer-term budgeting that sets the Council’s course four years in advance, aligning with the four-year cycle of our strategic Our Community Plan.
And we responded strongly and immediately to the COVID-19 pandemic, with more than $19 million allocated to community and business support initiatives.
Thank you to my fellow councillors for their terrific ongoing efforts to achieve all of this and more, and to our community – which has continually provided such insightful feedback and input.
I would like to once again express my heartfelt thanks to my council colleagues for their support.
And I pay particular tribute to Deputy Mayor Trent Sullivan for performing the role of mayor since
January.
I am extremely grateful and I’m also delighted by the unanimously positive feedback about how well Cr Sullivan executed the mayoral duties.
Have a safe and fabulous long weekend everyone and enjoy every moment of our glorious region and its fun festivals.
