Libby Stapleton will be Surf Coast Shire council mayor for the third time following a special meeting this week.
The Otway Ranges councillor was elected to the position for the next year during council’s 18 November meeting, after serving two mayoral terms between 2020 and 2022.
Cr Stapleton said she was excited to take on the role for another term and that she would focus on building effective and positive relationships across council and the community.
“I will support good decision-making based on council’s and community values as well as alignment to our strategic direction,” she said.
“Through robust discussions and increasing our shared understanding of issues, we will continue to try and make the best decisions we can on behalf of the community.”
Cr Mike Bodsworth decided not to recontest the mayoral seat and said he felt that he had helped create a “really good and strong foundation” for the council term.
“I’m feeling proud of the job that I’ve done as mayor, and I’m feeling really proud of what we’ve achieved together over the past year,” he said.
“My focus was very much on the council plan and on us all working together to establish a stable and effective council in the first year of our four-year term.”
Cr Paul Barker ran for the mayor and deputy mayor positions but was only able to receive votes from himself and Cr Joel Grist, with first-term Winchelsea councillor Tony Phelps ultimately elected as deputy mayor.
It was also the first meeting for new councillor Phoebe Crockett since she was sworn in on 11 November.
“I’m energised by the opportunity to serve a place I love and represent the diverse voices of residents across the Surf Coast,” Ms Crockett told the Independent.
“I’d like to encourage sustainable and happy neighbourhoods, maintain and strengthen vital services like youth programs and community grants while helping to ease cost-of-living pressures.”
