THE post-coronavirus financial fallout will make it tough for the next few years. As your independent Nepean Ward councillor since 2012, I offer continuity, experience and ability for the next four years.
Our top priority is getting local businesses up and running while keeping residents Covidsafe. Our local economy has to reopen safely – and soon. Our cafes, restaurants and shops ought to be allowed to expand outdoors and agricultural producers assisted by allowing farm gate sales of all Mornington Peninsula agricultural produce.
Independent
I am not now and never have been a member of any political party, lobby or factional Nepean Ward township group. I am an independent, self-funded candidate and I have not solicited or received election donations. I live in Rye and represent all of Nepean Ward from Tootgarook to Portsea.
Experienced
I know how the council and the community operate because of my work as a barrister, a former member of the Victorian Legal Services Board and its Financial and Investment Committee (2007–10), seven years on council’s Audit and Risk Committee, and working closely with the community, shire officers and councillors delivering these key initiatives:
Key initiatives
My key initiatives over the past four years have been to bring in the Rye Township Plan and township height controls as well as $6.5 million of funding to implement the plan and rejuvenate Rye.
In Sorrento there is $5 million for Sorrento’s new ferry terminal traffic management and an additional $1.8 million earmarked for more Sorrento car parking. George Street has been completely made over with new tourism facilities, toilets and street mall ($1.85m). Blairgowrie now has the very popular Point Nepean Road footpath ($3m) from Hughes Road to Rye township. And in Tootgarook, much-need drainage and street work at Carmichael and Wilkinson streets will soon be underway ($800,000 contracted). Romney Park has been rejuvenated and has a new playground.
The Portsea Surf Life Saving Club’s new clubrooms received a $1 million contribution from council.
Into the future
Council must keep spending to assist the recovery of our Mornington Peninsula economy. The $25.5 million of ratepayers’ capital works money unspent at 30 June ($5.9 million for Nepean Ward) must be unlocked by the State Government. Major shire-wide issues such as the Hillview Quarries expansion at Arthurs Seat, AGL’s plans for a gas import terminal at Crib Point, Tyabb airfield, green wedge protection, Portsea beach restoration, and achieving carbon neutrality by 2021 will challenge the new council. The Peninsula is a fabulous place to live and work with its bays, ocean and beaches; its rolling, green wedge hinterland. It’s a privilege to live here and work for the community. It is a precious, delicate legacy to inherit, protect and pass on better to the next generation.
Contact
I welcome residents contacting me at
hwfraser@vicbar.com.au
or phone 0418 379 335.
You can follow my work on council and in the community at hughfraser-morningtonpeninsula.com
Voting
Ballot packs containing voting material have been mailed to enrolled voters from Tuesday 6 October 2020. This is a postal election only. Your completed ballot pack must be in the mail or hand-delivered by 6pm Friday 23 October.
If electors are concerned about their inability to collect their mail, they can contact the Victorian Electoral Commission, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council Elections, Shop 13, 143 Point Nepean Road, Dromana VIC 3936, phone 8619 1909, vec.vic.gov.au, and the VEC will send replacement material to their “other” address.