Salter new mayor
Borough in good shape after a combative year
SUSAN Salter has been elected Queenscliff mayor for the next 12 months, following a trying year for the council and outgoing mayor Cr Tony Francis.
Cr Boyce Pizzey put forward the unanimous motion at an ordinary meeting last night, seconded by Cr Francis.
The election was off to a quiet start, as Cr Bob Merriman’s nominations of Cr Francis and Ross Ebbels met with silence from other councillors.
Former deputy mayor Cr Salter is a former schoolteacher, serving her second term as a Queenscliff councillor.
She thanked the residents of the Borough for electing her last year and trusting her to serve the community.
“I look forward to working with everyone that make up the rich fabric of our community life,” she said.
Outgoing mayor Cr Francis was chosen for the top job last November after former mayor Helene Cameron announced her shock resignation at the declaration of the polls.
Cr Cameron had served as Borough mayor in the four years leading into the 2016 council election.
Cr Francis was appointed as the Liberal Party’s Bellarine branch chairman last November. However, he quit that post in May, halfway into his 12month term.
Cr Ebbels applauded the efforts of the outgoing mayor, but declined to speak on council’s performance this year when approached for comment earlier this week.
“I think he’s (Cr Francis) done a stellar job this year, we are a very close-knit council,” he said.
The borough enjoyed a successful year economically, finishing the 2016-17 financial year with an operating surplus of $233,000.
But achievements were at times overshadowed by the ongoing battle over the proposed eco-cabin development at the Queenscliff lighthouse reserve, which created clear a division between the council and members of the commun- ity. This was especially evident at September’s ordinary meeting, which saw several community members storm out in disgust after Cr Francis condemned the “bullying tactics” of those opposed to the development.
Cr Pizzey was elected deputy mayor, nominated by Cr Ebbels and seconded by Cr Francis.