Teresa Mitchell

If elected, local government would be a natural expansion of government advocacy roles that Warragul’s Teresa Mitchell already pursues.

Standing in the central ward, Ms Mitchell said being elected to council would extend strong roles she already plays in advocating for small businesses and development in the region.

“I want to be a voice from the ground up to make sure our area and what we are advocating for is heard by state and federal governments.

Ms Mitchell, who is managing director of the Warragul Business Support Centre, is passionate about progressing business opportunities in the shire.

Before the business support centre, Ms Mitchell worked for Community College Gippsland and the former Primary Industries Department.

She is a member of the Council of Small Business Australia and is on the ministerial appointed small business council.

Ms Mitchell said there were great opportunities for the area with the industry restructure that will occur in the Latrobe Valley in coming years.

“It’s about looking at sustainable industry and utilising those industries in our own backyard.

Ms Mitchell believes the shire has lacked in economic growth and industry development.

She said there were opportunities for council to advocate, with state and federal government, to attract more industry into regional areas.

While acknowledging Warragul and Drouin were growing at fast rates, Ms Mitchell said growth of infrastructure such as child care centres, kindergartens and schools was important.

“We have to have the plans in place for it. We can’t have knee jerk reactions, it needs to be planned.

Ms Mitchell said she was keen to support the call for more women to stand for council and had participated in a number of programs to support women on council.

Open communication by councillors is something Ms Mitchell said needed to change. She said current policy that only the ceo or mayor could comment on council matters was inappropriate.

“Even though you are representing a ward or area, you don’t seem to have the ability to speak, yet we are the voice for those communities.

Ms Mitchell is an executive member of the Warragul Business Group, is on the Warragul Regional College chaplaincy committee and has been a girl guide leader for 12 years.