Michael Leaney

Small towns has been the focus of Michael Leaney for the past four years and if re-elected, he will continue to advocate for improved facilities and projects in rural areas.

“Getting stuff done” is his campaign slogan and he said he prides himself on being a voice for small towns.

“No matter where you live in the shire, you should be looked after and we have the ability to make a difference.

“Whether it is new multi-use facilities at the Trafalgar recreation reserve, fighting for a school bus at Erica or fighting for the Thorpdale kinder, I have been committed.

“There is more work to be done and I’m up for it. There’s good reason why I do 20,000 kilometres a year.

Mr Leaney said there had been good progress in the East Ward over the past four years so he was keen to continue the good work.

“In 2016 I could see the neglect of small towns – there was a lack of infrastructure spending and a lack of care.

“We have done a lot to turn that around, both in spending money and changing the psyche that the east matters.

“It’s easy to spend money in Warragul but we have to fight for small towns.

“I have been a strong voice for small communities and rural areas, sometimes against some intense opposition.

Mr Leaney said the Placemaker Program introduced by the current council had been a successful initiative in building community engagement and injecting money into small towns.

“It’s only $200,000 a year ($50,000 per town) but it means so much and it has delivered programs to areas that don’t get much.

“We are not talking millions of dollars to do projects, $50,000 makes a difference to those small communities.

Mr Leaney said he was proud he had advocated for small towns to deliver projects like a new footpath in Noojee and purchasing the old Yarragon school site for a community reserve.

He said the attitude towards Aberfeldy four years ago was no-one lived there but this year council allocated $50,000 through the Placemaker Program.

Roads also are an important focus for Mr Leaney, who admitted the previous roads maintenance contract was “under done” and did not meet people’s “most basic expectations.”

He said the new roads contract developed by council this year was great, but there was a lot more work to do.

“For most people in the East Ward, the most important thing is the road they drive on every day.

“For most people in the East Ward, the only contact they have with council is the road outside their house.

Mr Leaney said he was committed to getting a fairer deal for towns in the East Ward.

“I am fearful that the East Ward could be controlled by councillors along the highway and they don’t have the lived experience of crappy roads, or bus service stops or a kindergarten is threatened.”