Teresa Mitchell

Diversity and inclusion on council is an important issue that inspired Teresa Mitchell to nominate for Baw Baw Shire.

A community voice, respecting diversity and acting with integrity is what Ms Mitchell wants to bring to the council chamber.

A Warragul resident, Ms Mitchell stood in the Central Ward four years ago, but this time decided to stand in the East Ward where she thought there would be fewer candidates.

In the history of Baw Baw Shire, she said there had never been a female councillor for Mt Worth or East wards so she felt female representation was important.

Ms Mitchell participated in the more women in local government initiative, which she believes has put her in a stronger position than last time she stood.

“I was very green first-time round…I am focussed on being a community voice.”

Ms Mitchell has a strong background in small business, being selfemployed for 43 years with a family concrete business and also providing human resources and business support.

This has been complemented by community roles including Warragul Business Group president, Warragul Rotary, Warragul Community House and a past guide leader.

Ms Mitchell’s vision for Baw Baw is to be the place to live, work, be educated and have fun.

She said planning was an important issue for the growing municipality with the need to support development while also respecting the right to farm and protecting green spaces.

She said she would lobby council to protect the Warragul Burrowing Crayfish in all future developments.

“It’s about sustainable development and living alongside farmland. It’s about diversity and inclusion in the ecology as well.

“We have to link green spaces like our parks in new developments.

Ms Mitchell said community connection was important. She said there were 20 public halls in the East Ward that were under-utilised.

She said council need to look at projects and opportunities that could be linked to those halls.

“We need to utilise small halls to bring people together,” she said.

Ms Mitchell said the current rating system was ancient and based on property ownership.

She said more commercial investment and development needed to be encouraged in the shire to help ease the rate burden on residents.

As a growing municipality, Ms Mitchell said it was important for council to lobby for the infrastructure to support a growing population. “We have to be pro-active rather than reactive.”

As a councillor, Ms Mitchell said she would always ask “why?” She said she never just accepted decision making without the data to support it.