Council
28 November, 2024
Cr Foster elected mayor
COUNCILLOR Karen Foster has returned to the mayoral role, with Cr Jordan Lockett taking the reigns as deputy for the first time in his third term.
Cr Foster was elected mayor at Tuesday’s Moyne Shire Council meeting, with hands raised from Cr Lockett, Cr Lisa Ryan, Cr Myra Murrihy and herself to secure a 4-3 majority vote.
Cr Jordan Lockett was elected deputy major, also securing votes from himself, Cr Ryan, Cr Murrihy and Cr Foster.
The mayoral term was also unanimously set for a 12-month period.
Cr Foster said she was looking forward to the year ahead with a new-look council.
“I’m excited,” she said.
“This term already feels different, we’ve got much more diversity on council.
“There are some different perspectives, so I’m really excited about what we could achieve.
“I think we’re going to work really well together as a team.”
Cr Foster said a priority for the new council would be restoring public trust in local government, and working collaboratively to ensure fair results for residents across the shire.
“The elephant in the room is that trust in the government is at an all-time-low,” she said.
“I would really hope the people of Moyne Shire can see we are worthy of their trust, and will work in the spirit of what’s best for the entire community and that we work together.
“We won’t always agree, and that’s a good thing which is good for democracy, but if we conduct our business with respect for not only each other and the office, but with respect for the people who elected us.
“I’ve no reason to suspect that won’t be the case, but I’m keen, early in my term as mayor, to establish a culture that is very collaborative and very trustworthy.”
Cr Foster has been a vocal advocate for drawing more women in to local government, raising concerns the shire had often seen an underrepresentation of women elected.
She will now lead a majority-women council, which she said had her feeling “stoked”.
“I think there are only two councils in Victoria since the October elections which have a majority of women,” Cr Foster said.
“We’ve gone from one of the most fragile councils in Victoria, to one of the most representative in terms of gender equity.
“It’s pretty exciting – I spent a lot of my first term talking to different women, trying to encourage them and connect them with local government, but I’m just so delighted to have some other women in the chamber with me now.
“I didn’t think we would see this result – I was hoping for one or two, but four is extraordinary.”
Cr Foster said she felt the next 12-months would be a trying time for councils across the state, but expressed optimism councillors could work together to achieve strong results.
“It’s going to be tough for local government everywhere, and we know funds are drying up,” she said.
“It’s going to be harder and harder, especially for regional councils, to access the funds we want and need to do what our community asks us to do.
“I feel we’re going to have some tough decisions ahead, which is why I’ve said it’s so important to work together as a team – we’ll have some tough decisions to make, we’ve been warned about that for a while, so it will be difficult but we’re in a great position now through past council terms.
“We’re coming in to difficult times better off than a lot of other councils.
“I’m absolutely optimistic, but I do think we need to be realistic because it’s going to be tough.”
Cr Lockett said he was “absolutely stoked and honoured” to serve as deputy mayor.
“It’s an honour and a privilege to be a councillor and a deputy mayor. It’s my third term as a councillor, so it feels really good,” he said.
“I think for continuity, Karen has been a mayor before so for us to settle in as a team, I think she’s perfect
“I often say she’s the best councillor we’ve ever had, so to have her at the helm is fantastic.
“Her, along with Mark (Eversteyn, chief executive officer) is the dawn of a new era with a fantastic new council.”
Cr Lockett said he was pleased to see more women elected to council, feeling it would bring a fresh approach.
“I’m more pleased to see four women elected than I am to see myself being elected, and I really mean that,” he said.
“I’ve got a daughter, I’m married to my wife, I have a mum and a sister, so it’s an emotional, wonderful thing.
“They were elected because they’re phenomenal candidates, not just because they’re women.
“It’s fantastic – Cr Foster had been pushing in that space, trying to encourage more female candidates to run, so you see the results and you think “Moyne’s progressive – wow.”
“It’s often been called ‘stale, male and pale’ but that’s no longer – and it’s wonderful.”
