Liz Pattison elected unopposed for another term as Surf Coast mayor
Both the mayor and her deputy will remain leaders of the Surf Coast shire, after running unopposed in a meeting that only took 15 minutes.
Geelong
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Councillor Liz Pattison will remain mayor of the Surf Coast Shire until residents go to the polls next year.
The shire held special meeting at 5pm on Tuesday to decide on a mayor for the 2023-24 term.
Ms Pattison was the only councillor nominated for the position, meaning no vote was necessary.
In a short acceptance speech, Ms Pattison expressed her gratitude for being given the role again.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue to represent our community at the Surf Coast as mayor for the next 12 months,” she said.
“I thanks my fellow councillors for their support and confidence in re-electing me as their mayor.
“It has been an honour leading this council, and I’m looking forward to the year ahead.”
Prior to her first stint as mayor, Ms Pattison was deputy mayor under mayor Libby Stapleton, during 2021-22.
Ms Pattison said she was proud of her and the council’s accomplishments over the last year, particularly, the council’s environmental leadership.
“The Surf Coast recovered 73 per cent of resources from our kerbside bins, and we’re working through actions to protect the Karaaf Wetlands,” she said.
“We’re also installing solar and batteries across out facilities and we’re a carbon-neutral organisation.
“There are so many ways that our shire is an environmental leader, I could go on and on, but that’s just a couple I’ve pulled up.
Ms Pattison also remarked that she “couldn’t finish speaking without speaking about pools”.
“The Winchelsea pool redevelopment is under way and due for completion next summer,” she said.
“In August, we endorsed the detailed design for the Surf Coast Health and Aquatic centre in 2024.
“We’ll award the construction contract and I can’t wait for a swim in the pool a little bit after that.”
Mike Bodsworth will continue as her deputy, also being the only councillor nominated for the position.
In a short speech, Mr Bodsworth backed Ms Pattison’s comments.
“Thanks very much to councillors for their support,” he said.
“I’ve really enjoyed the deputy mayor role over the past year and I’m very much looking forward to carrying it on for the coming year.”
With both roles elected unopposed, the meeting only lasted 15 minutes.
The only councillor not in attendance was Heather Wellington.
Both mayor and deputy mayor will serve until the next Surf Coast election in October 2024.
In 2020, Surf Coast voters returned just two incumbent councillors – Rose Hodge and Ms Wellington – with seven fresh faces elected that year.
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