Former Geelong mayor Stretch Kontelj confirms council candidacy, calls for greater transparency on councillor complaints

A long-serving Geelong councillor is calling for greater transparency regarding complaints outlined in a recent report as he confirms his latest City Hall tilt.

Long-serving councillor Stretch Kontelj, pictured here with former prime minister Tony Abbott, wants to return to City Hall. Picture: Alison Wynd.

A familiar face at City Hall is hoping to make a return, with former mayor Stretch Kontelj confirming he will again run for council.

Mr Kontelj will stand in the Kardinia ward at the October election, which takes in the former Kildare ward that he represented for 17 years.

Kardinia – one of 11 new wards confirmed by Local Government Minister Melissa Horne in February – stretches from North Geelong to Settlement Rd in the south, taking in Rippleside, Geelong West and Newtown.

Mr Kontelj’s brother and current councillor, Eddy, confirmed he would stand in the neighbouring Hamlyn Heights ward, which includes the suburbs of Bell Park, Herne Hill and Fyansford.

Mr Kontelj, who served as Geelong mayor in 2001-02 and twice stood for parliament as a Liberal Party candidate, resigned in 2015 due an overseas work posting.

The subsequent by-election saw Peter Murrihy fill his position.

Mr Murrihy has since been re-elected in 2017 and 2020.

Mr Kontelj attempted to rejoin council in 2020, standing against his brother, among others, in the Brownbill ward.

He gained 14.6 per cent of first preference votes, narrowly missing out on the third spot that was taken by Mr Murrihy.

“There was a very strong vote for the Kontelj brothers, if I can put it that way,” he said.

Stretch Kontelj (right) with former Victorian Liberal leader Matthew Guy and former Geelong mayor Darryn Lyons.

Mr Kontelj said managing Geelong’s growth was a critical issue for council and that a multistorey carpark should be built on the site of the current V/Line commuter carpark in Latrobe Tce.

He also called for greater transparency regarding complaints against councillors.

“Are they vexatious or is there real substance?” he said.

“I’m very suspicious about what’s going on behind the scenes and I think in the interests of transparency all complaints should be made public – who’s made them and what is the basis.”

The news of Mr Kontelj’s candidacy comes as incumbent councillor Sarah Hathway confirmed she will stand in Corio, potentially against colleague Anthony Aitken.

Councillor Sarah Hathway at a community rally in 2023. Picture: Alan Barber.

Ms Hathway is backed by the far-left Socialist Alliance, which is also supporting Angela Carr in Hamlyn Heights.

“We will be mobilising volunteers to letter box every household in this ward hopefully more than once,” Ms Hathway said.

“We will door knock the entire ward of Corio and run regular stalls across the ward to have as many conversations with local residents as we can.”

Under the single member ward structure, a candidate must have an absolute majority of first preference votes to be elected.

If no candidate has an absolute majority, the Victorian Electoral Commission distributes preferences until one is achieved.

Meanwhile, the state government and Transport Accident Commission (TAC) announced on Monday the latest recipients of their local government grant program.

The City of Greater Geelong received $112,000 across three projects, including $52,000 for a raised pedestrian crossing in Armstrong Creek’s Batten Rd and $30,000 to pinpoint the best location for a cycling path connecting Geelong and Torquay.

The Surf Coast Shire also received $30,000 for the latter and will focus on high-risk routes on the Surf Coast Hwy and Horseshoe Bend Rd.

Originally published as Former Geelong mayor Stretch Kontelj confirms council candidacy, calls for greater transparency on councillor complaints