The Source: Nick ‘Reece Police’ squad still yet to hit Melbourne streets despite tall election promises

Lord Mayor Nick Reece promised during the election he would ‘get good done’. To be fair, he never specified just how long that would take...

Lord Mayor Nick Reece has set a pedestrian pace in the job after winning last year’s council elections. Picture: Supplied

Putting the squeeze on Victoria’s movers, shakers and headline makers

Lord Mayor Nick Reece has set a pedestrian pace in the job after winning last year’s council elections.

His big-ticket promise of 30 Community Safety Officers have been downgraded to just 10 in the draft budget – and who knows when they will start or how they will operate because Mr Reece hasn’t told anyone.

Lord Mayor Nick Reece with local laws officers at the announcement of the “Reece Police”. Picture: Jason Edwards

He walked away from his pledge to sell the Regent Theatre and introduced two bin taxes despite promising in the election to run a low-tax council.

But it might not be all his fault.

Mr Reece may have let the cat out of the bag somewhat at Tuesday’s council meeting.

“We don’t rush things at the City of Melbourne,” he said when discussing why the council’s own City Road masterplan was stuck in first gear when it was meant to be completed two years ago.

Greenline, the Queen Victoria Market redevelopment and the Kensington Recreation and Aquatic Centre redevelopment are all delayed by years.

During the election, Mr Reece promised he “gets good done” – we guess he just never said when.

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Speaking of last year’s mayoral election, defeated candidate Arron Wood has clearly taken Harry Truman’s sage advice – if you want a friend in politics, get a dog.

The Wood household is cooing over Bowie the puppy and Wood himself is said to be smitten.

Good boy. Bowie, Arron Wood's new puppy.

The former deputy Lord Mayor was recently back in the public spotlight, attending the VCCI Autumn Ball with wife and recent Race Around the World contestant Stephanie.

Arron Wood with wife Stephanie at the Melbourne Autumn Ball.

The Source, who was rudely not invited to the fancy soiree, wonders if Wood was working the room given he has been mentioned as a possible replacement for departing chamber boss Paul Guerra?

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Originally published as The Source: Nick ‘Reece Police’ squad still yet to hit Melbourne streets despite tall election promises