Councillors returned

By Kath Gannaway
VOTERS have returned all seven eligible sitting councillors, and added two newcomers to the Shire of Yarra Ranges Council.
In Ryrie Ward, Cr Jeanette McRae is back for a second term while in Upper Yarra Chris Templer won out over four other candidates to represent O’Shannassy Ward constituents.
The seat was previously held by Cr Monika Keane who did not renominate after almost a decade in the role.
Former Mayor Cr Tim Heenan is back for Billanook Ward, Cr Samantha Dunn is back for Lyster Ward, Cr Graham Warren is back for Chandler Ward, Cr Terry Avery is back for Melba Ward, Cr Noel Cliff is back for Streeton Ward, Cr Len Cox is back, unopposed for Walling Ward, and Richard Higgins will step into retired councillor Ken Smith’s shoes as the representative for Chirnside Ward.
Announcing the ballot results on Sunday, returning officer Lance Mawer gave a rundown of the voting figures before declaring the successful candidates.
Yarra Ranges CEO Glenn Patterson said it was encouraging to see so much interest with a total of 41 candidates nominating in the nine wards.
“In general terms the campaigns were conducted fairly – vigorously in many cases – and it’s a sign of a healthy local democracy in Yarra Ranges Shire.
The virtually unchanged face of council was welcomed by all councillors as an indication that they were on the right track.
Cr Heenan said it would be “a bit cocky” to claim a mandate and said the messages being relayed to councillors before and during the election that the council was “too green” had been taken on board.
“I took that evaluation very seriously and we kept on asking ourselves whether we were making the right decisions,” he said.
“But when so many people unanimously approve a decision at council we know we’re going in the right direction.”
He said while the voters demonstrated their support for the existing council he believed the process had served to make the councillors more professional in their approach of taking all aspects of issues into account.
“We have to take everything into account, community needs as well as the economic impacts, because 2009 is going to be a very difficult year for some in our communities and we have to keep that in our heads when we’re making decisions,” he said.
Cr McRae said she was proud to be returning.
“I have a lot of projects under way and I am pleased and really proud to represent my community,” she said.
She reiterated Cr Heenan’s approach saying all aspects of the various issues council is asked to deal with would be given due weight.
Others were more to the point on their environmental platform.
Councillors Samantha Dunn and Noel Cliff said the environmental stance taken by the council had been endorsed by the whole community.
“To those who have said we’re too green, too environmental, the fact that I am back in on a majority, and that all my colleagues are back in, says volumes,” she said.
“And, believe me, I will be flying the environment flag,” she added.
The councillors will be formally inducted, and the mayor elected, at the statutory meeting of Yarra Ranges Council this Thursday night at 7.45pm.