Exactly 12 months ago, I was declared elected for Eley Ward and started my first stint of any kind of public office. I am deeply grateful for the faith a majority of Eley voters showed in me.
The challenge of this year has been greater than 2020, given the pervading and sustained impacts of the pandemic. While I’ve been able to do very little face-to-face interaction, I’ve worked to keep a focus on mental health, urban forest, strong service levels for the traditional things expected of Council, and good governance overall.
In Eley, we’ve seen grounds and playspaces renewed, more options (eg: half courts) in our open spaces, significant new planting and roads resurfaced. In all of this, the predominant goodwill of the community is what encourages me the most. I’ve walked the Ward many times over in our lockdowns (and delighted in the households putting out buckets of lemons to share)
I commend Council Officers for the street tree planting in Eley Ward in the winter/spring planting season. I join other residents’ groups in applauding the extent of planting, and, for those trees under powerlines, the use of little tags to signify that the planting is specie-appropriate and will not grow to a height that requires expensive electrical line clearance pruning. Please watch out for the protection of these young trees; vandalism is a live problem in all municipalities. We all need the health, amenity and climate change mitigating benefits that every extra tree contributes.
