Nillumbik has a new Mayor after Ellis Ward Councillor Peter Perkins was elected to the role for 2020-2021 last night.
Cr Frances Eyre (Swipers Gully Ward) was elected as Deputy Mayor, with both unanimously elected to their positions.
Cr Perkins was first elected to Council in 2010 and this is his fourth term of Council. He has previously served a term as Mayor in 2012-13.
Cr Perkins said that as Mayor he would ensure that the community would be central to all decisions.
“All councillors have been elected to represent their own communities or wards but together we seek to represent and improve the lives of all the 65,000 people who are living in this wonderful place called Nillumbik,” Cr Perkins said.
“The way to achieve the best outcome for our individual communities and for Nillumbik as a whole is by working together.”
Cr Perkins committed to protecting and improving Nillumbik’s outdoor spaces, as well as the neighbourhood character of the built environment.
“We will improve the way we, as a Council, consults and interacts with residents and businesses as we strive to break down the walls of division,” he said.
“The global pandemic has changed the way we live and is the biggest challenge our council and community has faced.
“We look forward to better ways to support our community and to facilitate support from other levels of government and within communities themselves.”
Cr Perkins said Council would now develop a Council Plan which focused on a shared vision with the community for the next four years.
Cr Eyre said she looked forward to getting to work for the community as member of the new Council.
“Youth empowerment, protection of the Green Wedge and the environment more broadly, the protection and enhancement of neighbourhood character will be among my priorities,” she said.
“Improving and strengthening the way we engage with the community will be critical and I look forward to working with my fellow councillors and the community to address these and other important issues.”
Last night’s meeting was livestreamed and can be accessed on YouTube via Council’s website.
The Council comprises seven councillors – five new councillors with Cr Perkins and Cr Karen Egan (Bunjil Ward) the two returning councillors.
Nillumbik’s Council for the 2020-2024 term are:
Blue Lake
• Cr Richard Stockman
Bunjil
• Cr Karen Egan
Edendale
• Cr Natalie Duffy
Ellis
• Cr Peter Perkins
Sugarloaf
• Cr Ben Ramcharan
Swipers Gully
• Cr Frances Eyre
Wingrove
• Cr Geoff Paine
