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A retired major from Heathcote and current City of Greater Bendigo council candidate is predicting the toughest and most divisive race for Town Hall in modern history.
Former business man and Bendigo-resident Colin Carrington said satisfaction levels with council had never been so low.
“Citizens are crying out for change [and] this council is on the nose,” Mr Carrington said.
“I believe there’ll be an all time record number of candidates stand this election, since the 'super council' was formed by amalgamation.”
The self-funded retiree said “ordinary citizens” were being ignored by a coterie – “verging on a cabal” – comprised of senior City of Greater Bendigo staff and “we-know-best-councillors.”
“The majority of councillors are obsessed with the arts… and love to crow about the money tourism brings to Bendigo,” he said.
- Council candidate Colin Carrington
However “average Jane and Joe ratepayers” don’t go to art exhibitions and don’t see any of those tourism dollars, Mr Carrington argued.
“And yet they’ve seen rates go up year after year,” he said.
He argued council had gotten used to dictating terms without consultation, citing the “disgraceful” decision to demolish the Kangaroo Flat Leisure Centre.
Related: Leisure centre faces its last dance
But while Mr Carrington is shaping up to take on “nodding-head councillors,” he is happy to fight alongside like-minded candidates in the Eppalock Ward.
He is also willing to work alongside other candidates in what was the most crowded ward at the last election –nine candidates ran for Eppalock in 2012 – among them his personal friend, certified financial planner George Flack.
“By far my preferred current candidate is councillor Helen Leach – as far as I am concerned, she is the only Eppalock Ward councillor worthy of re-election,”
- Colin Carrington
“I think George summed it up quite nicely – this council needs a clean up,” he said.
“I regard George as a very intelligent man and someone who can understand a balance sheet.”
While he won’t comment on candidates outside his ward, Mr Carrington cites councillor Elise Chapman when talking about council’s “obsession with the arts”.
“I do think it’s a wonderful art gallery but one of the things that really annoys me – and Elise Chapman said this but no one picked it up – why do people have to pay to use swimming pools and yet when they go to the Bendigo Art Gallery they are only asked for a donation?,” he said.
“I think it’s a very good point.”
Cr Chapman is the lead Senate candidate for Victoria for One Nation at this year’s federal election.
While Mr Carrington is not a member of any political party he openly supported Liberal candidate Greg Bickley in the 2013 federal election.