Lockwood candidates speak at City of Greater Bendigo election forum

There was standing room only at a forum featuring prospective representatives of the City of Greater Bendigo ward of Lockwood.

Nine of the 12 candidates participated in the event at the Y Service Club of Kangaroo Flat on Monday night.

Damien Irving, Jennifer Alden, Samuel Tshisekdi, Jan Pagliaro, John Cooper, Matt Emond, Ian Dean, Barry Lyons and Rod Fyffe responded to three questions set by the event’s organisers.

There was also time for a few questions from the audience, which touched on topics such as the green bins, the employment status of each of the candidates in attendance, and the city’s transport. 

Set questions covered the environment and climate change, integrated transport, and cultural diversity. 

George Egan, Vaughan Williams and Elise Chapman were not in attendance. 

Community groups Bike Bendigo, Bendigo Sustainability Group and Progress Bendigo organised the forum, which was part of a series. 

Voters last week turned out to hear from Whipstick ward candidates. 

Tomorrow, Eppalock ward candidates will have their say at the Strathdale Community Centre from at 7pm.

The forums are building on a survey, which asked candidates questions based on the council’s environment, cultural diversity, land use and transport, and housing strategies and plans.

Nine of the 12 Lockwood candidates submitted responses, of which Jennifer Alden’s was highest ranked. 

Full responses are available on the Bendigo Sustainability Group website.