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Bendigo voters are being urged to deliver a more cohesive council ahead of the close of polls this afternoon.
Business leaders, former mayors and active citizen groups all called on last-minute voters take their responsibilities seriously and deliver a council which could govern the City of Greater Bendigo constructively over the next four years.
Bendigo Business Council chief executive officer Leah Sertori said ratepayers needed to “do their homework” on the 32 candidates vying to represent them.
“We need to vote in the most qualified candidates and those best positioned to take advantage of the extraordinary opportunities available to Bendigo in the coming decade,” Ms Sertori said.
“Citizens really need to do their homework and to ensure that the candidate that they vote for is someone who can work effectively as part of a team, represent ‘Brand Bendigo’ and work to advance Bendigo’s reputation on the national and international stage.”
The business chief said she hoped voters delivered a mix of current councillors – “who understand the role of the region, its strengths and limitations” – as well as “new faces”.
Also hoping for change is former mayor, small business owner and Progress Bendigo spokesperson Laurie Whelan.
“This is incredibly important,” Mr Whelan said.
“It’s about getting a council that’s going to be effective and work in a positive, constructive way to take city forward around the big issues that we’re dealing with.”
Another former mayor, Willi Carney, said Bendigo needed better representation.
“Council is in dire need of a cultural change,” the long-serving former Eaglehawk councillor said.
“We need representatives who are genuinely committed to the community and have an understanding of procedures...basically we need people who can get on with things and make decisions in a rational way – people who don’t just keep attacking one another.
“I think postal voting has been a good thing, now everyone has the chance to at least read a little about each candidate.”
While the community leaders urged voters to do their homework, Mr Whelan went a step further.
Progress Bendigo – along with Bendigo Sustainability Group and Bike Bendigo – organised a series of councillor candidate forums. From those, the group issued a how-to-vote card.
“We’ve gone out on a limb and issued a score card, which numbers the candidates,” he said.
“We’ve listed candidates who scored very low and we’re basically saying people really should seriously think about not voting for those people because, on the process we went through, they performed poorly and we believe they won’t contribute to a positive, effective council.
“We also named the people who performed really well...candidates who can understand complex issues and can articulate and express problems – and solutions to those problems – who offer positive and constructive ways of working through them and a positive approach and understanding of issues such as climate change, cultural diversity, transport and city planning.”
Victorian electoral commissioner Warwick Gately also had a message for Bendigo voters, after a number of candidates raised concerns about the electoral process this week.
“I have appointed a well-trained returning officer who is discharging his duty according to legislative requirements, in a thorough, transparent and efficient manner,” Mr Gately said.
“These requirements include the procedures for the handling and storage of returned postal ballots [and the] community can have absolute confidence in the integrity of this process.”
Votes must put in the post or hand delivered to the Victorian Electoral Commission election office by 6pm.