Eppalock Ward candidate Gregory Jacobs is passionate about sustainability and furthering environmental causes in Bendigo.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The first-time council nominee has lived in Bendigo since 2013 and said council needs fresh faces and a new energy.
Recycling, renewables and affordable housing are areas Mr Jacobs has earmarked for improvement.
READ MORE:
"Bendigo council needs to implement the purple bin, just like other councils in Victoria have, to enable more recycling," Mr Jacobs said.
"This is crucial for Bendigo and will help create microindustries in the community, such as those in Melbourne, that reuse glass."
In February, the state government announced Victorian households will use a purple-lidded bin for glass recycling from 2021.
"The council should use Eaglehawk Landfill as a recycle centre for its own recycling and not just material from the public," Mr Jacobs said.
The creation of more community gardens in the Ward is also of interest to Mr Jacobs.
"The community food gardens established for Bendigo Foodshare and residents should be expanded throughout Bendigo and is much needed now and into the future," he said.
Promotion of Bendigo's live music and performance sectors and supporting local members of the arts industry is essential, according to Mr Jacobs.
"I look forward to the reopening of Star Cinema and local music venues and will be encouraging people to support these performers and venues," he said.
"As a councillor, I would look to promote these ventures and enrich Bendigo's arts community."
The safety and ongoing maintenance of Bendigo's footpaths, walking tracks and bike paths is also a priority.
"The Main Creek Bike Track crosses some roads without pedestrian protection in four areas," he said.
"One or two of them are truck routes that go through to the Golden Triangle.
"There are some 12,000 people who use that path who aren't protected and that has to change."
READ MORE:
The safety of Ellis Street's recently opened bike lane also requires review, Mr Jacobs said.
"There are collision points, the road is narrowed and local bus services and ambulances have trouble getting through," he said.
"Greater thought is needed to accommodate road and bike users in Bendigo."
Mr Jacobs is joined as an Eppalock Ward candidate by Gregory Arthur, Brett Mitchell, David Hewitt, Robin Chapman, Lewis Freeman-Harrison, Gregory Penna, Helen Leach and Matthew Evans.
Incumbent councillors Susie Hawke, George Flack and Mayor Margaret O'Rourke are also standing for re-election.
The upcoming council election is by postal vote only, with ballot packs containing voting material mailed to enrolled voters from October 6 to be returned by October 23.