After all the drama and debate, the dust has settled and we have a confirmed set of City Councillors and Community Board members – congratulations to all the successful candidates! Again, I’m a bit disappointed in how few people actually bother to vote at local elections, especially when you consider how much these things affect a lot of aspects of their daily lives. I’m not sure how much it’s a ringing endorsement when only 15% of the city voted to re-elect Mayor Phil Mauger…
From a sustainable transport perspective, it is disappointing that mayoral challenger Sara Templeton couldn’t get over the line (although it was one heck of a great campaign…). Looking at the various social media channels before and even after the election, it seems that somehow she got landed with the “cycleway and speed bump Sara” moniker, as if they are going to hugely increase our rates bills (spoiler alert: they’re not…) and that her vote alone will see them everywhere (spoiler alert: it wouldn’t have…).
Nevertheless, looking at the new make-up of the City Council, it seems that very little has changed in the balance of power from 2022. As, is often the case in local govt, incumbency has seen every sitting Councillor re-elected, while the two new ones (David Cartwright in Fendalton and Nathaniel Herz-Jardine in Heathcote) mirror the politics of their predecessors…
Practically speaking, it probably means that future discussions regarding road safety and cycling measures are likely to still get over the line. Even returning Mayor Mauger conceded that his pre-election plan to rip up the Park Tce cycleway probably won’t happen. Nevertheless, it’s an important reminder to keep an eye on various transport projects coming out for consultation and if necessary make a submission or deputation to Council about them.
What do you think about the newly elected Council?