Councillor Jonathon Marsden has been elected Mayor for 2020-21, serving his second term on Council and second time as Mayor.
Also elected last night as Deputy Mayor was first-time Councillor Daria Kellander, who represents the Cherry Lake Ward.
In accepting the position at Tuesday night's Council meeting, Cr Marsden highlighted active transport, the environment and assisting the community and businesses with their recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic as his priorities for the year ahead.
Cr Marsden will officially reveal his Mayoral Program at a future Council meeting but foreshadowed his intent to focus on Council's Virtual Energy Network project, endorsed by Council earlier this year. The project involves solar panels across Council buildings generating low cost, clean energy for Council and its building tenants such as community groups, sporting associations and, eventually, for residents and retailers to access, too.
With one of the positives of the COVID-19 pandemic being a greater exploration of cycle ways and shared paths, Cr Marsden is also focusing on exploring and encouraging active transport, building on the revitalisation of local shopping strips and precincts through Hobsons Bay Business has Heart Outdoors and continuing to see thousands of trees planted across the city as Council reaches for its Urban Forest Strategy target of 30 per cent tree canopy by 2040.
Deputy Mayor Cr Kellander said she was keen to bring a fresh perspective to Council and was looking forward to working collaboratively with her fellow Councillors, Council staff and the community.
As stated by Mayor of Hobsons Bay Councillor Jonathon Marsden
"I am delighted to be elected Mayor of Hobsons Bay once more and lead this new team of energetic, enthusiastic and community-driven Councillors into the new Council term.
"We have the makings of a very good Council. I have gotten to know the newly-elected Councillors over the past few weeks and have started to talk about what we can achieve together to fulfil the mandate the citizens have given us as we focus on rebuilding Hobsons Bay following COVID and working towards our goal of zero net carbon emissions by 2030.
"I am looking forward to working on a number of initiatives already under way but know there are many exciting ideas the new Council will put forward in 2021."
As stated by Deputy Mayor of Hobsons Bay Councillor Daria Kellander
"I am proud to represent the people of Hobsons Bay as a Councillor and now as a Deputy Mayor. I look forward to working with my Council colleagues and supporting Cr Marsden as we focus on our community and making our municipality an even better place to live, work and play."
