Hobsons Bay councillor Jonathon Marsden has announced he won’t be seeking re-election at October’s council election.
Cr Marsden, who has served on council for eight years, said he was grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the council’s good governance and to have served as mayor twice.
He said serving the community had taught him to consider everyone’s views before making a decision.
“It has taught me patience, above all. Personally, it has enriched my life and introduced me to hundreds of remarkable people who live in Hobsons Bay,” Cr Marsden said.
Cr Marsden said the pandemic marked the most challenging period of his time on council.
“Quickly setting up our street parklets helped hugely for those traders who lost indoor space due to social distancing during that difficult period,” he said.
He said he was most proud of the council’s effort to green the municipality by planting more than 50,000 semi-mature trees over the past four years, along with more than a hundred thousand shrubs and tube stock.
“Our virtual energy network now produces more than 30 per cent of council’s electricity needs — the highest percentage of any council in Victoria,” he said.
Cr Marsden said these two achievements have saved expenses yearly, cooled the city, cleaned the air and reduced greenhouse emissions.
Anne Parisianne
