Pressuring the state and federal governments on matters important to the area are some of the biggest challenges Maribyrnong’s new mayor expects to face.
Cameron McDonald fended off a challenge from ALP councillors last week to become the fourth consecutive independent to don the mayoral robes.
The River ward councillor was elected over ALP councillor Sarah Carter four votes to two at a special council meeting last Wednesday.
Former mayor Catherine Cumming was elected deputy mayor.
“It’s a spectacular time, there’s so much happening,” Cr McDonald told Star Weekly.
Cr McDonald cited construction in the Joseph Road precinct and the first steps in the Footscray education precinct as two of the major local changes under way.
And he said he expected residents to keep a close eye on the council’s performance in the lead-up to next October’s election.
“There’s a lot more expectation placed on council these days,” he said “People want to know, ‘do I get what I pay for?’
“Ours are largely advocacy roles on things like what’s happening with the [Maribyrnong] Defence site, the trucks issue; it’s busy on many fronts.”
Cr McDonald played down tensions between councillors that flared again during the mayoral election meeting, suggesting they could all work together.
Cr Sarah Carter criticised the independents for locking ALP councillors out of roles chairing committees, but Cr Cumming said the ALP had done the same to the independents when it held the numbers.
