The Greens candidate for Gellibrand in the recent federal election will stand in Strand ward in the upcoming Hobsons Bay council poll.
Williamstown resident Jonathon Marsden received almost 21 per cent of first preference votes in Gellibrand – which was retained by Labor’s Tim Watts – representing a 4.16 per cent swing to the Greens.
His running mate in Strand ward will be Susanne Miller.
Strand ward, covering Williamstown, Newport and Spotswood, was the most hotly contested area at the 2013 election with 16 candidates.
It was won by councillors Angela Altair, Peter Hemphill and Paul Morgan.
Mr Marsden said there may be a third Greens candidate running.
“The idea is basically to challenge every available spot in Strand ward,” he said.
“That’s where the majority of our membership is and our strongest Greens vote is along the railway line.”
Mr Marsden said he was running to improve the basics of service delivery.
“The nuts and bolts of drainage, footpaths, those sort of things, need a lot of work because of the age of the infrastructure in Williamstown, in particular,” he said.
“We’ve also got our eye very much on the mangroves at the end of Strand ward under the bridge there, which could be affected by the Western Distributor proposal.
“The other thing I’m keen to do as an idea for recreation, particularly for young children in the Hobsons Bay area, is to build a splash pad.
“It’s like an automated series of jets that shoots water over a padded area where toddlers and kids who are too young to go to the swimming pool or to the beach can safely splash about in summer.”
Greens candidate Diana Rice is standing for Cherry Lake ward, which includes Altona.
In the Maribyrnong council election, the Greens are fielding candidates in River ward (Georgia Webster), Yarraville ward (Simon Crawford) and Stony Creek ward (Daniel Cash).
