New face for Ranges Ward

By Tania Martin
NEW Shire of Cardinia Ranges Ward councillor Ed Chatwin has vowed to continue as president of the Emerald Village Committee (EVC) despite the committee being under the jurisdiction of the council.
He has also promised to remove the controversial $100 levy, which was imposed as an extra cost on rates to fund capital works.
Cr Chatwin plans to continue as president of the EVC which meets monthly to discuss issues and future developments for Emerald and is financed by the council.
He said the township committee was a great way for him to stay in touch with the community.
Incumbent Ranges Ward councillor Graeme Legge was also re-elected and will work with Cr Chatwin. Cr Legge said he was honoured to be re-elected for a fourth term.
He said there was a number of projects that he would continue to work on including seeing the completion of the Emerald Library project, a new footbridge across the Belgrave-Gembrook Road in the centre of town, and reviewing the Emerald Strategy.
Cr Chatwin said running for council was rewarding, but that he was surprised at how difficult it was to get out the message to the people of the Ranges Ward.
He said despite the cost of mounting an election campaign, and after being a critic of the council for more than two years, he felt it was time to “put up or shut up”.
“I would really like to thank my electorate for their support. I had a very strong primary vote which is a large vote of confidence for me,” he said.
Cr Chatwin said four of the seven councillors elected were from the Cardinia Residents and Ratepayers Association group and would act together with a similar desire – to change the direction of the council.
The new councillors were sworn in at a special statutory meeting last night (Monday).