Bostocks Creek dairy farmer and former CFA captain Lance Robilliard eyes seat on council

Lance Robilliard and Laurie Hickey have joined the running alongside current councillors Ruth Gstrein and Geraldine Conheady, and candidate Catherine O'Flynn.

Getting the shire as bushfire-ready as possible ahead of summer is front and centre for former Bostocks Creek CFA captain Lance Robilliard, who fought the Ash Wednesday and St Patrick's Day fires.

Mr Robilliard, a dairy farmer, has been involved with the brigade for 20 years and has seen many bushfires in that time.

He was the incident controller at a recent two-vehicle accident involving six people at Bostocks Creek, and said roadside slashing was a priority.

"I'd like to see better policies on our roadsides, they are a disgrace and one of issues relating to fires starting easily," he said.

"We need to do things better, it could create bit of employment too having extra people working the slashers and make the shire roads safe.

"It's also a danger to traffic because of the growth especially at intersections.

"There was a very bad accident recently on my road where there were six people involved. It was a bit of a blind spot, there was a hedge up to almost the corner.

"Maybe there should be a standard where property owners shouldn't plant trees or hedges up to a certain distance.

"Issues like that I'm passionate about, I'm very strong on the safety of people within the shire or traveling through."

He said there were key spots in the shire that needed better safety planning.

READ MORE: St Patrick's Day fires: CFA captain recalls heartbreaking night

"After the St Patrick's Day fires three days later I got quite a shock to hear that people had parked their cars on Mt Leura to sight see.

"We were very lucky to stop that fire where we did, if it got going Mt Leura it would have been a disaster and half of Camperdown could have burnt down.

"There's only one way in and one way out, they're like death traps.

"The last thing we need is people trapped in a one way situation, same as the lake complex at Bullen-Merri, there's only one way in and out and I'm not happy about that."

Mr Robilliard also stood for the by-election earlier this year.

"The reason I'm standing again is I got so much encouragement from the ones that voted for me," he said.

"I think I got about 15 per cent of the vote in the by-election, and that's without patting babies' heads or peeing in pockets.

"I'm a straight shooter, if there's a problem I say let's deal with it.

"If I'm successful when we have meetings, whatever the issue, I want it discussed to its full length to get a good outcome for the benefit of everyone.

"There are three seats in the central ward and whoever is successful must become a team player with the others in the other wards to make decisions and bring up ideas.

"If something is not right councillors should and do have the right to voice his or her own opinion that others might never thought of that might instigate change, instead of being a bunch of sheep who put their hand up and say yes to everything.

"I like to know the full story and not half the story."

Three council positions have already been decided by default according to the Victorian Electoral Commission.

Current councillors Ruth Gstrein, Joanne Beard and Geraldine Conheady are hoping to keep their places on council as mayor Neil Trotter, Simon Illingworth, Lesley Brown and Helen Durant depart.

In ballot order; Ms Conheady, Ms Gstrein, Catherine O'Flynn, Mr Robilliard and Laurie Hickey are putting their hands up for one of three central ward positions.

Catherine Forsayeth and Mr Cole have nominated for the single north ward seat.

Meanwhile current councillor Joanne Beard and Jamie Vogels and Kate Makin have been elected for the south-central, coastal and south-west wards respectively as they ran uncontested.

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