Pura Pura's Ian Smith is the furthest ratepayer in the north-east of Moyne Shire and is standing for council because he wants all corners covered.
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He still lives on the farm his father bought as a returned serviceman in the 1940s and he has represented Moyne Shire for the past council term.
Councillor Smith pushed for communities surrounding the Dundonnell Wind Farm to benefit directly from its first year of rates, funding nearby infrastructure upgrades. He says if elected again he will do the same for other wind farms.
"I will be pushing for that again and raising it in reference to Mortlake South," Cr Smith said.
He's also determined to stop further wind farms from development unless there are better planning outcomes for communities.
"The mood of the people is that the Moyne Shire is carrying far too much of a burden of the renewable and wind energy," Cr Smith said.
But it's roads he says are the "the major issue" among the shire's north-east pocket.
"The stratification survey which is conducted every year, the major thing since I have come in that has been under the state average have been gravel and sealed roads," Cr Smith said.
"I just wonder what we can do to turn that around. There is a lot of money spent on roads but we need to try and obtain money from state and federal government to do these roads."
He's also keen to open more industrial areas in Koroit and assist with improving health services at Mortlake.
"At the industrial state in Mortlake there is very little available land. If I am re-elected I would like to look at Koroit, I feel we need a greater supply of industrial land," Cr Smith said.
"We have good shops and services in Mortlake, if the health services were renewed it would make it a lot more family-friendly."
He is now questioning if the shire could benefit from wards after noticing most candidates for the upcoming election hailed from the shire's south.
"Even though I did support an undivided council I am wondering if we should be going back to a ward system," Cr Smith said.
"It's just trying to get fairer representation in the shire."
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Jackson Graham
Jackson is a reporter for The Standard.
Jackson is a reporter for The Standard.
