IT'S been a campaign trail with a difference for Moyne Shire councillor Jordan Lockett, who visited dozens of towns and plans to sing songs about "as many as possible" before council elections.
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The Port Fairy resident travelled to more than 20 shire communities from Mepunga East to Woorndoo last week and has already written 10 songs to kick-start his campaign.
"It's just meant to be a bit of fun," Cr Lockett said.
But it's also the whole of Moyne Shire that Cr Lockett wants to show his willingness to represent, even promising if re-elected to request a report to show communities how much of their rates are spent on them.
"There's a view that Port Fairy gets too much or Mortlake gets too much, I don't think so, but I don't factually know, so let's figure it out. Is it fair?"
"If they are paying a heap of rates and the roads out the front are terrible, I'd be furious if I was them."
In his first term, Cr Lockett successfully pushed for the council to declare a climate emergency in a narrow 4-3 vote. He now wants to see further action including a refining the council's new recycling system, with contamination issues still sending most recycling to landfill.
"That system is not working," he said.
Cr Lockett also wants to see the Port Fairy Goods Shed re-purposed, a long-held aim of successive councils.
"There has been a plethora of fantastic ideas over time. Possibly it does need some private enterprise, but it could be a fantastic community hub, it could incorporate a stage for the folk festival. One that has been flagged a few times is a brewery," he said.
Cr Lockett also wants to support businesses recovering from the COVID-19, and believes he can help the region's festivals and events revive.
"How do we do that in a safe normal way which is OK? I will bring creativity and passion to that space," he said.
Cr Lockett also wants further work done on the council's reconciliation action plan and believes his biggest achievement in the last term was including an acknowledgment of country at each council meeting.
The social worker's family goes back three generations in Port Fairy where he's now raising another generation with wife Jelena.
"I'm passionate about the many wonderful and unique communities that make up the shire, and the role council plays within these diverse communities," he said.
"For me it's about 'doing with' rather than 'doing to' our communities: council decisions and directions must be led by the people."
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