On Wednesday the 11 Councillors deliberated on the new Mayor and Deputy Mayor for 2024. Councillor Adam Pulford was elected Mayor and Councillor Lambros Tapinos elected Deputy Mayor.

In his speech to Councillors before the vote Cr Pulford identified Road Safety as a particular focus he wanted to pursue if elected as Mayor.

One of the key issues I’d like to focus on if I was elected Mayor is Road safety. It is an issue that comes up in our chamber here again and again.

Whether it is about a safe crossing at Bell Street Bridge, or Murray Road, or the Queen street crossing on Moreland Road, or getting around safely as a cyclist. Time and again we hear passionate residents of our community, energy and real demand for work in that area.

Since Covid our transport habits have changed. It is getting more dense. There are challenges we have to face up to there.

Also the road death toll is at a high. We have seen members of our community lost on our streets. That is a reason I’d like to focus on road safety.

As Mayor you can bring our community and council together around those issues. But also broader than that, the neighbouring Councils and the like-minded Councils. Council has more to do itself on road safety, but we are limited by our limited budget obviously and the challenges we face are huge.

I think Councillors coming to gether to call for more action from Federal and State Government, which basically means more money for us to be able to do the work I think is really important. I’d prioritise that.

Transcript from Council Meeting video

In his acceptance speech after the election, Cr Pulford also said that Council is making great progress towards the goals and actions set out in the 4-year Council Plan, centring on the themes of: moving and living safely in Merri-bek, an environmentally proactive Merri-bek, a healthy and caring Merri-bek, vibrant spaces and places in Merri-bek, and an empowered and collaborative Merri-bek.

“We’re proud to say that we’re making great progress on the delivery of our current Council Plan and will continue to do so over the next year. In exciting news, the Fawkner Leisure Centre redevelopment works are progressing on time and to budget—on track to be completed by summer 2024-25. The development of the $29 million-dollar 33 Saxon St Brunswick site is also set to be completed by the end of 2024, providing the community a valuable cultural hub with over 3500sqm of floorspace for a range of activities and events,” Cr Pulford said.

“A sustainable future also remains high on our priority list, and we will continue to deliver on actions under our Zero Carbon Merri-bek 2040 Framework. We will also continue our work on reconciliation, and in the advocacy space with work on important topics such as the duplication of the Upfield railway line, improvements to bus networks, and on social and affordable housing.”

Cr Adam Pulford is in his first term as a Merri-bek City Councillor. He was elected in 2020 to represent the North-East Ward of Merri-bek.

Cr Lambros Tapinos, 4-term Councillor and former Mayor, was also elected Deputy Mayor for the next 12 months.

Reference:

Merribek Council, 15 November 2023, Cr Adam Pulford promises to serve Merri-bek’s diverse and vibrant community as newly elected Mayor, https://www.merri-bek.vic.gov.au/my-council/news-and-publications/news/cr-adam-pulford-promises-to-serve-merri-beks-diverse-and-vibrant-community-as-newly-elected-mayor/