By Parker McKenzie
Newly elected Streeton Ward councillor Andrew Fullagar has joined Yarra Ranges Council until the 2024 council general elections, following the February by-election.
Mr Fullagar told the Star Mail he is humbled to be elected to represent the people of Streeton Ward.
“I’m also excited and slightly terrified, so a combination of those three if that’s possible,” he said.
“This year was a very interesting ride, it was quite tense for the whole week.”
Mr Fullagar has now been inducted onto the council and joined his fellow councillors for a forum on 1 March.
He said the next few weeks will be a learning curve while he gets to know the other members of Yarra Ranges Council.
“Whether people voted for me or not, I’m out there to represent them as best I can. I’m absolutely humbled by their support and their trust in me,” Mr Fullagar said.
“I’m absolutely rapt that I was elected to be the councillor for this term.”
Six people were nominated for the by-election: Doug MacDonald, Wil Mikelsons, David Hill, Jarrad Page, Gavin Wootten and Mr Fullagar.
After preferences were allocated, Mr Fullagar finished with 55.04 per cent of the vote, with Mr Mikelsons finishing second with 44.96 per cent.
Mr Fullagar believes the biggest issue facing people in the area is the recovery from severe storm events in 2021.
“I mean that in a physical, mental and financial sense. That of course relates to climate change,” he said.
“I can sense there’s the priority there for council to deal with that one. There are the direct impacts from the storm, but also the ongoing action on what we actually do about climate change.”
The by-election was triggered when Cathrine Burnett-Wake took up a Liberal Party vacancy in the Victorian State Senate following Edward O’Donohue’s resignation in September 2021.
There were 12184 enrolled voters in Streeton Ward, which includes the suburbs of Upwey, Tremont, Ferny Creek, Sassafras and Mount Dandenong and parts of Olinda, Upper Ferntree Gully, Kilsyth and Montrose.
