A New Mayor

By Moreen Dainty The Surf Coast Shire Council elections last November resulted in some big changes, with seven new councillors voted in. One of Anglesea Ward's newly elected was Libby Stapleton, who was also voted in as Mayor a few days later.

I interviewed Libby to find out how all this came about, her plans for the future, and what the first few months have been like.

When we meet, I sense something is bothering her. She bites her lip, pauses and then leans forward ever so slightly. “By the way, you'll have to work this into your piece somewhere.” “Okay.” I wait. “This interview wasn't my idea. I felt quite awkward when they suggested it.” “Who?” “The NewsAngle editorial committee. They insisted … and I eventually agreed – so long as the focus wasn't on me.” As I write, it strikes me this is just the kind of thing that the Libby Stapleton I know, would say and do.

I first met Libby through Aireys Book Club. Hers is one of several intelligent voices I have listened to over the years. Others know Libby through her management of the Aireys Inlet Market, or through her communications consultancy and editorship of NewsAngle, or just through her involvement in local life on the coast with her family for the past 18 years. When she decided to stand for Council, many of us encouraged her to 'go for it'. When 'Our Libby' won, folk felt they had voted in someone who knew and understood them, someone they could rely on and trust. I don't say this lightly. Such qualities seem hard to find these days. And it turns out the other newly elected councillors must have felt the same way. “It wasn't my intention to put my hand up for Mayor,” said Libby. “Rose Hodge had very ably filled this position for the past couple of years, but she and other councillors felt it was time for someone new.

“I was also in a position to adjust my work commitments and give the role the time that's required.” It’s been a steep learning curve for the new councillors. The Surf Coast Shire Council is the eighth largest in Victoria and one of the fastest growing. Home to 10 distinct townships, the Shire has a population of around 34,000 people and a local economy estimated (pre-COVID) to be worth over $1.3 billion.

The administrative arm of Council oversees the provision of more than 100 services, from public health, roads, planning and land use, to tourism economic development and events. The councillors attend weekly briefings about the core activities of Council, and have undertaken training on decisionmaking processes, as well as their roles and responsibilities as elected officials. “It's been pretty hectic. Some days it feels like we haven't even scratched the surface. There are roughly 450 staff managing the day-to-day operations of council in our community, so there is a lot to get our heads around,” Libby said. The role of the elected council officials is to help set the overall direction for the municipality, through long-term planning and decision making. It adopts a strategic view of the future and makes plans and policies to achieve this. The local councillors are a bit like a Board of Directors, except the key shareholders are the residents and ratepayers of the Surf Coast community. The Council organisation is headed by a CEO and a senior team of General Managers. “As Mayor, I oversee the relationship between Councillors and the CEO. We help set the vision and strategic direction for Council and are much less involved in the day-to-day operations. “In the early days, I had quite a lot of people get in touch with individual issues they wanted me to fix. I understand why, but it's hard for Councillors to be across everything. “The best way is to go online and use the Council's Customer Request System. It's actually much more efficient because the issue is logged and sent to the right Council staff who aim to respond within 48 hours. I’m not usually that quick! “You can also request if you want me or your local Councillor to be kept in

Surf Coast Shire Mayor Libby Stapleton (second from left) in one of her first official duties, opening the Jan Juc Surf Life Saving Club last December, alongside Senator Sarah Henderson, local member for South Barwon, Darren Cheeseman, and young surf life savers.

the loop and updated. In my experience, this system works extremely well. “It's interesting for us as councillors to learn to navigate the space between the strategic and the more day-to-day operations, understanding where we need to put our energies and focus. Front of mind is the question 'How can we make best use of the four years we have here and really make a difference?'.

“One of the best things we’ve done was a two-day workshop, to discuss key priorities for our community and develop a framework that will help guide us and keep us focussed on achieving the best outcomes.” At the start of the year, Council launched an engagement project called People Place Future, which was designed to get residents' ideas for the future, and to find out what they really value about their local community. The first phase involved a general online survey that everyone was encouraged to complete. Libby actively promoted the survey on social media and it was advertised in the local newspapers. Councillors and officers also attended markets and shops in each town to gain direct input from community. “I want people to get involved in shaping our strategies. I took on this job because I really feel it's time for us as a community to draw a line in the sand and answer the question 'How do we want to live?'

“How do we want the Surf Coast to look in 10, or even 15, 20 years time? I do think we are at risk of creeping change that is not always welcome. I don't want us to wake up one day and ask 'How on earth did we get here?' I want us to wake up and still feel grateful that we have such a beautiful natural environment and amazing community around us.” The second phase of the People Place Future project involved setting up a community panel comprised of 35 diverse community members, randomly selected from a pool of nominations. They are attending expert-led sessions, managed by a facilitator, which look at the various dilemmas the Council currently faces – from housing affordability and how to maintain ageing infrastructure, through to land use and how to reduce emissions.

The findings from the engagement project will create a 10-year community vision, and feed into the development of the Council's new four-year plan. “I am confident that by the end of this process, we will have a really great plan to use, which will form the basis of our strategic direction and help ensure our energy and focus is put into the right things.” As Libby talks, she becomes more passionate about the issues many residents have raised with her.

“COVID recovery is still the number one priority for many at the moment. Council has a significant grants program to support local businesses and community groups, to help them get back on their feet.

“The outdoor dining program was well received, and the latest economic data shows expenditure in the shire was up by more than 20 percent compared to last summer.”

Surf Coast Shire Councillors Libby is keenly aware that Councillors have to approach every decision put before them with an open mind.

“You can't have a pre-existing bias when you go into the Chamber to hear a debate. You have to listen to all sides of the argument and well-researched facts. You have to make evidence-based decisions.

“You can't go in and say 'I have a particular agenda and that is how I will vote.' I represent a community, not a political party. I need to try to be as objective as I can, thinking about the whole community and its needs.” I wind up our interview knowing Libby is only getting started. I admire her courage in standing for public office, for translating the frustration she once felt about what was going on around her into community action. I have no doubt she will inspire many more to take a leaf out of her book.