By XAVIER SMERDON
WYNDHAM’S new Mayor has declared he will focus on the biggest issues facing the municipality and has said he will be an inclusive representative.
Bob Fairclough fended off a challenge from colleague Marie Brittan to win the mayoralty by seven votes to four.
After arriving from New Zealand in 1984 Cr Fairclough worked as a professor at Victoria University before retiring in 2005, the same year he became a councillor.
Cr Faiclough said he was “delighted” to be announced as the Mayor at last Wednesday’s public meeting.
“I’m absolutely delighted to be given the opportunity to represent Wyndham,” Cr Fairclough said.
Cr Fairclough said he used to be a member of the Labor Party but quit several years ago, and he committed to work with all sides of politics to get the best results for Wyndham.
“When you’re on council it’s important to work with all political parties,” he said.
“Being an independent I think makes it easier to interact with all members of the community no matter what their political background is.”
Cr Fairclough said he wanted to focus on the areas that had been identified by residents as the most important for the municipality.
These were public transport and traffic congestion, city image, parks and recreation and public safety.
He said he was also keen to make a difference in the area of the overall health and wellbeing of residents.
Cr Fairclough also added that new housing developments had decreased by more than 50 per cent, which would give the council “an opportunity to catch up”.
