Acting Mayor of Glenorchy Bec Thomas today confirmed she would run in the upcoming election for the position.
Transcript of her media conference in front of the Glenorchy City Council Building, 1 June 2021.
Bec Thomas
Thank you. It’s great to be here today to announce formally that I will be standing for Mayor for Glenorchy City Council in the upcoming by-election that will be held from the 22nd of June. I’m very proud to represent this community as Acting Mayor and committed to continuing the great things that we have happening in the Glenorchy community right now.
Journalist – Ruby
Do you feel like you have big shoes to fill replacing Kristie Johnston?
Bec Thomas
Yes, well, Kristie was a very much-loved and dedicated mayor. And most definitely, they are big shoes to fill. But I’m very confident given my experience and my passion for the community I’m the right person for the job.
Journalist – Ruby
Why did you decide to run for the spot?
Bec Thomas
Look, I’ve lived in Glenorchy all 37 years of my life. And I just love this place and the people and our community. I’m very excited about the opportunities that we have going forward in Glenorchy. You know, when I grew up here, we were sort of not a real aspirational city. And that’s really shifted over the last probably five to ten years. You know, I sort of say we used to be the poor cousin of Hobart and now we’re sort of becoming the cool cousin. So it’s a great time to be involved. We’ve got $1.9 billion worth of development in the pipeline over the next 10 years, including the redevelopment of the Derwent Entertainment Centre. And the Wilkinsons Point development. We have a project, a new housing development project in on the old Claremont Primary School site at Windermere Bay, which will provide 315 residential dwellings and it’ll be a new style of living: medium density, townhouse and apartment style living. A housing development at Whitestone Point, and not to mention the $25 million committed in the city do to activate our northern suburbs transit corridor.
Journalist – Alex Johnston
Do you feel like this is a bit of a contest between a continuation of the work Kristie Johnston’s doing and you’re that candidate, and a bit of a wild card in Sue Hickey who sort of said that, I guess, that she wants to shake things up a bit?
Bec Thomas
I offer ongoing stability and dedication to the Glenorchy community. Absolutely that’s one of the things I offer. But I also will be committed to making sure that we get things done and make things happen in Glenorchy, so that we make sure the development that’s in the pipeline makes a difference for the people of Glenorchy. We’ve heard delays, we’ve heard sorry, complaints about delays in project development, you know that we’ve got the CBD revitalisation project, we’ve got quite a number of sporting infrastructure projects on the go. I want to make sure that we can provide on the ground for the community in a more faster and sustainable way.
Journalist – Alex Johnston
Some of those criticisms of projects not going quickly enough are legitimate. I know Andrew Wilkie gave the mayor of a whack for some sports funding that just wasn’t spent. Are those criticisms legitimate?
Bec Thomas
Look, we’ve been working very closely with the federal government on those infrastructure projects. So they come from, as you say, Andrew Wilkie funding, funding that Andrew Wilkie secured in the federal election back in 2018, they’re complex projects and big investments, you know, for the KGV and North Chigwell Oval project. We’ve got $12.8 million that we’re investing in a facility for our community, that’s a significant investment. And we must make sure that it’s used in the most effective way. And in a way that means it’ll be sustainable into the future, you know, ongoing maintenance and depreciation costs come at an ongoing rate cost to our community. So we’ve got to make sure it’s done in a sustainable way. We’ll continue to work closely with the federal government to make sure we get it right.
Journalist – Ruby
What are your feelings towards Sue Hickey at the moment?
Bec Thomas
Look, so I’ve worked very closely with Sue Hickey over the last few years as an advisor to her, you know, those sorts of jobs, you do become really quite close. And we achieved a lot of great things in the Glenorchy community in particular, over the last couple of years. Sue has a number of enemies, I’m certainly not one of them. And I’m sure we’ll remain friends. At the end of this, I may even be working with her again. So absolutely.
Journalist – Ruby
No ill feeling then?
Bec Thomas
No, no, no ill feeling, everybody has their reasons for what they do. It’s the community’s choice, and I very much respect for whatever choice that community makes.
Tasmanian Times
We’ve just been through a state election, people are probably a bit sick of seeing posters around, politicians on TV and so on. So what’s your campaign style going to be? How do you get some cut through, how do you get people’s attention?
Bec Thomas
Yes, I’m very aware that people will have election fatigue. This local government elections is also a postal vote and they’re not compulsory. So I’ll be really encouraging in my conversations with people around the community, people to make sure they have their say and and make sure they vote and help make their vote count. I will be, it’ll be a very grassroots style campaign, I’ll be out and about in the community. I’m Acting Mayor. So you know, I’m very conscious that I will need to be balancing Acting Mayor and during the job to maintain stability and continuity for council and for the community through this period, alongside campaigning. So I will be very conscious of balancing that and just getting out and about talking to people in the community.
Journalist – Alex Johnston
Sue won’t be afraid to tell us why she’s the best person for the job. What’s your pitch?
Bec Thomas
Well, look, I think my passion for the community, and my loyalty to this community is above and beyond. I’ve spent all 37 years of my life in the Glenorchy community. I went to school here, I had my first jobs here. And I’ve continued to work here. My passion and my commitment to serving the community it just is unwavering.
Journalist – Alex Johnston
What’s interesting question, I guess: why have you stayed here for 37 years and not, you know, you’ve obviously had the option to move to another suburb or even another state? Why have you stayed?
Bec Thomas
The people of Glenorchy are just, I feel like I belong here. You know, the people of Glenorchy support each other, we look out for each other, we’re a humble lot. And we make the best of what we have and just get on with it. And I just feel like I belong and there are so many opportunities. As I said $1.9 billion worth of development in in the pipeline here. We are now an aspirational city. There’s so much going on, and I’m so proud to be part of that.
Tasmanian Times
You talked about some of your strengths? What are some things you perhaps could have done better during your three years so far?
Bec Thomas
Oh, look, I think I’ve been a very dedicated servant to this community over my three years on council. I’ve prioritised communication with the community and establishing positive relationships with my fellow aldermen, and with Council staff and with state and federal government representatives as well. So look, I don’t, I’m not someone who has regrets. You know, we’re always learning and I’m very committed to continue learning if I stuffed something up I’m not afraid to say so and and apologise for that. But yeah, I’m very committed to maintaining positive relationships going forward.
TASMANIAN TIMES: Kelly Sims Puts Hand Up for Glenorchy Mayor.
TASMANIAN TIMES: Sue Hickey to Take Tilt at Glenorchy.
