The Victorian local government elections will be held in October and conducted entirely by post. To help you make informed decisions on who should be making the big decisions for the Campaspe Shire, Jemma Jones has spoken to all prospective candidates to help people decide whom to tick off on their ballot paper.
The Free Press, Riverine Herald and Campaspe News will be rolling out two candidate profiles each week in the lead-up to the election.
Michael Farrant was born and bred in Echuca, where his family farmed on a small dairy farm near Echuca Village.
With his family he moved to Cohuna, before moving back to Gunbower where he has been for the past 22 years.
He is running for Campaspe Shire Council because he believes, as a businessman and farmer and time working across local communities, that he has something to offer the ratepayers of the shire.
Some issues most important to him are lessening the red tape at a local level for small businesses across the community and working with police to combat theft and crime within the electorate.
“(I want to) help them thrive and, in turn, lift employment and prosperity for our shire,” he said.
“I’m also very concerned for the safety of our ratepayers and hope to be able to work with local police as a councillor.”
Mr Farrant hopes the smallest of communities in Campaspe Shire are represented when councillors are elected.
“It is my belief that a balanced council membership from all areas of our shire will help to represent the totality of this shire,” he said.
On top of his experience as a business owner across the local district and running and owning dairy and beef farms, he has also been involved in community organisations and boards.
He believes these experiences will give him the ability to bring “common sense” to the position of councillor and help him understand what the community wants from a level closer to the issues at hand.
Mr Farrant is passionate about the region sating. He said the enviable forest, natural waterways and diverse open country were unequalled to anything in this world.
“Why would you want to live anywhere else? To me, if given the chance, I would be honoured to serve the people of Campaspe Shire as one of their councillors for the next term of office,” he said.
Head online to view all profiles for Campaspe Shire Council candidates ahead of the 2024 local government elections.