Clarence’s Mayor won’t contest the upcoming election after 22 years on council and 11 in the top job.
Doug Chipman says it’s time for renewal, having overseen population growth of 25 per cent and the creation of a number of new suburbs.
He believes climate change will be one of the chief challenges for his successor.
“The threat from bushfires is ever-present, the coastal erosion is with us virtually every high tide; we need to continue to manage those and find solutions to them,” said Ald. Chipman.
He’s also fired a parting shot in the sensitive debate over council mergers and expressed hope the contentious Kangaroo Bay hotel development will go ahead (pictured).
“I’m a firm believer that there are too many councils, I was a supporter of Clarence merging with Sorell and Tasman,” he said.
“It’s disappointing the hotel has taken so long, but it will be a destination in its own right once it’s complete and an amazing shot in the arm for Bellerive and Clarence.”
