Perth Voice Interactive

Josh Topelberg will seek another term on Vincent council.

First elected in 2009 he says he only decided to run again when colleagues urged him to do so.

He says he’s really enjoyed his four years and reckons he’s done a good job making logical and consistent decisions.

He’s initiated projects like the local men’s shed (now rounding the final few hurdles for completion) and pushed for events like the Beaufort Street Festival to be run by the community, with council providing financial support instead of taking the reins and micro-managing.

Cr Topelberg says another tick in his favour is “I don’t have political aspirations”.

“I don’t see it as a stepping stone. It’s something I enjoy doing.

“My wife says to me when I’m knee-deep in page 22 of a 30-page policy: ‘You enjoy this, don’t you?’,” he chuckles.

He says with amalgamations looming, it’s critical to get Vincent’s long-term plans clearly set out so the community’s aspirations don’t disappear in any potential merger.

The general manager of his family’s business Decor Design on William Street, Cr Topelberg’s family has been in the area more than a hundred years, and he says his work, recreation, dog-walking and coffee drinking rarely take him outside Vincent’s borders.

by DAVID BELL