Perth Voice Interactive

A disappointing community consultation experience with the local development assessment panel led Emma Cole to put up her hand for Vincent council.

Ms Cole says she and her neighbours were disappointed not to have a say on a 22-unit development on Oxford Street, whose traffic will be routed through their laneway.

“I came away from that process thinking that didn’t work very well, and I thought I could get in there and work on the community consultation process and come up with something that suits our area and our times.”

Strong feelings amongst locals about amalgamations also motivated her to run for north ward.

“Everybody’s hearts and minds are set on staying with Vincent or going to Perth,” Ms Cole says.

She has the support of former mayor Alannah MacTiernan, who has high praise for Ms Cole’s approach, noting she’d arrived in the public gallery armed with facts and reasonable arguments instead of a pitchfork and torch.

“I’ve known her for quite a few years,” Ms MacTiernan says. “She’s a fantastically considered person, very intelligent, thoughtful, calm, a great listener. She would be a really excellent councillor.”

Ms Cole is a Labor party member but says her run for council is unrelated.

“I don’t have party political aspirations,” she says.

“For me it’s a really big thing to put my hand up even at the level of local government. I don’t aspire to be an MP or have some sort of party political career.”

She says as a public servant she’s acquainted with maintaining non-partisan views and making decisions based on merit and not the party line.

by DAVID BELL