Geoff Eaton

I initially took the opportunity to seek election in 2018 due to the unfortunate negative publicity our council had received some years before, with my focus on public sector governance, debt management, council rates, community safety and resilience, and environmental issues.

My election provided an opportunity to extend my interest in public sector management, having worked at all three levels of government, and to continue to serve a community I’ve been part of for over 49 years. I’ve served on the Audit Risk Committee, Finance Working Group, most community/business grants assessment panels, each year’s Australia Day Awards Committee and the Mayor’s Christmas Lights Judging Panel.

It’s a pleasure to be able to continue to represent residents not only in our northern areas but across the whole of the city. I have met the many enthusiastic staff who are committed to their role of delivering services to our community.

My priorities include listening to and representing residents, improving services, our environment, community safety and wellbeing, prudent public sector financial management and governance, rate capping, our senior residents, my grandkids and their friends, recreation and sporting facilities, footpaths and economic development.

I enjoy working with our community, ensuring Thalassa Ward is represented. I’m aware of the need for footpaths in various parts of Aberfoyle Park, Flagstaff Hill and Coromandel Valley, areas that were developed 50 years ago and that are still waiting for this infrastructure. My strong interest in community safety/wellbeing continues and I’d like to see more work undertaken to assist residents in the prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery phases of emergency incidents from an all-hazards approach, as well as informing residents of the various services provided by the three tiers of government, and road safety. I’m committed to changes in the Development Code to ensure we have suitable framework to consider community concerns. I would also like to see the state government install a speed/red light camera at Flagstaff Hill Primary School on Black Road to increase the safety of the children.

I’ve been a resident in the area for 49 years with my wife, Sue, raising our family and now enjoy helping with the grandsons.

During my working life, I held senior positions in both the South Australia Police and Australian Federal Police for 44 years, then had my first attempt at retirement in 2011, (which wasn’t successful, even though I helped sail a 40-foot yacht back to Australia from Mexico) because I ended up working in the funeral industry, then for the Department of Environment and Water and Natural Resources, managing their Hazards Management Team, undertook a project for the Rural City of Murray Bridge facilitating a safe community task force, and a further project for the City of Port Adelaide Enfield developing their Community Emergency Management Plan.

So now in retirement, I continue to have a sense of purpose as a councillor by representing this community. I call it “positive ageing”. I regularly walk around Aberfoyle Park, Flagstaff Hill and visit the Frank Smith Park and Minkarra dog park with Tessa (our Dalmatian), so please stop for a chat. She’ll do the introduction, often with a big smile and lots of enthusiasm.

If residents have concerns regarding service delivery, infrastructure improvements and Council decisions, please contact me. There will be diverse views, but it’s about hearing what people have to say and making informed decisions in all our best interests. I’d also like to hear those good news stories of council’s services, as we do have many enthusiastic staff who need to hear the positive side of their activities.