Councillor David Gill was a Councillor for the Shire of Mornington for all of the 1980’s and Mayor in 1984/85. He retired without losing an election and continued work teaching and working in the Arts.
David was later elected to the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council in 2016, after retiring from work, representing Red Hill Ward. David now represents the renamed Coolart Ward which makes up 60% of the Shire with the other 10 Councillors representing a combined 40%.
He is the appointed representative on Council’s Arts and Culture Advisory Panel, The Triple A committee helping to provide affordable local housing and the Bass Park Trust - protecting recreation land from development.
David is a full-time, completely independent councillor who does not ask for or accept donations of any kind.
His wide community role has seen him work closely with residents, community groups, businesses and organisations and includes improving safety on some of the Peninsula’s most dangerous roads, creating koala bio-link corridors, making Council-funded defibrillators available 24/7, enacting Council’s climate change policies and Arts and Culture plan, championing live music and a Heritage Study for Coolart Ward.
As Mayor in 2018/19, Cr Gill played an instrumental role in the anti-red tape small business charter, the introduction of a party house amenity local law, increased the protection for remnant indigenous vegetation and the provision of rate relief for farmers.
David is passionate about the role of our volunteers, convincing the State Government to classify the Peninsula as regional rather than metropolitan, and on relaxing farm gate rules for genuine farm gate businesses. He is a strong advocate for the protection of our Green Wedge and coastal village character that is alive but struggling to survive on the Mornington Peninsula.