Back in power

By Kath Gannaway
CHRISTINE Fyffe’s win for the Liberals in Evelyn on Saturday has put an end to four years of Labor dominance in the Yarra Valley.
Ben Hardman retained the safe Labor seat of Seymour despite a 3.6 per cent swing to Liberal candidate Mike Dalmau.
The balance of power among the valley’s three seats, however, now lies with Gembrook.
Numbers were still being crunched as the Mail went to press on Monday with the result too close to call between sitting Labor MP Tammy Lobato and Liberal candidate Simon Wildes.
Ms Fyffe was a former Commissioner with the Shire of Yarra Ranges and MP for Evelyn in the Kennett Government from 1999 to 2002 when new-comer Heather McTaggart won the seat.
Ms Fyffe told the Mail she was happy to be back representing the people of Evelyn … and happy to be striking a blow for mature-aged women.
At 61 and with a grown up family and a husband, David, who she says is both independent and supportive, she said she is in the prime of her life.
Laughing off comparisons with Margaret Thatcher, Ms Fyffe said she had no leadership aspiration but would be making a very strong contribution for Evelyn.
“I will fight for the things that matter,” she said.
Ms Fyffe nominated the Lilydale Super Clinic and dissatisfaction with proposals for tolls on the Eastlink between Springvale Road to and Ringwood as two issues which turned the tide her way.
She said issues she would be taking up are the Lilydale Bypass and changing the government’s mind on positioning of traffic lights on Maroondah Highway at Coldstream.
Roadworks in Mt Evelyn on York Road and at the intersection of Birmingham, Hereford roads and Wray Crescent and the Seville pool were other projects Ms Fyffe has on her ‘to do’ list.
Outgoing Labor MP Heather McTaggart told the Mail she was disappointed with the result – particularly with swings of up to 8.9 per cent to Family First in some booths.
“Realistically, I knew I had a big job ahead of me but it’s disappointing after four years of working hard for families in the region,” she said.
She said she believed her legacy to Evelyn people was delivering gas to 6000 people along the Warburton Highway, getting the Lilydale Super Clinic on its way and improvements to transport.
When contacted by the Mail on Monday, Tammy Lobato remained tight-lipped as the seat she has held since 2002 hung in the balance.
While a number of informal votes are still filtering in after Saturday’s election, it’s still too early to tell which way the pendulum will swing.
With a margin of just 1.6 per cent the battle for the seat of Gembrook was always going to be tough.
Liberal candidate Simon Wildes was also eagerly awaiting the results after an intense 15-month campaign.
“Whether we win or lose the seat we’re going to be keeping an eye on how Labor performs with all the promises it’s made.
“We still need urgent road upgrades as we have the worst road toll in Victoria.
“Whatever the outcome, I believe we ran a very strong campaign and worked very hard.”
Meanwhile, in Kilsyth former Shire of Yarra Ranges mayor and Liberal candidate David Hodgett also faced an anxious wait to see if he would take up a seat in Parliament.
On Monday he led incumbent Dympna Beard 50.2 per cent to 49.79 per cent on a two party preferred basis.