By Kate Lockyer
Far from being worn out after 12 years as Central Ward Councillor, Vicki Howard is always keen for her work week to begin.
Cr Howard’s enthusiasm is buoyed by what she says is a longstanding interest in the community.
She first became involved in politics in 2000, when she joined the Liberal Party (now the Liberal National Party; LNP), impressed by their values.
By 2008, she decided she wanted to serve the community in a more official manner, and ran an unsuccessful campaign for Central Ward, but returned and was elected in 2012.
“I’ve always been involved in community, whether it be the local school or swim club, and there was an opportunity to put my hand up for Central Ward,” Cr Howard said.
“I felt I really had something to offer and that I wanted to serve the community, and I still do.”
Village Voice caught up with Cr Howard at her regular mobile office at King Street.
Standing outside of an apartment building in the Bowen Hills shopping and dining precinct, Cr Howard said transformations like these are some of the changes she has been proud to see over her time as councillor.
She says the precinct’s development has created a unique space so close to the CBD “where people can live and work and relax”.
Cr Howard is a big proponent of measures that make our city both more environmentally friendly and improve our “second-to-none” lifestyle.
She said the planting of trees and sidewalk gardens along Brunswick Street in Fortitude Valley has created much more appealing streets, compared to their previous “barren” appearance.
The council’s future Brisbane Metro bus service and Green Bridges Program are “an opportunity for people to travel around the ward more easily”, she said.
“Certainly keeping Brisbane moving in terms of transport and traffic is such an important part of what we do.
“It’s about making sure that we’re encouraging people to use public transport, and we’ve also got our riverwalk, and there’s so much opportunity to leave the car at home and maybe not even have a car.”
In the upcoming election, Cr Howard said while LNP want to see a growth in business in Brisbane, the Labor and Greens parties are “a real threat” to the stability of the city.
“I would urge people to look at the policies of each party and make every vote count,” she said.
