Deputy Mayor John Beswick and councillors Jeff Jennings, Jill Probert and Leonie Stein will not  contest October’s municipal elections.

Cr Beswick said that after five years on the Dorset Council and a 19-year state government career, he believed it was time for him to retire from political public life.

‘‘I’ll be 77 next birthday and think it’s time I hung my boots up, so to speak,’’ he said.

Cr Jennings said that his had not been an easy decision.

‘‘I’m still interested in a couple of things and have discussed that with the Mayor, and he assured me that the council’s public consultation will still allow me to takeapart in issues like the proposed uniform planning scheme and a new rating system,’’ Cr Jennings said.

‘‘One of my main reasons for joining council was my dissatisfaction in terms of its lack of communication with ratepayers — I’m happy to say that attitude has changed completely.’’ 

Cr Stein said that she had taken on a seven-day-a-week business business at Bridport with sister Helen Ryan and would not stand. 

‘‘I’ll be dedicating my time to Cafe Delish — I always said that if I couldn’t do council properly, ,I wouldn’t do it at all,’’ she said.

Cr Probert, too, said that work prevented her from committing the time needed to her duties as a  councillor.

‘‘When people elect you, they have a right to expect you’ll give it everything you can,’’ she said.

Mayor Barry Jarvis said that he would stand as a councillor and as a mayoral  candidate and that he was proud of the council’s achievement in receiving $2.5 million for the North-East mountain bike trail development and its position on the Rotary Club rail trail.

Cr Steve Arnold, who will contest a council seat, has also nominated for deputy mayor.

Cr Arnold said that there was not one single issue he considered a highlight and he would continue to ‘‘just keep working hard to get things done that ratepayers come to me about and be available 24/7’’.

Cr Russell Brown will also recontest his seat and said that he believed tourism was going to be a major issue, with the mountain bike tracks at Derby. 

‘‘I think that’s going to bring a lot of people into the North-East,’’ he said. 

‘‘But young people are our future and I’d like to see more young people getting involved in local government."

Cr Sheryl Martin said that she would recontest her seat.

‘‘I think the council has taken a more proactive direction since the appointment of a new general manager and I think we work more asateam, which is good,’’ she said. 

Cr Peter Partridge said that he would seek re-election n as a councillor. 

‘‘I think we’re getting around to realising just what natural resources we have here—the irrigation schemes, good soil, water and the variety of geographical n as a councillor. 

‘‘I think we’re getting around to realising just what natural resources we have here—the irrigation schemes, good soil, water and the variety of Association of Tasmania when the retiring Barry Easther vacates the position in October.

It is understood that about five Tasmanian councils have had councillor numbers reduced, but the Local  Government Board decided that Dorset should retain its nine councillors.

Nominations close at noon on Monday September 29.