The latest estate agent to enter the race to succeed Joe Sponga in Ward 5, Peter Geibel, is pro Clock Tower and says redeveloping the area will mean disruption “but we can’t avoid the inevitable”.

Geibel’s office on Main Street South is a stone’s throw from the proposed development but he was not there when I dropped by on Saturday to say hello and introduce myself.

Geibel signed Jill Kellie’s pro Clock Tower petition four months ago. He commented:

“I believe it is time to share the jewel of Newmarket with more people and I think any development will come with some disruption but we can’t avoid the inevitable.”

Kellie’s pro Clock Tower petition attracted 222 signatures. Margaret Davis’ rival petition backing the Town’s Heritage Conservation District policy secured the support of 1,212 people.

Fellow estate agent, Wasim Jarrah, who is also running for Ward 5, backs the proposed Clock Tower development while realtor Ian Johnston - the self-styled “community driven leader” - feels it is “too large” and “will add more chaos for a highly intensification area”.

The by-election is on 17 October 2016. Nominations close on 2 September 2016.

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