Meet our Council's new Mayor Alex Makin
New Port Phillip Council Mayor Alex Makin (left) with Deputy Mayor Bryan Mears.
Councillor Bryan Mears (Lakeside Ward) will continue as Deputy Mayor following last night’s Special Council Meeting to elect both office bearers for 2025-26.
Mayor Makin, who has lived in Port Melbourne since 2013, was elected for a four-year term as a Port Phillip councillor in November last year.
He served on Maroondah Council (2005 to 2012), including as one of Victoria’s youngest politically independent Mayors in 2010.
Cr Makin said he would draw on his previous experience as Mayor when serving the Port Phillip community in the year ahead.
“This is a time for Councillors to be bold. We have such great opportunities for our City. We need to build on what we have already established together so tomorrow can be even better than today.”
This included tackling challenges from climate change to continuing to advocate for Fishermans Bend to be set up for success through measures including the delivery of timely public transport.
Cr Makin plans to meet with a range of peak organisations to help inform the roadmap under development for Port Phillip “to be the best municipality it can be”.
“We’re going to have an exciting year, a year of challenges, but together we can achieve wonderful things.”
Cr Mears said he would continue to focus on his ward as well as the needs of the wider Port Phillip community.
He welcomed the continuing opportunity to support his fellow Councillors as Deputy Mayor as well as learning from them.
He praised the dedication and resilience of outgoing Mayor Louise Crawford, whose efforts were also commended by Cr Makin.
Cr Crawford said she felt chuffed to have been the Mayor of such a passionate and engaged community.
Her memories of the past term included being honoured to have stood with the Jewish community after the terrorist attack on the Adass Israel Synagogue and attending the official openings of the new Port Phillip EcoCentre and Madden House project for people sleeping rough.
To view the Mayoral election, go to: City of Port Phillip 12 November 2025 Special Council Meeting