By Casey Neill
AS THE race to the polls hots up, The Mail talks to the Knox and Shire of Yarra Ranges candidates.
CITY OF KNOX
Baird Ward
Steve Bullock: I’ve lived in Baird Ward for 32 years. I care for this area and its people. I’m the only candidate living in Baird Ward, am Greens endorsed and standing for honesty and transparency in local government.
Local councils must give the lead in protecting the environment; the councillors must care for the people and be financially responsible. I seek energy efficiency, water tanks and solar hot water; financial responsibly; tackling climate change while improving community services; improved public transport; environmental sustainability guidelines for planning permits; and protected neighbourhood character, enforced bylaws, saved trees.
Peter Cole: I offer Baird Ward the opportunity of change. We were promised rate control but it did not happen. The council needs to cut costs. The Boronia Square refurbishment was a shambles. The half-a-million-dollar toilet block is a disgrace.
I have worked in the area of supporting underprivileged children as a member of a local service club and as Tormore Road Action Group president. I am in and around Baird Ward every day. Much can be done to reduce rate increases and improve the appearance of our city. I offer honesty, energy, enthusiasm and a fresh approach.
Jim Penna (incumbent): Experience and proven performance counts. I have achieved some great results over the past three years. They include: major improvements to Boronia’s CBD, a hydrotherapy pool to be built at Leisureworks, a master plan for Boronia Park soon to be started, preventing an adult entertainment centre and night club, establishing the Boronia Advisory Committee, and road and footpath reconstructions.
I will continue to minimise rate increases while still maintaining all our valued services to the community and simultaneously tackling the critical challenges of climate change and our ageing infrastructure. With your support, I have the experience, skills and energy to achieve more great results in the future.
Chandler Ward
John Mortimore: Living and working locally, I am the most committed, consistent campaigner for a better neighbourhood with the best record for achieving positive outcomes. I have established relationships with current council staff and have been involved in the consultation processes in council planning.
As Boronia and The Basin go through major changes reshaping our future, I will ensure they benefit all residents. My strengths are in innovation, consultation and advocacy.
I am The Basin Music Festival founder and president and have edited the Boronia and The Basin Community News for 14 years and served with The Basin Fire Brigade for 11 years.
Amanda Leeper: I believe Local Government has the power to deliver measures for the economy, environment and the community. I support sound financial management of ratepayers’ funds while maintaining meals on wheels, family, child and youth services, recreation and parks.
I will advocate the re-opening of a Maternal and Child Health Centre, support local CFA and neighbourhood house and protect tree canopy and open space.
My previous experience on council demonstrates I am accountable and capable having dealt with issues ethically, honestly and with integrity. I am not funded by a political party or organisation and am financing my own campaign.
Dobson Ward
Mick Kir: As a shopkeeper in Upper Gully, I’ve been listening to concerns of the locals – my neighbours. I’ve spent many years in retail, wholesale, driving part-time taxis on and off over 29 years and often around the outer east. I’m also the father of two beautiful girls.
I joined the Greens because the party’s concerned about living standards in the suburbs, public transport for everyone, bushland and parkland, sensible development, community services for everyone, proven policies on drug abuse, protecting our environment and looking at everything and everyone as being connected.
Sue McMillan: I have been a Ferntree Gully resident for 20 years, working and raising my three boys here in Knox. I have been involved in the school council at my kids’ schools and have been executive member of Knox Basketball; director of Fern Tree Gully and Rowville Community banks and director of the company that bought the post office licence and kept the post office in the Ferntree Gully Village.
I feel this grassroots involvement will help bring an insight to the council and enable me to deliver reasonable and responsible, commonsense decisions that work for the whole community. I will be a fresh voice for Dobson Ward.
Michelle Cook: The few issues I will focus on include establishing a food co-op, water, upgrading parks, domestic violence, raising awareness of the chronic foster parent shortage, getting more police and lobbying for less lenient sentencing.
I plan to increase services to the aged, sports and childcare facilities and drug and alcohol services. We must urgently support rehabilitation services that are screaming out for funding.
I will encourage clever green building development, focus on reducing carbon emissions and allow more homes to be built, thus increasing rate revenue and decreasing the rate hikes we have all been subject to over the past three years.
Gail Drummond: My top priorities are to staff the FTG station and to duplicate the FTG/Belgrave rail line, install pedestrian lights at Underwood Road and ensure quality community services such as home help, meals on wheels and preschools.
As your local representative, I will be accessible to your family; be a responsible advocate by keeping rates low and not leaving council mid-term for state or federal elections. I will increase pension rebates to $100, improve public transport services and road safety; protect our local history and environment; and assist you with all council matters.
Friberg Ward
Phil Thorne: Mr Thorne did not provide a statement at the time of writing.
Tony Holland: I have a passion for helping others and have been an active volunteer with the Bonnie Babes Foundation for the past 10 years. I have been involved with several other community and sporting groups including FTG Eagles, scouts, SIDS and Mountain Gate Traders and was on the Knox Crime and Safety Committee.
If elected, I will focus on keeping rates low, helping pensioners, re-open Windermere preschool and I would also introduce a rate deferment plan for the elderly and financially disadvantaged ratepayers.
Andrew Walter: Mr Walter did not provide a statement at the time of writing.
John Giles: As a totally independent and committed community candidate, I believe I represent the broader community. Some of my aims are to advocate more support for young families, seniors and people living with disabilities. I believe we can achieve better public transport, and that our community should be protected against inappropriate development and unrealistic rate rises. I also believe there is a need to for the council to be more financially prudent. We need to bring the voice of real people into the council.
Lisa Dengerink: I am 30, work in administration and live in Boronia. I am not a member of any political party. As a young mother I am aware of the lack of quality facilities Knox Council provides. Among those that I believe require more funding are sporting, drug and alcohol rehabilitation and elderly activities and care.
I will fight for the proposed new sporting complex in Knox. I am totally opposed to the garbage tax the ratepayers’ group tried to introduce.
Ian Cameron: I have lived in Knox for more than 40 years and raised my family here. My community involvement has included Scoresby Sea Scouts and Knox Residents Against Crime. As a former long-serving police officer, I believe Knox needs strong, straight, honest leadership and better control over excessive rate increases.
I make two definite promises: to be available for residents/ratepayers to discuss their concerns and issues and to do my utmost to act as a true advocate in council for the people of Friberg Ward in particular and the City of Knox in general.
SHIRE OF YARRA RANGES
Lyster Ward
Samantha Dunn (incumbent): I listen and I deliver. Saving childcare, stopping high-density development in Belgrave and Tecoma, introducing green waste bins and the Monbulk Pool redevelopment are some of my past achievements.
Working for better public transport and parking, campaigning for more police, increasing funding to tackle weeds, creating pathways for walking and cycling, supporting small business and innovation, fighting for 50km/h zones for our towns, ensuring adequate funding for roads are some of my key priorities in my next term.
Alan Coutinho-Hogan: As a full time parent to my five-year-old son I will prioritise funding to ward residential infrastructure and local community groups, thereby allowing the council to improve community facilities without increasing rates.
My first responsibility will be to residents. I will acknowledge our history in development issues, improve local social infrastructure and improve green waste collection. I will not spend our rates on tourists unless there is a direct benefit to local people. I will form a ward advisory panel. Although a member of the ALP, I am not an endorsed party candidate. I am funding my own election.
Chris O’Neill: I’m married with one child, and live in Belgrave with a background in community and government. We need representation that reflects the views of all residents and I am up to it as a long-term resident of the hills who is active in the community. The Tecoma Coles development is inappropriate, and I oppose it.
We must receive better value for the high rates we pay – our sporting grounds must be cared for and roads and drainage improved. I will be bring a renewed focus on people, and be a strong, representative voice on the council.
Frank Dean: The Mail was unable to contact Mr Dean.
Manfred Krautschneider: By better management of the budget, without sacrificing services, we can go for lower rates. We all pay rates either directly or through rents. We deserve to have our rates spent wisely and for the benefit of all. We cannot afford waste or duplication.
We deserve a vote on large budget items, after all, it’s our money. Expenditure should be justified by clear effectiveness and community benefit measures. I will address issues of integrity, equality and fairness of expenditure, and ensure the tender process is truly competitive. My background is in market research and project management, and I run a small business (Tilt Gallery) in Belgrave.
Streeton Ward
Sandra Betts: I am a physiotherapist, OH&S and environmental consultant, wife and mother, and I am endorsed by the Greens. I want to achieve improved public transport, surfacing and maintenance of walking paths beside roads and bike tracks, improved parking facilities at railway stations, solar panels and water tanks throughout the shire.
I would also like to see stormwater harvesting for open spaces, energy-efficient affordable public housing, disability transport access, weed removal programs,
Increased recycling, deposit points for hazardous wastes, safer local roads, affordable surfacing of unmade roadways, energy-efficient street and public space lighting are also my concerns.
Noel Cliff (incumbent): I have lived and worked in the Dandenong Ranges for 30 years and was elected in 2003. Together we have tackled many issues ranging from securing the Children’s Hub, lobbying for state and federal funds to simply pulling out weeds.
Coming from a background in volunteering, I never stop admiring and enjoying working alongside the many community organisations run by hundreds of unsung volunteers throughout the ward.
My commitment to the community is unchanged. People matter and councillors are elected to listen, consult and deliver outcomes that are sustainable, and help make a measurable improvement to our community and environment.
Rodney Lee: As a long-time local and a family businessman in the Dandenongs, I’ve got the knowledge and experience needed to keep our council on the right path in these difficult times.
I offer a sensible and solid plan to provide the important family support needed by all ages from maternal and child health through to senior citizens, to improve youth services and to connect our communities.
For too long our ward has missed out on the necessary funding for major projects. Our council should put the community first while protecting the environment and keeping rates affordable.
