LOCAL ELECTION
Meet the candidates As Boroondara residents consider their votes, we asked the candidates to tell us their priorities mailed or delivered in person any weekday between 9am and 5pm, until 8pm on Thursday, October 25 and until 6pm on the final day. Mr Cobb, a senior electoral officer with the Victorian Electoral Commission, is based at the Boroondara election office at 25 Inglesby Road in Camberwell (phone 9804 0028), near the council offices. He will be there each week day until voting closes, fielding questions from voters and candidates. ‘‘We’re getting a couple of hundred phone calls a day, which is par for the course and will increase,’’ he said. He expects results to be known by the night of Sunday, October 28, unless there’s a recount. As residents consider their votes, we asked all 38 candidates what they thought was the most pressing issue facing the municipality and what they would do about it if elected.
MALING WARD
PHILLIP HEALEY, 51 LIVES IN: Kew POLITICAL AFFILIATION: Not endorsed WHAT IS THE MOST PRESSING MATTER FACING BOROONDARA? I believe the most pressing issue is planning to preserve our streetscapes, provide the services that our community will need into the future and to keep living in Boroondara affordable for all. HOW DO YOU PROPOSE COUNCIL BETTER ADDRESS THIS ISSUE? The urban character study needs to be completed so we can control housing density and heights in our streets, along with planning for more neighbourhood meeting places and activities.
A
ll Victorian councils bar two are holding elections this month, with postal voting the preferred option for most, including Boroondara. Ballot packs were mailed out last week (October 9-11) to all Boroondara residents – not just ratepayers – who were registered on the state electoral roll as at August 31. These should be completed and returned to returning officer Graeme Cobb by 6pm on Friday, October 26. They can be
JANE ADDIS, 58
JACOB RODRIGO, 18
PETER CAMPBELL, 52
LIVES IN: Canterbury POLITICAL AFFILIATION: Independent WHAT IS THE MOST PRESSING MATTER FACING BOROONDARA? Boroondara is experiencing pressure from increasing population. Our challenge is to accommodate changing needs and to allow only moderate population growth. HOW DO YOU PROPOSE COUNCIL BETTER ADDRESS THIS ISSUE? Council has started protecting our area from inappropriate development by preparing neighbourhood character statements. I would like to continue my active involvement in this process.
LIVES IN: Glen Iris POLITICAL AFFILIATION: Independent WHAT IS THE MOST PRESSING MATTER FACING BOROONDARA? The most dire issue is inappropriate development. Boroondara, particularly Maling ward, has a wealth of historic heritage buildings that vitally need protection, especially in areas such as Maling Road. HOW DO YOU PROPOSE COUNCIL BETTER ADDRESS THIS ISSUE? The next council can protect the vital heritage and character of our city easily, if it so chooses. As a local councillor, I will explore zoning regulations to preserve the character of our city.
LIVES IN: Surrey Hills POLITICAL AFFILIATION: Not a member of a political party WHAT IS THE MOST PRESSING MATTER FACING BOROONDARA? Many are greatly concerned inappropriate development is destroying many residential streets and shopping centres. We have lost fine heritage buildings. HOW DO YOU PROPOSE COUNCIL BETTER ADDRESS THIS ISSUE? I will consult widely to ensure resident views on local development proposals and protection of our heritage are represented to council and taken into account during planning decisions.
JACINTA PAMAMULL
STEPHEN SPRING, 57
MICHAEL NOLAN, 50
SCOTT SAMSON, 35
LIVES IN: Camberwell POLITICAL AFFILIATION: Independent WHAT IS THE MOST PRESSING MATTER FACING BOROONDARA? As a fresh face on the local government scene, I feel the need to represent the pressing needs in our community to take more steps towards sustainability. HOW DO YOU PROPOSE COUNCIL BETTER ADDRESS THIS ISSUE? With ears and mind open and thinking that does not fall along political party lines, I will explore what has worked in other communities and present resolutions that reflect community desires, including the human side of sustainability.
LIVES IN: Balwyn POLITICAL AFFILIATION: Independent WHAT IS THE MOST PRESSING MATTER FACING BOROONDARA? Council’s current spending has meant rates are out of control and rising faster than inflation. This is not sustainable or fair for residents. HOW DO YOU PROPOSE COUNCIL BETTER ADDRESS THIS ISSUE? Tighter budgetary guidelines are required to manage council budget and ensure city management restricts spending, while also maintaining key services. To restrict superfluous spending, there should be a formal review of overheads.
LIVES IN: Kew East POLITICAL AFFILIATION: None WHAT IS THE MOST PRESSING MATTER FACING BOROONDARA? We need to maintain neighbourhood character and reduce energy costs while preserving our heritage buildings and protecting open spaces. HOW DO YOU PROPOSE COUNCIL BETTER ADDRESS THIS ISSUE? Precincts such as Maling Road should be protected by building height controls, improving parking for shopping and rail users, with better access for cyclists and nondrivers. I’d seek greater protection of parks and open spaces, and retention of our famous treed streets.
LIVES IN: Surrey Hills POLITICAL AFFILIATION: Independent WHAT IS THE MOST PRESSING MATTER FACING BOROONDARA? Voters are concerned that as we continue to experience a sustained economic downturn, council has taken the view, as one concerned resident stated to me, that “residents will just pay”. HOW DO YOU PROPOSE COUNCIL BETTER ADDRESS THIS ISSUE? If elected, I will advocate a threeyear rate freeze, commencing 2013-14, to provide a muchneeded reprieve for residents and business owners from continuous rate hikes.
STUDLEY WARD
12 BOROONDARA REVIEW LOCAL
>>
OCTOBER 17, 2012