ON THE ISSUES:
Town Planning
It’s no secret that Barngeong and Maroondah is a desired place to live and grow. Given some of the financial pressures residents and Council are under, encouraging more and more people to the area would be beneficial for Council’s budget and the entire community.
But an increase in population means an increase in density. We are already seeing high density building in activity centres like Ringwood, and Council needs to ensure it is balanced in encouraging new development, and maintaining the existing character of the Barngeong community.
I am a big supporter of wide-open spaces covered by a rich treescape. I will be a champion for the character of the Barngeong community, opposing inappropriate development, providing a greater level of scrutiny over sub-division requests and ensuring Council decisions are not easily overturned at VCAT.
Local Roads
Local roads serve as vital conduits that connect communities, facilitating the smooth movement of people and goods, bolstering economic growth, and ensuring access to essential services. Recognising the pivotal role that local roads play in the daily lives of residents, I am committed to championing initiatives that prioritise the maintenance, improvement, and expansion of our local road infrastructure. By advocating for sustainable funding and innovative solutions, I aim to address critical issues such as potholes, traffic congestion, and pedestrian safety, thereby enhancing the overall quality of life for our citizens.
I will work hard to promote comprehensive planning that integrates the principles of sustainability and resilience, taking into account the evolving needs of our growing communities. By fostering collaboration between local authorities, transportation experts, and community stakeholders, I intend to develop a strategic roadmap that not only addresses immediate challenges but also lays the foundation for a robust, future-proof local infrastructure. Through transparent communication and active engagement with the public, I will be a proactive voice for the Barngeong community, ensuring that the concerns and aspirations of residents regarding local road infrastructure remain at the forefront of policy discussions and decision-making processes.
Rates
Council rates are a significant household bill for many homeowners. The recent economic conditions have had a major impact on family budgets, and many residents have been reporting hardship in paying.
Rates are set according to both property value and council budget needs. Rates are not tied to income like the rest of the tax system we are used to. This means that as the value of your property increases, or the bigger the budget is for council, then the higher your rates will climb, even though your wage might not be increasing. One couple, now retired, who purchased their house in 1970 for $30,000, now faces rates so high that their standard of living has been impacted greatly.
Council needs to be smarter in planning and managing our money. In the Council financial plan to 2030/31, Council is assuming an additional $30 million in revenue from rates over the next 10 years, at an average increase of just under 4% per year, greater than the average wage rise. This means that the pressure will only increase, potentially causing a drop in our quality of living.
I will fight to ensure Council is fiscally responsible, to minimise rate increases and deliver value for money. In the 16 years I have been a resident of Maroondah, I cannot remember my rates staying the same once, even though several councillors campaign on “no rate increases”. We need councillors who look not only at rates individually, but expenses, programs to assist the vulnerable and opportunities for additional revenue and to optimise as a whole. Big picture thinking is what we need, and I commit to providing my experience for benefit of the entire community.
Sustainability
Ensuring the integration of sustainable policies across all sectors of Council is crucial in addressing the complex challenges of climate change, resource depletion, and environmental degradation. By implementing and continuing to improve on sustainable practices, we can mitigate the adverse impacts on our ecosystems, safeguard public health, and foster long-term economic stability.
Recognising the interconnected nature of sustainability, I am dedicated to spearheading a holistic approach that embeds environmental consciousness and social responsibility into every facet of governance. Through collaborative partnerships with local residents, community groups, businesses, and environmental experts, I will advocate for comprehensive sustainability strategies that not only mitigate environmental risks but also foster innovation and equitable growth. My vision is to build upon a framework that prioritises the long-term well-being of both current and future generations, ensuring a harmonious balance between the needs of society and the preservation of our planet for years to come.
Waste Management
We all want to see rubbish off our streets and out of parks. Waste management must be implemented in a clean, responsible and sustainable way.
Several residents have voiced to me their concern over Council’s hard rubbish program. It takes weeks, sometimes more than a month for the rubbish service provider to collect hard waste from the streets. Even today along Exeter Road, one resident has been waiting more than four weeks for their load to be collected. This has resulted in rubbish making its way onto the footpath, causing risk to the safely of traffic and pedestrians.
In addition to hard rubbish, The Victorian Government has mandated a new glass recycling system, requiring councils to implement a new ‘purple bin’ by 2027. Several Victorian councils have already implemented this, and today our Council has been quiet on the topic. The longer this glass recycle program is left to future years, the more ‘rushed’ we will be to comply with the mandate.
I commit to ensuring Council is thorough in the planning, communication and implementation of this glass recycling change for our community. I will also work with Council to improve the efficiency and transparency in collecting hard rubbish, and to have an open channel with the community to identify where rubbish is not being collected promptly.
Data and Privacy
Our world is more connected than it’s ever been. The use of technology to keep us together has never been more important. As a result of this use of technology, key services are now being delivered online, with organisations sharing and processing data from all different sources.
In a recent meeting of Council, I discovered that there are over 150 existing database systems that make up the information Council maintains on behalf of the community. From my experience working in technology, such sprawl can severely increase the risk of data mismanagement, with data leaking, being exposed to people or contractors not authorised to see that data or being inadvertently shared with the wrong organisation, compromising the privacy of customers.
I pledge to leverage my experience in systems and data management at scale to ensure Council has the right polices and system controls in place to safeguard our community’s data.