Principles and Policies: Working for us all

I will work constructively with fellow councillors to make decisions responsibly and equitably for the good of all our community. We must shift the focus on Council from freezing rates and cutting spending to the delivery of efficient, high quality services for our community. Specifically, I will strive to achieve change across a number of areas to secure better community outcomes.

Rebuild our community services

Local care for vulnerable people in our community means so much, as we actively look out for each other. 

Yet Council recently ceased providing most of its in-home aged care services, such as personal care, shopping and companion care to hundreds of elderly and disabled residents. It allowed the service to run down over time despite knowing that it needed to invest with Federal Government changes to aged care announced some years ago and now happening in 2027.

Only a strong community campaign managed to save three community children’s centres from being sold by Port Phillip Council. And now the Council is imposing exorbitant fee hikes on children’s services in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis.

And then there are ongoing delays in implementing much needed renewal of our libraries, including Albert Park and Middle Park.

This trajectory of cuts, delays and neglect must change.

I will:

  • Support Council and community-managed children’s centres: no to privatisation and no to excessive fee increases
  • Review the decision to exit from in-home aged care services, striving to keep care accountable and in public hands
  • Invest in better libraries now: stop deferring investment in the Library Action Plan and increase book purchases
  • Restore continuity of care in the Maternal and Child Health Service so families can form a strong relationship with one nurse
  • Strengthen how Council listens to and partners with local First Nations people: establish the long promised First Nations Gathering Place
  • Restore annual funding to the Friends of Suai/Covalima: a partnership strengthening community and local government in East Timor.

Act on the climate crisis and protect our local environment

Albert Park Ward is a unique and beautiful part of Melbourne, bounded by the Bay and the Lake and blessed with wide streets, many shady trees and its own urban forest along Canterbury Road. It is critical that this precious environment is protected and sustained into the future. 

However, it is an area highly vulnerable to sea level rise over time. Recent state government data show it is one of the most at risk areas in the state. Albert Park Ward residents expressed strong concerns about climate change and wanted Council to take action to address climate issues (CoPP Sustainability Survey, June 2023). We need stronger action from Council to protect our homes, our businesses and our local environment.

I will work to:

  • Develop a clear and funded plan to ‘electrify’ Port Phillip: facilitate community and business adoption of solar, getting off gas and going electric
  • Plant many more trees and shrubs for shade and biodiversity benefits
  • Increase permeability and reduce the risk of local flooding
  • Accelerate stormwater harvesting projects (such as for watering the foreshore and Catani Gardens) and measures to combat impacts of flooding and sea level rise
  • Strengthen investment in community climate education through the Port Phillip EcoCentre
  • Promote safety for pedestrians and cyclists: reduce speed limits on our local streets
  • Continue to invest in safe, well-maintained footpaths and improved bike lanes
  • Accelerate the introduction of diverse forms of EV charging infrastructure to suit local needs across Port Phillip.

Genuine planning and collaboration with the community

Council must do better in planning our streetscapes and services, managing traffic and building a municipality fit for the future. It must partner with the community to achieve the best outcomes. Too many decisions seem pre-determined despite Have Your Say surveys and pop-up consultations.

Instead, I will:

  • Invite residents and businesses to regular bi-monthly ward meetings and more informal opportunities for officers and council to meet with locals
  • Investigate and implement better ways of engaging the community in Council decision-making through greater use of deliberative processes such as citizens assemblies to enhance evidence-based decision-making
  • Partner with residents and businesses to resolve local problems with local solutions

Competent, responsible governance

Last year’s ‘Bingate’, where council let a new rubbish contract without providing collection maps to the new contractor and elevated the lowest price over capability to deliver services to residents, resulted in 7000 bins not being collected. 

The new contractor is now saying that maintaining services at the current price is not sustainable.

It’s emblematic of a council lacking competence and good governance.

I will work to:

  • Judiciously reduce the use of external consultants and strengthen the capacity of officers to undertake community engagement, research and policy work
  • Insist on stronger financial transparency, keep costs under control and ensure value for your rates
  • Review the cost of deferring major projects of intergenerational benefit versus the cost of borrowing to deliver infrastructure benefits now
  • Review the balance between cost and quality in tender decisions

 

Counter misinformation about ‘high’ rates in Port Phillip by informing people of the truth about our rates compared with other councils, as seen in these graphs:

Supporting our neighbourhood economies

Our traders in Middle Park and Albert Park have developed a wonderful village ethos. Strong small businesses rather than corporate chains are the engine room of the local economy. Council support is pivotal to this local economy thriving rather than dying.

I will work to:

  • Support local trader groups and businesses to keep shopping strips vibrant and responsive to local needs
  • Strive for a careful balance between commercial activities and resident amenity, especially in relation to late night entertainment venues and events on our foreshore.

Responding to the housing crisis

We are in the midst a housing and rental crisis, nationally and locally. Thirty-nine per cent of households in Albert Park Ward rent their homes (almost 50% across Port Phillip).

More than thirty percent of renters in Port Phillip are experiencing housing stress (ie. paying more than 30 percent of their income in rent). Young people are locked out of purchasing a new home. And our Council is sitting on its hands.

I will work to:

  • Establish a modest crisis fund for local renters experiencing severe financial risk. This will be good for renters and for landlords
  • Enhance council support for local agencies assisting local residents struggling during this crisis
  • Invest in the Port Phillip Housing Trust and in the work of our local housing providers to grow and upgrade social housing for local residents
  • Work with not for profit and private developers to increase social and affordable housing units in new developments

Supporting local theatre, music and visual arts

The current Council has cut funding for arts organisations in Port Phillip, despite the valuable and creative roles they play in our community and local economy. 

I will work to:

  • Continue support for local arts organisations, including Gasworks Arts Park, Linden Gallery, TheatreWorks, RedStitch, Rawcus and others
  • Restore funding to previous levels for Council’s Cultural Development Projects Fund to support local creatives