NOT sure who to vote for in Mullum Ward? We put the tough questions to all candidates to help you make up your mind - read on for their answers. All candidates have been sent the same questionnaire. We will post their answers as we receive them - check back here regularly for updates.
Candidates have been given until October 6 to submit their responses. The Weekly has chosen not to edit the responses in any way, except for legal reasons, meaning what you see is exactly what you get.
Candidates were advised to write N/A for questions they wished not to answer. The Weekly has indicated where no contact details were provided or where candidates declined to take part.
MULLUM WARD
This ward takes in Ringwood and Ringwood North. Mullum Ward councillors will have a lot on their plates: ensuring the Ringwood Aquatic Centre and QIC/Eastland redevelopments stay on track, the refurbishment of Ringwood railway station, and the general push to turn the suburb into a thriving hub with more high-density living. Incumbents Nora Lamont and Ann Fraser are standing again but Alex Makin has decided to stand down.
At the 2008 election:
Registered voters: 26,134
Voter turnout: 19,785 (75.71 per cent of total enrolment)
Formal votes: 18,945
Informal votes: 840 (4.25% of the total votes)
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Candidates (in ballot order)
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Name: Nora Lamont
Suburb of residence: Heathmont (in the Mullum Ward)
Occupation: Small business owner of Migration Law Practice (in the Mullum Ward)
How long have you lived in Maroondah? I have lived in Maroondah since 2005 when I returned from overseas where I had been living for several years. I grew up in Park Orchards and Warrandyte and went to High School at Aquinas College in Ringwood.
Have you run for council/ been a councillor before, or any other level of government? It has been my pleasure to have been elected as a Mullum Ward councillor for the Maroondah City Council in 2008. Prior to my election in 2008 I was never a candidate in any election.
Are you/have you been a member of a political party? If yes, which party? If no, with which political party do you most identify? I am a current member of the Liberal Party. It is important to note that the Liberal Party does not pre-select or endorse candidates for council elections. Therefore I am not an “endorsed” Liberal candidate.
Are you or have you ever been a member of an political interest or lobby group? No, but I am a member of several business groups such as the MIA, Migration Alliance, Chamber and Maroondah Business Association.
If you are elected, will you commit to remaining a councillor for the whole term? Yes of course.
What is your campaign budget? Who is funding your campaign? I am funding my own campaign and use volunteers to assist me.
Who will you direct your preferences to? I will direct preferences to candidates who want to work for the community and who genuinely want to make a difference in Maroondah.
Describe your involvement in the local community.
* Maroondah Business Association
* Ringwood Chamber of Commerce
* Chair Maroondah Disability Advisory Committee
* Member Maroondah Safety Committee
* Member of the Maroondah Wellbeing Committee (2008-2010)
* Women’s Charter Champion
* Member of the Women in Local Government Association
* Supporter of Ainslie Park Cricket Club, North Ringwood Cricket Club, Norwood Footy, and all clubs in the MullumWard
What do you think being a councillor involves? Being a councillor requires you to be an advocate for the community and not just show up but actively participate. There are many community groups who need resources, space, rebuilding, renovations and assistance with council and it is a councillor's role to advocate at council for these resources to be allocated. You must also be responsive to the needs of individual residents who encounter issues on a daily basis that affect their quality of life in Maroondah, issues such as barking dogs, overhanging branches, parking fines and rubbish collection.
What do you think are the most important issues for your ward? Since the Mullum ward is the heart of the Maroondah community the most important issue is to get the renovations at Eastland and the surrounds rebuilt as central Ringwood is an eyesore. As these properties are owned by QIC and not council it puts council in a difficult position as people complain including me! People assume it is council that needs to begin the renovations but it is not. I have lobbied for the upgrade to begin in a much timelier manner. In addition we have a lot of sporting and community clubs in need of more space and renovations and this will take quite a bit of funding. We also face the challenge as central Ringwood grows with planning and development that is appropriate for the community.
What do you think are the most important issues facing Maroondah? I believe that as the Maroondah population grows and redevelopment occurs we must continue to maintain the character of the municipality and maintain our parks and open spaces. In addition as the municipality grows we must ensure maintenance of roads and traffic. As we grow our needs grow and this will require council to be strategic about council assets and buildings.
Where do you stand on building the new $46.5 million Ringwood Aquatic Centre? I voted against the $46.5 million aquatic centre rebuild. I offered a fourth option which would require a renovation at a much lower cost. In the feedback and survey that came back from residents their preferred option was the renovation option. My motion was not adopted and the vote on the pool was 6-3 with my vote a No vote.
Ringwood’s town centre is set for a major upgrade. What features do you think should be included and what will improve the suburb? The Ringwood Town Centre should reflect the community at large and have a large outdoor area with trees and open space. It should be inviting when you get off the train and bus and blend into the new Ringwood station which will be built in 2014. The new Ringwood library must be a modern centrepiece of the town centre and be a welcoming community hub. Around Maroondah Highway, cafes and eateries with a real town feeling will complete the centre.
Developers are looking to Maroondah to build higher-density housing, particularly Ringwood and Croydon. Where do you stand on this? Where should development be allowed and what areas should be protected? Planning at the state level is going through major changes right now, and some of these planning changes would allow for building and commercial development in residential areas. I do not agree with this approach. I think that the controls we have in Maroondah at the present time are fair and equitable with a balance between building heights and vegetation/tree removal. I think high density serves its purpose but must be restricted to the inner parts of our central areas.
Do you think Maroondah Council operates in an appropriately transparent and accountable manner? If yes, why and if no, what should be improved? Yes I think the council operates in an appropriate manner. Meetings are open to the public and advertised. Items that are discussed in the assemblies are all recorded with minutes and come through council chambers on the agenda. Most everything that is discussed at Assembly is updates from council staff on all the programs and issues the council faces on a daily basis. All voting must take place in the council chamber so there cannot be a binding decision elsewhere. People are elected to represent the residents and like other government bodies must be able to make decisions after being fully informed and in a timely manner.
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Name: Joshua Reimer
Suburb of residence: Croydon
Occupation: Law clerk at a small Ringwood law firm, primarily assisting victims of crime
Ward nominated for: Mullum
How long have you lived in Maroondah? I have lived in Maroondah for just under a year, but have owned a local small retail business in Maroondah for many years before that so am very familiar with the area.
Have you run for council/ been a councillor before, or any other level of government? If so, please list details (where, when, length of time, etc). While I have put my hand up for state elections in the past, this is my first time running for local council.
Are you/have you been a member of a political party? If yes, which party? If no, with which political party do you most identify? I am strongly independent, and am not a member of any political party; in the past I have been involved with Family First but no longer have any involvement with them. Certainly I don’t believe that party politics should have anything to do with local Council; it is supposed to be about members of the community serving their local community.
Are you or have you ever been a member of an political interest or lobby group? No.
If you are elected, will you commit to remaining a councillor for the whole term? Of course; being elected as a councillor is a great privilege, and I would intend to serve the whole term.
What is your campaign budget? Who is funding your campaign? I am personally funding my entire campaign.
Who will you direct your preferences to? Candidates who I believe would best represent the interests of the community, were I not to be elected.
Describe your involvement in the local community. I am involved on a daily basis working with victims of crime in the Maroondah area, assisting them gain state government help including counselling and medical services. This brings me into close contact with a host of support services and programs throughout the Maroondah region, and gives me an understanding of the needs of the most vulnerable in our community. Previously I have served as a member of the Croydon Traders Association helping to organise community events and programs.
What do you think being a councillor involves? Being a councillor involves being there for the community. It is much more than just attending council meetings; it involves investigating issues, solving problems, and providing strong leadership.
What do you think are the most important issues for your ward? Every resident I talk to wants to see Ringwood moving again. For too long, Ringwood has been neglected and permitted to become rundown. It seems that all you see in town are more vacant shopfronts and gutted buildings. We have been promised a redevelopment of the town centre, but that seems to be promised before every election and, in any case, even if what has been promised this time occurs vast swathes of vacant shops will still be haunting Ringwood for possibly another decade. It is vital that a tough line is taken with the developers who own the land, ensuring they are not permitted to simply sit on empty shopfronts without putting the area to good use.
A redevelopment of the Ringwood station is also continually promised, but has yet to be delivered by the State government and needs to be urgently negotiated for by council. These are vital safety, accessibility, and liveability issues which residents want to see addressed as a matter of priority.
What do you think are the most important issues facing Maroondah? In addition to the above, residents want an efficient council, free of red tape and bureaucracy. Applications for projects need to be carefully scrutinised, but not unnecessarily delayed. Council should just quietly get on with its job and ensure core services are provided. Residents want to see Council build footpaths, improve sporting facilities, and provide support for community groups.
Where do you stand on building the new $46.5 million Ringwood Aquatic Centre? The previous council has now torn down the old swimming pool, and therefore a new pool is urgently needed. This significant project, budgeted to cost well in excess of $50 million dollars, should not be built, however, without a significant injection of state and federal funding. Frankston built a similar pool recently, and obtained significant federal funding; Maroondah failed to obtain any federal funding. Tough negotiating must be done with all levels of government to ensure that this vital piece of infrastructure is built, while ensuring Maroondah ratepayers are not slugged with millions of dollars worth of interest repayments over the coming decades.
Ringwood’s town centre is set for a major upgrade. What features do you think should be included and what will improve the suburb? I envision a vibrant community centre which becomes a place for the community to gather. Cafes, shops, and open space for public events would all need to be factored into the mix so that we have a centre which provides a family friendly and welcoming atmosphere we can all be proud of. Ringwood is the centre of the eastern suburbs; we need a town centre which we can be proud of.
Developers are looking to Maroondah to build higher-density housing, particularly Ringwood and Croydon. Where do you stand on this? Where should development be allowed and what areas should be protected? Developers have way too much control and clout in Maroondah council. This is evidenced by council’s seeming impotence to prevent developers sitting on empty shopfronts throughout Ringwood, simply because it is more cost effective for developers. Likewise, council needs to closely adhere to planning guidelines when it comes to higher-density housing, and not be pushed around simply because developers see a chance to make a quick dollar.
Do you think Maroondah Council operates in an appropriately transparent and accountable manner? If yes, why and if no, what should be improved? In general, yes. That said, while I see the need for private briefings in some form for councillors by council staff, I believe a significant amount of debate needs to be moved from those private meetings and into the public forum provided at council meetings. Too many council meetings appear to just provide “rubber stamps” for decisions already made; the public has a right to know how those decisions are arrived at.
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Mary-Anne Lowe
Suburb of residence: Croydon
Occupation: Small business owner – Bram Leigh Receptions
How long have you lived in Maroondah? Lived in Maroondah for over 30 years, grew up in North Ringwood, attended Ringwood Heights Primary School, then Norwood High School. Attended Holy Spirit Church in North Ringwood.
Have you run for council/ been a councillor before, or any other level of government? I have run for council in the last election, and having gained a broad range of experience feel that I am ready to take on this very important role.
Are you/have you been a member of a political party? If yes, which party? If no, with which political party do you most identify? Never been a member of a political party, and do not believe there is place for federal political parties in local government.
Are you or have you ever been a member of an political interest or lobby group? No.
If you are elected, will you commit to remaining a councillor for the whole term? Yes, to be an effective councillor you need to serve the full term.
What is your campaign budget? Who is funding your campaign? I am paying for my own brochures and will be delivering these myself with family and friends so please say hi if you see me around the ward.
Who will you direct your preferences to? I will direct preferences to those others who are nominated that I feel would also do a great job at listening to the community and will take responsibility for their actions, and the decisions that they make.
Describe your involvement in the local community. [Editor’s mote: This question was left blank].
What do you think being a councillor involves? Listening to the community, working on strategies to improve the municipality, being accountable to the residents and above all knowing how to problem solve and get the job done.
What do you think are the most important issues for your ward? Funding to community groups, sporting groups and ensuring that projects that have been budgeted for are delivered without delay or compromise.
What do you think are the most important issues facing Maroondah? Ringwood pool; Rates – minimising without compromising services in the area.
Where do you stand on building the new $46.5 million Ringwood Aquatic Centre? Ringwood pool requires community and professional consultation, well thought out budget planning and delivery. We need to consider other things that could be incorporated into this precinct to increase revenue to balance the costs of the borrowings that need to be undertaken.
Ringwood’s town centre is set for a major upgrade. What features do you think should be included and what will improve the suburb? We need to ensure that the town centre has adequate library facilities with up to date access to electronic books etc.
Developers are looking to Maroondah to build higher-density housing, particularly Ringwood and Croydon. Where do you stand on this? Where should development be allowed and what areas should be protected? Given that there is already planning laws in place regarding development, the council need to work to these guidelines, and not be swayed by third parties or private interests. Ringwood is a busy, built-up area with the infrastructure to handle development so yes, in this area it is appropriate, however in the leafy green suburbs of Heathmont and Ringwood East this development would be detrimental to area.
Do you think Maroondah Council operates in an appropriately transparent and accountable manner? If yes, why and if no, what should be improved? I do not think that the current council is transparent or accountable, they do not work together for the benefit of the larger community. We need a group of leaders in our community who can stand strong together and work as one, regardless of personal beliefs or likes/dislikes. Council meetings should be held for the public, every time, not closed “backroom: meetings where everything is decided “in camera” and then later announced. As rate payers and residents we all have a right to know what is going on, and the reasons behind decisions. All councillors need to be accountable, and the public need to know how they voted for individual issues, with the current system, they can all say whatever they like as no one actually knows! I would also be very active in removing the preferential voting option, as it should be the candidates that the most residents want that get the seats.
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Andrew Schafer: No contact details provided
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Bill Toohey: No contact details provided
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SAMANTHA MARKS
Suburb of residence: Ringwood East
Occupation: Veterinary Nurse
How long have you lived in Maroondah? 20 years.
Have you run for council/ been a councillor before, or any other level of government? If so, please list details (where, when, length of time, etc). Yes, l had run for local government four years ago. This was for the Maroondah City Council elections - Mullum Ward - and l didn’t get in.
Are you/have you been a member of a political party? If yes, which party? If no, with which political party do you most identify? No.
Are you or have you ever been a member of a political interest or lobby group? No.
If you are elected, will you commit to remaining a councillor for the whole term? Yes.
What is your campaign budget? Who is funding your campaign? My campaign budget is $1000 and I’m funding it.
Who will you direct your preferences to?
2nd - Andrew Schafer
3rd -Maryanne Lowe
4th - Ann Fraser
Describe your involvement in the local community. My husband and l have been Maroondah residents for the past 20 years. My three children attend local schools and childcare and we are actively involved in a number of sporting groups. I am a Veterinary Nurse and have run a registered Wildlife Shelter for the past 18 years. This involves the rescue, rehabilitation and release of wildlife. I am on the committee for the MVC Boxing Association and also help run the kids and women’s boxing classes.
What do you think being a councillor involves?
* I think you need to be a great communicator and listener.
* You also need to have good values and principles.
* You would need to work closely with the CEO, Councillors and other employees, to provide different services for Maroondah
* You would work with a lot of different community groups
What do you think are the most important issues for your ward?
* We need more investment in child, aged and disability care.
* We want safer streets, shops and homes.
What do you think are the most important issues facing Maroondah?
* The Ringwood station and town centre needs upgrading.
* The residents want appropriate and sustainable development.
* Keeping rates to a minimum.
* Protecting our parks and gardens.
Where do you stand on building the new $46.5 million Ringwood Aquatic Centre?
* I support the new Ringwood Aquatic Centre.
Ringwood’s town centre is set for a major upgrade. What features do you think should be included and what will improve the suburb?
* Areas were people can meet with friends and family.
* There needs to be more trees and shrubs.
* It needs to be kept clean and no graffiti.
Developers are looking to Maroondah to build higher-density housing, particularly Ringwood and Croydon. Where do you stand on this? Where should development be allowed and what areas should be protected?
* I don’t support the high density in Maroondah.
* They could put the high rise buildings in areas, around inner Melbourne.
* They need to protect the parks and gardens
Do you think Maroondah Council operates in an appropriately transparent and accountable manner? If yes, why and if no, what should be improved? I would like to see more consultation with residents.
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Terry Ahern: No contact details provided
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Shaun Simmonds
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Rebecca Van Raay
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Kayne Brewer: No contact details provided
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REBECCA CURTAIN
Suburb of residence: Ringwood
Occupation: Social Worker
Ward nominated for: Mullum
How long have you lived in Maroondah? I have lived in Maroondah for 13 years.
Have you run for council/ been a councillor before, or any other level of government? If so, please list details (where, when, length of time, etc). I have never run for council or any other level of Government before.
Are you/have you been a member of a political party? If yes, which party? If no, with which political party do you most identify? I am an independent candidate and align myself with no particular party.
Are you or have you ever been a member of an political interest or lobby group? I have been involved in local groups that have focused on improving outcomes for Refugee Young People in Maroondah.
If you are elected, will you commit to remaining a councillor for the whole term? My intention is to serve the full term as a councillor if elected.
What is your campaign budget? Who is funding your campaign? I have fully funded my own campaign, thus, it has been a small budget. I believe that what a candidate stands for is more important than the money they have spent on their campaign.
Who will you direct your preferences to? I have directed my second preference to Samantha Marks
Describe your involvement in the local community. I believe that I am quite involved in the local community. My partner and I both work locally. I am heavily involved in my children’s school. I am on a number of local committees and also involved in a number of local sporting clubs and support them with the understanding that grass roots sporting groups require dedicated volunteers. I am also involved in some local interest groups that focus on providing equitable access to services for vulnerable community members.
What do you think being a councillor involves? I believe that the role of a councillor is to regularly consult with the community to listen to what their needs are. As a councillor, it is important to make decisions based on thorough community consultation. I also see the role as a councillor to be approachable by members of the community.
What do you think are the most important issues for your ward? People having equal access to services that they may require, these may include education, employment, appropriate sporting facilities and support services. People in my ward are also concerned about excessive rate rises.
What do you think are the most important issues facing Maroondah? Following the huge funding cuts to the TAFE system, Maroondah residents will be dramatically impacted by these. Young people will have increased difficulty accessing education and in the long term suitable employment. This also affects other people who are wanting to re-skill following redundancies or wishing to change careers. I believe that in the next four years, we will see drastic changes in Maroondah following these reforms. People are concerned about rising costs of living and rate increases contribute to this. Ringwood Railway station is also a huge issue in Maroondah and has been for some time.
Where do you stand on building the new $46.5 million Ringwood Aquatic Centre? Now that works are currently underway for the new Ringwood Aquatic Centre, we need to look forward to the facility that will be built.
Ringwood’s town centre is set for a major upgrade. What features do you think should be included and what will improve the suburb? The upgrade for Ringwood is long overdue and there are so many things that are needed to improve the suburb. One of the most important features is a Railway Station that is safe and easy for everyone to access. It is so disheartening whilst driving through Ringwood looking at all the vacant and dilapidated shops. Ringwood needs to have a town centre that is inviting and vibrant and makes people want to visit.
Developers are looking to Maroondah to build higher-density housing, particularly Ringwood and Croydon. Where do you stand on this? Where should development be allowed and what areas should be protected? I can understand why developers are attracted to Ringwood and Croydon; however I firmly believe we need to be careful that we do not allow too much higher-density housing as it risks the natural character of Maroondah. Despite environmental and aesthetic concerns in relation to higher-density housing, I also have concerns that if we begin to dramatically increase our population, we also need to invest more money into Maroondah’s infrastructure.
Do you think Maroondah Council operates in an appropriately transparent and accountable manner? If yes, why and if no, what should be improved? I believe that there can always be improvements for Councils to operate in an appropriate transparent and accountable manner. One of the best ways to improve this is by having an election process that allows the community to choose people that they feel will best represent their interests and needs.
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Eliza Weinberg: No contact details provided
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JENNY NEWMAN
Suburb of residence: Croydon Hills
Occupation: Licensed Real Estate Agent
How long have you lived in Maroondah? 28 years
Have you run for council/ been a councillor before, or any other level of government? If so, please list details (where, when, length of time, etc). No.
Are you/have you been a member of a political party? If yes, which party? If no, with which political party do you most identify? No.
Are you or have you ever been a member of an political interest or lobby group? No.
If you are elected, will you commit to remaining a councillor for the whole term? Yes, absolutely.
What is your campaign budget? Who is funding your campaign? I am funding my own campaign, I believe it is in the best interests of Maroondah to see that a candidate is there for the right reasons. Being self-funded, I am not taking or listening to direction from anyone else. I do not believe it is in the best interest of Maroondah to have others controlling what and how you decide on issues.
Who will you direct your preferences to?
3 LAMONT, Nora
2 REIMER, Joshua
5 LOWE, Mary-Anne
15 SCHAFER, Andrew
14 TOOHEY, Bill
12 MARKS, Samantha
7 AHERN, Terry
8 SIMMONDS, Shaun
11 VAN RAAY, Rebecca Anne
9 BREWER, Kayne
10 CURTAIN, Rebecca
13 WEINBERG, Eliza
1 NEWMAN, Jennifer Dawn
6 FRASER, Ann
4 GIBSON, Bentleigh J.
Describe your involvement in the local community. I am on the Board of Irabina an early intervention school for children with autism. I am secretary for VOCAL Victims of Crime Advocacy League, I chair the Parent Support Network, we support carers who have children with disabilities. I am the president of our local traders’ group. I work hands with my local community, manning their sausage sizzle, providing prizes for functions, donating boards, running charity auctions, providing uniforms for the netball club. Working at fetes, partner shipping with the Bendigo Bank, selling raffle tickets for the Mayoral Charity Ball. I will ensure disability has a voice and I will work in the best interest of my community.
What do you think being a councillor involves? It involves listening and working with my local Community, it involves understanding what the needs for the City of Maroondah are and making decisions without an agenda. I believe Council members should not be politically biased, that all decisions should be made in the very best interest of our community. The City of Maroondah is a vibrant and exciting place to live, but the real issues need to listened to and discussed and decided on merit not on any personal or political agenda.
What do you think are the most important issues for your ward? Ringwood is a growing and vibrant city and there are many exciting things happening. Council needs to make great decisions on what happens in this area. We need growth but we need to make sure this works in a way where everyone is advantaged. We need to ensure our parks and open spaces are protected we need to make sure our community is safe and secure, we need to protect our residents. Disability needs to have a strong voice in our Community as does our elderly citizens. We must look after those who need our assistance.
What do you think are the most important issues facing Maroondah? Ensuring the growth of the area is sustainable and realistic. I believe we have to have a responsible look at what is growth, how and where we manage it. We need to maintain our open areas, parks and wetlands they are vital to what Maroondah is but on the other hand we need to have growth. We need to carefully consider what is in the best interest of the City of Maroondah.
Where do you stand on building the new $46.5 million Ringwood Aquatic Centre? Maroondah has a high need for sporting and family facilities and I think this development is a good thing. There is a need to provide strong services to the community and this venture as I see it is a much needed facility to enable families, children, teenagers, disabled and elderly to have a place specifically built for them to enjoy
Ringwood’s town centre is set for a major upgrade. What features do you think should be included and what will improve the suburb? We need to remove all graffiti, ensure the entrance and exit of Maroondah is clean and vibrant. All development needs to be in the best interest of the Community. We need to ensure we have good public spaces. We need a learning centre and the rail station upgrade as immediate. We need better access and facilities for the disabled.
Developers are looking to Maroondah to build higher-density housing, particularly Ringwood and Croydon. Where do you stand on this? Where should development be allowed and what areas should be protected? Development needs to aesthetically pleasing to the entire area, it is important that development has adequate facilities, is in close proximity to shops, schools, and transport. We need to protect our open space areas. Maroondah is a treed and green area and we must protect this but we have to grow as an area so every development needs to be considered on it’s merit.
Do you think Maroondah Council operates in an appropriately transparent and accountable manner? If yes, why and if no, what should be improved? I am sure there is always room for improvement and I will look and make decisions regarding this is if I am elected. It is important that decisions are transparent as to why and how they were decided.
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ANN FRASER
Suburb of residence: Ringwood
Occupation: Driving Instructor.
Ward nominated for: Mullum
How long have you lived in Maroondah? 35 years
Have you run for council/ been a councillor before, or any other level of government? If so, please list details (where, when, length of time, etc). 6 years City of Ringwood; 4 years City of Maroondah
Are you/have you been a member of a political party? If yes, which party? If no, with which political party do you most identify? Not a member of any political party
Are you or have you ever been a member of an political interest or lobby group? Road Safety Learner Drivers
If you are elected, will you commit to remaining a councillor for the whole term? I hope so
What is your campaign budget? Who is funding your campaign? $1300 00 Myself
Who will you direct your preferences to? The person to whom I feel will represent the people
Fairly and honesty [Editor’s note: Preferences had been lodged by the time this survey was received and are available at www.vec.vic.gov.au.]
Describe your involvement in the local community. Member of over 15 Community Groups and helping. Resident of all ages if in need
What do you think being a councillor involves?
Listening, respecting resident views and concerns
Being involved in public consultation and transparency
What do you think are the most important issues for your ward?
Upgrading of facilities for all the community to use
Youth entertainment
What do you think are the most important issues facing Maroondah?
Safe and active transit city
Youth entertainment area
Where do you stand on building the new $46.5 million Ringwood Aquatic Centre?
The funding could be community involvement, Government grants, sponsorship and funding transparent.
Ringwood’s town centre is set for a major upgrade. What features do you think should be included and what will improve the suburb? Places for shopping, entertainment, restaurants, open spaces to relax in
Developers are looking to Maroondah to build higher-density housing, particularly Ringwood and Croydon. Where do you stand on this? Where should development be allowed and what areas should be protected? That future development will not destroy natural enjoyments that residents enjoy now, by over-development. Development by railway stations. Leave as much natural parks and creeks as possible.
Do you think Maroondah Council operates in an appropriately transparent and accountable manner? If yes, why and if no, what should be improved? Most of the information given by staff could be available to the public, The Council can operate in a more transparent and accountable manner
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Bentleigh J. Gibson
Suburb of residence: Ringwood
Occupation: Managing director
How long have you lived in Maroondah? 29 years.
Have you run for council/ been a councillor before, or any other level of government? No.
Are you/have you been a member of a political party? If yes, which party? If no, with which political party do you most identify? Member of the Liberal Party of Victoria.
Are you or have you ever been a member of an political interest or lobby group? No.
If you are elected, will you commit to remaining a councillor for the whole term? Yes.
What is your campaign budget? Who is funding your campaign? Self-funded.
Who will you direct your preferences to? N/A.
Describe your involvement in the local community. Past member of the “Pay it Forward” program. Supporter of local charities. Past supporter and contributor to Relay for Life.
What do you think being a councillor involves? Being a conduit and voice for the residents of the ward and greater area and representing these interests on council. Over-seeing the efficiency and delivery of council services. Actively shaping the direction and outlook of the council in reflection of residents’ interests.
What do you think are the most important issues for your ward? Planning, rates, traffic, Eastland development.
What do you think are the most important issues facing Maroondah? Development, preservation of green spaces, Eastland precinct upgrade, traffic.
Where do you stand on building the new $46.5 million Ringwood Aquatic Centre? It’s an issue an incoming council will have to administer. Something needed to be done with the old facility – however a less expensive option could have been considered.
Ringwood’s town centre is set for a major upgrade. What features do you think should be included and what will improve the suburb? Cafes/restaurants/retail, youth attractions, gallery/education centre/library.
Developers are looking to Maroondah to build higher-density housing, particularly Ringwood and Croydon. Where do you stand on this? Where should development be allowed and what areas should be protected? Development should be attracted and incentivised to commit to Ringwood and Croydon. However this investment and development must be sensibly balanced against over-population and environmental concerns.
Do you think Maroondah Council operates in an appropriately transparent and accountable manner? If yes, why and if no, what should be improved? Every organisation – especially a publicly elected one should always maintain as much transparency as possible throughout its operation. The community needs to feel a part of the decision-making process.
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