Public Transport – meeting our public transport challenges

Q1 Council Community Buses: with the number of Aging and Disabled residents within the City of Monash Council should upgrade and extend its fleet of buses.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

5

The community has a responsibility to ensure that Aging and Disabled residents can travel just as easily as any other person in Monash. For example, bus companies must be required to ensure that the floor level of their buses is low enough to enable anyone to get on without difficulty.

Q2 Commercial buses: Council should work with commercial bus-lines

1 to provide community bus-routes catering directly to the needs of less mobile residents, and to ensure that these and other special needs buses are fully timetabled.

Buses are the only means of transport for many people. A reliable and adequate timetable is essential.

2.to extend bus timetables so that they connect with train timetables, especially mornings and evenings.

This is essential.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

5

Q3 Rowville Rail Link – Council should work actively with other councils to lobby for a full-scale rail link between Huntingdale Railway Station and Ferntree Gully Station

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

4

There is though a cost involved. And the environmental impact needs to be considered.

Q4 Advocacy Role – as a councillor I will work to ensure that the Council runs a regular community forum on public transport needs, and I will lobby for better public transport across the City of Monash on behalf of the residents.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

5

There’s no point in sending out surveys once every 4 years (at election time). Residents concerns need to be heard more often and more regularly.

Open Space – defending the remaining green spaces for community use.

Q1 Council should require developers in the area to provide “green space” for community use beyond the minimum 5% currently required.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

5

5% is barely noticeable. Developers are doing very nicely thank you – they can afford to give a bit more. In fact the value of their developments would increase if there was more “green space”.

Q2 Council should extend its current initiatives to help preserve sporting facilities by the provision of water tanks and drought resistant grasses.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

5

( A no-brainer)

Health – defending the City of Monash against the chronic health issues facing communities in Victoria, such as obesity, diabetes and depression.

Q1 Community Health – Council should play a more active advocacy role in pressuring government to provide a range of health support services.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

4

Monash already has some good health support services … but some areas need improvement (those mentioned, for example, obesity, diabetes and depression). Even though Health is a State Govt responsibility , Council must make its voice heard. There is a danger in having politically partisan councillors because these can tend to kow-tow to the State Govt politicians of their Party (be it Labor or Liberal).

Q2 Research into Community Health – Council should collect data to measure the extent of the health problem within the Monash community.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

3

Collecting data seems to be done more and more. We have data coming out of ears. The important thing is using the information already available and addressing the obvious problems.

Q3 Council should negotiate with government to establish a centralised medical services facility, similar to Clayton’s, in Glen Waverley.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

3

We need facilities that meet the community’s needs. Monash does have good medical facilities, but that does not mean they cannot be improved.

Planning Issues – defending residential amenity against government planners and tribunals.

Q1 The City of Monash should follow other municipalities by shaping its planning around a Liveability Policy with clear objectives and measurable targets

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

This comment is ambiguous. What is meant by Liveability Policy? But , yes, there needs to be clear objectives and measurable targets for all policies. And ‘liveability’ is obviously nice to have!

Q2 Council should always challenge major developments considered inappropriate by residents, even if it may mean being overridden by VCAT or other government bodies.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

5

Absolutely, yes!

Q3 All large-scale developments should undergo a full and publicly available Environmental Impact Study before they can be submitted to Council for approval

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

2

This sounds a good idea but all-encompassing policies such as this can be too restrictive.

Q4 Council should more actively oppose the government’s proposed Residential Zoning Scheme, which threatens to take away residents’ right to object to developments.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

5

The community must have the right to object. And to be effective.

Q4 Council should be a strong advocate for the community when dealing with government over how the city is to be developed.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

5

As I said, there is a danger in having politically partisan councillors because these can tend to kow-tow to the State Govt politicians of their Party (be it Labor or Liberal).

Bike and Walking Paths – supporting residents’ health and helping save the environment.

Q1 Council should establish a key department to address the issues of transport, bike and walking facilities, and the necessary links between them.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

4

Q2 Council should undertake a needs survey in this area.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

3

Q3 Council should take on a stronger advocacy role with VicRoads and VicRail in order to meet community needs.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

5

Q4 Council should require all major developments to provide secure bicycle parking areas, especially those at transport hubs.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

5

Yes. The cost is minimal. The benefits huge.

Traffic Management – regulating traffic on Monash’s roads

Q1 Council should press for better planning by VicRoads to alleviate the ‘grid lock’ on the major roads in Monash.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

5

Yes!

Q2 Council should invite the Bus Association and VicRoads to cooperate in addressing the traffic grid lock problems.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

5

YES!

Q3 Council should ask VicRoads should be more pro-active in forcing cars and trucks to use the East Link freeway as a means of reducing traffic volumes on Springvale and Blackburn Roads.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

4

Don’t like the word ‘forcing’, but agree with the focus.

Q4 Council should be pro-active in reducing ‘rat runs’ in local streets wherever residents ask them to do so.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

5

YES!

Access for Disabled – addressing the needs of residents with disabilities.

Q1 Council should insist that a clear line of sight be maintained along the property line on footpaths for those residents with sight disabilities and wheel chair requirements.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

5

(in fact make that 6)

Q2 Council should negotiate with transport providers to ensure that all bus stops provide access for wheelchairs.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

5

Q3 Council should join other shire and city councils in signing up to support the Victorian Universal Housing Alliance’s platform for universally accessible and liveable housing in Victoria.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

2

(reluctant to sign up for anything that is all-encompassing and restrictive)

Support for Neighbourhood Houses and Community Associations

Q1 Monash City Council should follow the lead of other Victorian shire and metropolitan councils in providing recurrent operational funding for Neighbourhood Houses and Community Learning Centres within its boundaries.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

3

Q2 Council should follow the lead of other Victorian shire and metropolitan councils in allowing the operations of Community Associations and other non-profit volunteer associations to be covered by council insurance.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

2

(the implications of this need legal consideration)

Responsibilities of Councillors – matters that all prospective councillors should consider

Q1 Are you willing to attend all meetings called by Council, except when prevented from doing so by personal or family emergency?

____________________________________________________________

NO YES

yes

Q2 Are you prepared to work together with other councillors to achieve community goals, if necessary across coalitions within Council?

____________________________________________________________

NO YES

yes

Q3 Are you willing to debate all issues of concern to residents in open Council?

____________________________________________________________

NO YES

yes

I have been a resident of Notting Hill for 23 years and a resident in the Waverley area for 50 years. We have four voters in our household.

Over the past five or six years, facilities in the Notting Hill area have been depleted and we have felt very keenly the lack of support from the council for our pocket of Monash.

The areas of concern that we have are: lack of public transport to our area, in particular the area nearest the old Monash Secondary School site; the gradual depletion of green space and sporting facilities in the area since the closure of the two school sites and the growing number of units and student hostel-type dwellings that are springing up all over the suburb. As a resident of Waverley for 50 years, I have seen revenue raising take precedence over the good of rate-payers fat too often.

Before the four voters in this household cast their votes in the upcoming elections, we would like to know what you propose to do to support the Notting Hill community, in particular.

Last week I saw four children happily bouncing a basketball down the road leading to Monash Secondary College. A resident called out to ask them where they were going. They replied that they were going to play basketball up at the high school. The resident informed them that the basketball courts had been ripped up. The disappointed children realised that there was nowhere on the estate for them to go. If we are truly concerned about the health and wellbeing of our younger residents, we must put facilities ahead of rate collections.The four voters of this household eagerly await your responses.

 Anne Stephens

Stefanie Perri Replies

Hi Anne,

Thank you for your email. Like you, I am a long term local resident, having lived in Clayton (on Clayton Road not far from Notting Hill) my entire life. I’ve attended local schools and university. As a local resident and through my work with local Member of Parliament Ann Barker, I feel that I have a good understanding of our community. Part of this is my understanding that in our community there is a very real sense that our area has been left behind by a very Glen Waverley centric Council. That’s one of the major reasons why I am standing for council – to ensure that the voices of local residents in our area are heard by Council.

I agree that public transport is an important issue for many in our community. I believe our council needs to do more to improve public transport in our community and I will work cooperatively across all levels of government to achieve better outcomes for our area. I’d like to see Council upgrade and extend council’s fleet of buses and ensure that services are responsive community needs. There are many in our community who could benefit from the council’s community bus service but who are unaware of the available services, so I’d also like council to do more to make older residents and residents with a disability more aware of available servcies. Council needs to more effectively engage the community so it listens to what the community needs and is able to feed that back through commercial bus lines to address issues such as timetabling. I’d also like to see the establishment of regular community forums on public transport held by in conjunction with the State Government. I don’t believe either the council or state government can solve this issue alone – it’ll require a cooperative approach across both levels of government if we are to acheive meaningful outcomes. I’m aware of forums that have taken place in Monash before, but none have occurred in our area and I’d like to see that change. These are the kinds of forums where I’d envisage issues such as public transport in the area nearest the old Monash secondary School site could be discussed and fresh ideas developed to improve the situtation.

I also agree that the gradual depletion of green space and sporting facilities in our area is concerning. I am actively involved in the community group that saved the Clayton and Oakleigh Pools, and I understand very well the need to maintain our open spaces and sporting facilities and nurture them so that they continue to be great community assets into the future. I’m very pleased that the Clayton and Oakleigh Pools have been saved, and I realise that while council needs to be financially responsible it also needs to provide facilities and services that meet the needs of our entire community, including our young people. I believe that open spaces for community use is essential and that residents must always come before developers. Council needs to ensure that planning policies match community expectations and this includes the protection of our environment and neighbourhood character and the preservation and enhancement of our open spaces, reserves and waterways. Our community must be given the opportunity to shape how our area will develop into the future.

Your account of the four local children in our community looking for somewhere to play basketball is very telling. I agree that the health and wellbeing of our younger residents must be put ahead of rate collections. I’d like to see Council engage our youth so that young people in our community feel connected and valued in our community and to engage our young people I believe Counncil needs to look at what facilities are being provided for young people, how they can be maintained and enhanced, and what facilities are lacking and how we can work towards the provision of those facilities. I’d also like to see our young people taking part in the planning of future facilities and having their voices heard about how Council can best serve them.

I certainly don’t claim to have all the answers, however I can assure you that should I be elected, I will listen to you and ensure your voice is heard by the council. I will also look for ways that council can do things better – and seek input from the community as to how things can be done better – and I will act on fresh ideas and always act in the best interests of our community by achieving positive results through the establishment of a productive and cooperative working relationship across all levels of government and community.

If you would like to discuss this further and should I be elected, I would encourage you to contact me so we can make arrangements to do so.

Once again, thank you for your email.

Kind Regards,

Stefanie Perri.

Matthew Billman Replies

Hi Anne,

Thank-you for your e-mail.

I live in Oakleigh South, but I too have noticed the neglect that Notting Hill gets in the Oakleigh Ward. I have firstly noticed that Monash City Council appears to be a more Waverley-centric Council and that Oakleigh/Clayton gets a bit neglected over the Waverley areas, but I have noticed that Notting Hill appears to get even more neglected than Oakleigh/Clayton.

I am a public transport worker and I am also a public transport user who has made the choice to not own a car, so I use a mixture of public transport, walking and my bicycle to get around. I am a member of the Public Transport Users Association. I am aware of the rail line to Rowville that was promised 40 years ago and I have been actively campaigning over the past four years to get this rail line built and I will continue to campaign for it until it is taken on by the state government and completed. Much of my campaigning and many of my comments don’t sit well with the company I work for, but I continue to speak out because I believe every resident should have good access to public transport services to give them a choice to leave their car at home.

I was saddened to see the closure of the two school sites and I am scared about the loss of open space in the area. Whilst I hope that the current Councillors have good intentions in standing up for residents rights, I don’t believe enough has been done to raise this issue publicly by them or there does not seem enough lobbying to the state government to ensure open space is saved or increased. It’s hard to determine what work the current Councillors have done because the record of meetings and debates are not made public and the record of public Council meetings are very vague.

What I do know is that at the public Council meeting on August 7th, 2007, where a motion was carried to make a request to the Minister for Planning to authorise Council to prepare an amendment to the Monash Planning Scheme to rezone the former Monash Primary School site from Public Use to Residential use, both Councillors Dimopoulos & McGill did not attend this meeting. At this same meeting, proposals to sell three other portions of public land in the Monash area were also carried. I am a bit concerned that Cr Dimopoulos & McGill were not at this meeting to give their opinions. There’s no public record of their stance. If elected to Council, I will do my best to keep what’s left of Monash’s open spaces and seek to increase it. I will actively lobby to save open space and stand strong with residents on this issue.

I’m 27 and although I haven’t picked up a basketball in nearly 3 years, basketball was a large part of my life for 16 years prior to that playing in the Waverley Basketball Association in Jordanville. To hear that young children in our community can’t get out and keep active lifestyles, especially a sport that I grew up with and love, does not sit right with me and if elected I would work closely with the community to try and get and maintain sporting facilities in the right spots for anyone to access.

While I apologise for this long reply, I hope you can understand where I stand.

As a member of the Greens, it is these issues that you mentioned we stand strongly with you – Public transport, maintaining and increasing open space and providing adequate facilities to enjoy an active lifestyle mean a lot to not just the Greens party, but me personally. Please give me a call on 0400 245 195 if you have any other queries.

Regards,

Matthew Billman

Open pdf versions

all-results-16-november1

questionnaire-response-of-antoniazzi

Public Transport – meeting our public transport challenges

Q1 Council Community Buses: with the number of Aging and Disabled residents within the City of Monash Council should upgrade and extend its fleet of buses.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Q2 Commercial buses: Council should work with commercial bus-lines

1 to provide community bus-routes catering directly to the needs of less mobile residents, and to ensure that these and other special needs buses are fully timetabled.

2.to extend bus timetables so that they connect with train timetables, especially mornings and evenings.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Q3 Rowville Rail Link – Council should work actively with other councils to lobby for a full-scale rail link between Huntingdale Railway Station and Ferntree Gully Station

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Q4 Advocacy Role – as a councillor I will work to ensure that the Council runs a regular community forum on public transport needs, and I will lobby for better public transport across the City of Monash on behalf of the residents.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Open Space – defending the remaining green spaces for community use.

Q1 Council should require developers in the area to provide “green space” for community use beyond the minimum 5% currently required.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Q2 Council should extend its current initiatives to help preserve sporting facilities by the provision of water tanks and drought resistant grasses.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

They are working very hard on both of these items Tom M.

Health – defending the City of Monash against the chronic health issues facing communities in Victoria, such as obesity, diabetes and depression.

Q1 Community Health – Council should play a more active advocacy role in pressuring government to provide a range of health support services.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Q2 Research into Community Health – Council should collect data to measure the extent of the health problem within the Monash community.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Q3 Council should negotiate with government to establish a centralised medical services facility, similar to Clayton’s, in Glen Waverley.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Planning Issues – defending residential amenity against government planners and tribunals.

Q1 The City of Monash should follow other municipalities by shaping its planning around a Liveability Policy with clear objectives and measurable targets

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Councils are following the City of Monash Tom M,

Q2 Council should always challenge major developments considered inappropriate by residents, even if it may mean being overridden by VCAT or other government bodies.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Q3 All large-scale developments should undergo a full and publicly available Environmental Impact Study before they can be submitted to Council for approval

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Q4 Council should more actively oppose the government’s proposed Residential Zoning Scheme, which threatens to take away residents’ right to object to developments.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Q5 Council should be a strong advocate for the community when dealing with government over how the city is to be developed.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Bike and Walking Paths – supporting residents’ health and helping save the environment.

Q1 Council should establish a key department to address the issues of transport, bike and walking facilities, and the necessary links between them.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Monash are doing it very well Tom M.

Q2 Council should undertake a needs survey in this area.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Q3 Council should take on a stronger advocacy role with VicRoads and VicRail in order to meet community needs.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Q4 Council should require all major developments to provide secure bicycle parking areas, especially those at transport hubs.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Traffic Management – regulating traffic on Monash’s roads

Q1 Council should press for better planning by VicRoads to alleviate the ‘grid lock’ on the major roads in Monash.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Q2 Council should invite the Bus Association and VicRoads to cooperate in addressing the traffic grid lock problems.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Q3 Council should ask VicRoads should be more pro-active in forcing cars and trucks to use the East Link freeway as a means of reducing traffic volumes on Springvale and Blackburn Roads.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Q4 Council should be pro-active in reducing ‘rat runs’ in local streets wherever residents ask them to do so.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Monash are doing that now Tom M.

Access for Disabled – addressing the needs of residents with disabilities.

Q1 Council should insist that a clear line of sight be maintained along the property line on footpaths for those residents with sight disabilities and wheel chair requirements.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Q2 Council should negotiate with transport providers to ensure that all bus stops provide access for wheelchairs.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Q3 Council should join other shire and city councils in signing up to support the Victorian Universal Housing Alliance’s platform for universally accessible and liveable housing in Victoria.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Support for Neighbourhood Houses and Community Associations

Q1 Monash City Council should follow the lead of other Victorian shire and metropolitan councils in providing recurrent operational funding for Neighbourhood Houses and Community Learning Centres within its boundaries.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Q2 Council should follow the lead of other Victorian shire and metropolitan councils in allowing the operations of Community Associations and other non-profit volunteer associations to be covered by council insurance.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Responsibilities of Councillors – matters that all prospective councillors should consider

Q1 Are you willing to attend all meetings called by Council, except when prevented from doing so by personal or family emergency?

____________________________________________________________

NO YES

Q2 Are you prepared to work together with other councillors to achieve community goals, if necessary across coalitions within Council?

____________________________________________________________

NO YES

Q3 Are you willing to debate all issues of concern to residents in open Council?

____________________________________________________________

NO YES

Questionnaire prepared by: John Shrives, 29 Collegium Ave, Wheelers Hill and Marian Quartly, 17 Longbourne Avenue, Notting Hill for the Monash Liveability Coalition

Public Transport – meeting our public transport challenges

Q1 Council Community Buses: with the number of Aging and Disabled residents within the City of Monash Council should upgrade and extend its fleet of buses.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Q2 Commercial buses: Council should work with commercial bus-lines

1 to provide community bus-routes catering directly to the needs of less mobile residents, and to ensure that these and other special needs buses are fully timetabled.

2.to extend bus timetables so that they connect with train timetables, especially mornings and evenings.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Q3 Rowville Rail Link – Council should work actively with other councils to lobby for a full-scale rail link between Huntingdale Railway Station and Ferntree Gully Station

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Q4 Advocacy Role – as a councillor I will work to ensure that the Council runs a regular community forum on public transport needs, and I will lobby for better public transport across the City of Monash on behalf of the residents.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Open Space – defending the remaining green spaces for community use.

Q1 Council should require developers in the area to provide “green space” for community use beyond the minimum 5% currently required.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Q2 Council should extend its current initiatives to help preserve sporting facilities by the provision of water tanks and drought resistant grasses.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Health – defending the City of Monash against the chronic health issues facing communities in Victoria, such as obesity, diabetes and depression.

Q1 Community Health – Council should play a more active advocacy role in pressuring government to provide a range of health support services.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Q2 Research into Community Health – Council should collect data to measure the extent of the health problem within the Monash community.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Q3 Council should negotiate with government to establish a centralised medical services facility, similar to Clayton’s, in Glen Waverley.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Planning Issues – defending residential amenity against government planners and tribunals.

Q1 The City of Monash should follow other municipalities by shaping its planning around a Liveability Policy with clear objectives and measurable targets

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Q2 Council should always challenge major developments considered inappropriate by residents, even if it may mean being overridden by VCAT or other government bodies.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Q3 All large-scale developments should undergo a full and publicly available Environmental Impact Study before they can be submitted to Council for approval

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Q4 Council should more actively oppose the government’s proposed Residential Zoning Scheme, which threatens to take away residents’ right to object to developments.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Q5 Council should be a strong advocate for the community when dealing with government over how the city is to be developed.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Bike and Walking Paths – supporting residents’ health and helping save the environment.

Q1 Council should establish a key department to address the issues of transport, bike and walking facilities, and the necessary links between them.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Q2 Council should undertake a needs survey in this area.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Q3 Council should take on a stronger advocacy role with VicRoads and VicRail in order to meet community needs.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Q4 Council should require all major developments to provide secure bicycle parking areas, especially those at transport hubs.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Traffic Management – regulating traffic on Monash’s roads

Q1 Council should press for better planning by VicRoads to alleviate the ‘grid lock’ on the major roads in Monash.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Q2 Council should invite the Bus Association and VicRoads to cooperate in addressing the traffic grid lock problems.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Q3 Council should ask VicRoads should be more pro-active in forcing cars and trucks to use the East Link freeway as a means of reducing traffic volumes on Springvale and Blackburn Roads.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Q4 Council should be pro-active in reducing ‘rat runs’ in local streets wherever residents ask them to do so.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Access for Disabled – addressing the needs of residents with disabilities.

Q1 Council should insist that a clear line of sight be maintained along the property line on footpaths for those residents with sight disabilities and wheel chair requirements.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Q2 Council should negotiate with transport providers to ensure that all bus stops provide access for wheelchairs.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Q3 Council should join other shire and city councils in signing up to support the Victorian Universal Housing Alliance’s platform for universally accessible and liveable housing in Victoria.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Support for Neighbourhood Houses and Community Associations

Q1 Monash City Council should follow the lead of other Victorian shire and metropolitan councils in providing recurrent operational funding for Neighbourhood Houses and Community Learning Centres within its boundaries.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Q2 Council should follow the lead of other Victorian shire and metropolitan councils in allowing the operations of Community Associations and other non-profit volunteer associations to be covered by council insurance.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Responsibilities of Councillors – matters that all prospective councillors should consider

Q1 Are you willing to attend all meetings called by Council, except when prevented from doing so by personal or family emergency?

____________________________________________________________

NO YES

Q2 Are you prepared to work together with other councillors to achieve community goals, if necessary across coalitions within Council?

____________________________________________________________

NO YES

Q3 Are you willing to debate all issues of concern to residents in open Council?

____________________________________________________________

NO YES

Questionnaire prepared by: John Shrives, 29 Collegium Ave, Wheelers Hill and Marian Quartly, 17 Longbourne Avenue, Notting Hill for the Monash Liveability Coalition

Public Transport – meeting our public transport challenges

Q1 Council Community Buses: with the number of Aging and Disabled residents within the City of Monash Council should upgrade and extend its fleet of buses.

0____________1____________2____________3____________4____________5

Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

In addition to the need to upgrade and extend council’s fleet of buses, we also need to make sure that the services provided match what the community needs. Appropriate funding is critical, but is not a complete solution on its own – careful examination of service provision is also critical. I’d like to see Council engaging the community and determining the very best way to operate the community bus program so that it meets the community’s needs. I’m also aware that many local residents are unaware of available services so I’d like the council to do more to make older residents and residents with a disability more aware of available services.

Q2 Commercial buses: Council should work with commercial bus-lines

1 to provide community bus-routes catering directly to the needs of less mobile residents, and to ensure that these and other special needs buses are fully timetabled.

2.to extend bus timetables so that they connect with train timetables, especially mornings and evenings.

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Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Commercial bus lines do seek input from local government on these matters but the quality of that input is only as good as the council’s grasp of what local residents want. That’s why, as per my response to question 1, I’d like to see Council engage the community so it listens to what the community needs and is able to feed that back through to commercial bus lines and work cooperatively to ensure services are responsive to the needs of our community.

Q3 Rowville Rail Link – Council should work actively with other councils to lobby for a full-scale rail link between Huntingdale Railway Station and Ferntree Gully Station

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Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

At this stage I am uncertain as to whether lobbying for a full-scale rail link between Huntingdale Railway Station and Ferntree Gully Station is one of the key actions that local residents in the Oakleigh Ward expect of their elected representatives in local government. I am very clear that local residents want their councillors to listen to them, act on fresh ideas, manage sporting and community groups better, protect our environment and neighbourhood character and work cooperatively across all levels of government to achieve the best outcomes for our community. If elected, I will consult extensively with our community and after careful consideration of everyone’s views, I will determine whether lobbying for this project is one of the best ways in which I can serve the community.

Q4 Advocacy Role – as a councillor I will work to ensure that the Council runs a regular community forum on public transport needs, and I will lobby for better public transport across the City of Monash on behalf of the residents.

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Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

I’d like to see Council hold regular community forums on public transport in conjunction with the State Government. The critical issue of public transport cannot be solved by one level of government alone – it requires a cooperative approach across both levels of government if we are to achieve meaningful outcomes. Public transport forums have been attempted in the past by state government departments, in consultation with local government. None however have been held in the Oakleigh Ward, and with the major transport hub at Oakleigh Station and major bus interchanges at the Clayton Shopping Centre and Monash University, it seems logical to me that the Oakleigh Ward would be an appropriate location for a well planned, well advertised forum arranged cooperatively by Monash Council and State Government in consultation with the community.

Open Space – defending the remaining green spaces for community use.

Q1 Council should require developers in the area to provide “green space” for community use beyond the minimum 5% currently required.

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Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

I believe that green space for community use is absolutely essential. While unequivocally always putting residents before developers, there is a need to balance the need for open space with the need to encourage appropriate and affordable housing. It is too simplistic to tackle the very real need for open spaces in our community by enforcing a formula. Council needs to ensure that planning policies match community expectations and this includes the protection of our environment and neighbourhood character and the preservation and enhancement of our open spaces, reserves and waterways. Our community must be given the opportunity to have a say in how our area will develop into the future.

Q2 Council should extend its current initiatives to help preserve sporting facilities by the provision of water tanks and drought resistant grasses.

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Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

There is so much more that Council could be doing to help preserve our sporting facilities. The provision of water tanks and drought resistant grasses are two of many options. The changes in our climate mean that we need to change the way in which we maintain sporting facilities. Another one of many options that I would like to see council consider is the use of synthetic grasses for some of our sporting fields, as has been done with much success overseas. As well as managing sporting facilities better, I’d also like to see council more actively support our valuable volunteers who work tirelessly in our sporting and community groups and the establishment of more friendly and cooperative working relationships between community and sporting groups and Council’s relevant departments, as what has sometimes been experienced in the past.

Health – defending the City of Monash against the chronic health issues facing communities in Victoria, such as obesity, diabetes and depression.

Q1 Community Health – Council should play a more active advocacy role in pressuring government to provide a range of health support services.

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Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

There is most certainly a very important role for Council to play in planning for a range of health support services in cooperation with other levels of government. The wording of this question however is problematic because it limits Council to two roles, that of advocacy and that of pressuring government. This is precisely the way Council has operated to date and I believe a fresh and better approach is essential. Council can do more than advocate and apply pressure – in fact, I believe that if it is to make any real progress, it must do more than this. Council must stop seeing itself as the child who needs to stamp its feet to receive things from the bigger levels of government. Instead, there must be an acknowledgement that at the heart of the current local, state and federal governments there is a fundamental desire to serve the community. We will not always agree as to how this can be best achieved, but if we work hard and cooperatively together with a common aim of achieving positive outcomes for the community, we are much more likely to achieve the end results that will make a real difference in the lives of local residents.

Q2 Research into Community Health – Council should collect data to measure the extent of the health problem within the Monash community.

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Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

As local government is the level of government closest to the people, council finds itself in an ideal position to collect certain data about health problems in our community. Similarly, the State and Federal Governments collect other data based on the services they respectively provide. So in addition to the collection of data that is appropriate for Council to collect, I’d also like to see the compilation of data across local, state and federal government that is relevant to residents in Monash so that a more accurate and detailed picture of the extend of heath problems within the Monash community can be seen.

Q3 Council should negotiate with government to establish a centralised medical services facility, similar to Clayton’s, in Glen Waverley.

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Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

I am aware of current plans to provide centralised medical service facilities in both Oakleigh and Glen Waverley. I am a candidate for the Oakleigh Ward, which is the same ward I have lived in my whole life and it is the part of Monash I am most concerned about. Therefore, I am very pleased about the centralised medical services in Clayton and, if elected, I will work hard and cooperatively with the State Government to ensure that the new service that will be provided in Oakleigh is one that serves the needs of our community. Facilities in Glen Waverley are not my primary focus.

Planning Issues – defending residential amenity against government planners and tribunals.

Q1 The City of Monash should follow other municipalities by shaping its planning around a Liveability Policy with clear objectives and measurable targets

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Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

In speaking with local residents, planning issues are always discussed in the context of those issues that are most important to our community. There is a great deal of frustration in our community about council’s ambiguous planning policies and the council needs to do much more listening to local residents so that planning policies match community expectations. Genuine, inclusive and thorough community consultation that then creates better policy, clear objectives and measurable targets is one key way in which council can begin to address this important issue of liveability in our community.

Q2 Council should always challenge major developments considered inappropriate by residents, even if it may mean being overridden by VCAT or other government bodies.

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Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

I believe that at all times local residents and the needs of our community, must always come before developers. However, Council must also step up and be far more pro-active on all planning matters. More often than not, VCAT will respect and uphold existing and sensible planning policies set by Council. Council currently has the ability to exercise much more power in local planning matters. For example, Council can and should consult with the community and determine the community’s expectations and place heritage overlays and neighbourhood character overlays on certain areas defined through thorough consultation with the community. When council overlays exist, VCAT will, in the vast majority of cases, uphold them. Problems arise when council doesn’t bother to proactively develop appropriate planning overlays in consultation with the community and instead relies on fighting developments on a case by case situation. This is costly to the ratepayer and creates an enormous amount of unnecessary community angst and leads to inappropriate development. If elected, I will work to ensure that council consults with the community and then utilises all the powers available to it by very clearly defining how the community expects our area to develop into the future through the development of fully thought out planning policies.

Q3 All large-scale developments should undergo a full and publicly available Environmental Impact Study before they can be submitted to Council for approval

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Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Q4 Council should more actively oppose the government’s proposed Residential Zoning Scheme, which threatens to take away residents’ right to object to developments.

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Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

As per my response to question 2 of this section, I believe that council can and must do more to fully utilise the powers currently available to them in local planning matters. Due to council’s inaction, many of the powers in local planning currently available to council lay dormant. At the same time, I am concerned about elements of the proposed Residential Zoning Scheme, and if elected, I will work hard and cooperatively to ensure my concerns, and those shared by our community, are addressed and achieve a more positive outcome for our community.

Q5 Council should be a strong advocate for the community when dealing with government over how the city is to be developed.

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Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

For this question I have taken ‘the city’ to mean ‘the City of Monash’, rather than Melbourne City and assuming that this is the intention of the question, I’d have to highlight again that in my view the role of council in this and similar matters is far more extensive than that of advocacy. Certainly, advocating strongly on the development of our community is one of many critical roles of Council, however in my view, Council is more than an advocate, when it works cooperatively across all levels of government, it has the potential to be a very active partner with other levels of government and can make a very real and significant contribution to how our community develops into the future.

Bike and Walking Paths – supporting residents’ health and helping save the environment.

Q1 Council should establish a key department to address the issues of transport, bike and walking facilities, and the necessary links between them.

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Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

I agree that there is a need to coordinate issues of transport, bike and walking facilities in Monash. There is huge potential to link facilities more effectively, particularly in some areas such as the Scotchman’s Creek, Brickmakers Park and the Oakleigh Recreation Centre precinct. For health and social reasons we must provide more opportunities for our community to be more physically active and for environmental reasons we must provide real alternatives to vehicular travel, for those who make that choice. The coordination of transport, bike and walking facilities does this, but I am undecided as to whether creating an entirely new department within Monash is the most effective and efficient way to do this. If elected, I will endeavour to find out more about the different ways in which transport, bike and walking facilities could be linked, and I will encourage and welcome the opinions of our community on this matter.

Q2 Council should undertake a needs survey in this area.

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Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Council needs to do more to listen to our community and understand the many and varied needs in our community. A survey, is one important component of what should be a much broader needs analysis of our area. Too often community consultation in Monash is regarded as a quick check box that needs to appear to have occurred. I want to see genuine and extensive community consultation that is inclusive of as many people in our community as possible. Only then will we ever get a true indication of all the needs in our area. Our community’s diversity is one of our biggest strengths, and we need to encourage the entire community to have their voices heard. A survey will work for some, but not all. Council needs to use a range of innovative and fresh approaches to keep an open two-way dialogue with the community so that it is aware of the needs of the entire community and can operate in the interests of the entire community to create a stronger, more connected and happier community.

Q3 Council should take on a stronger advocacy role with VicRoads and VicRail in order to meet community needs.

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Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Again, as I’ve indicated in previous responses, I believe it is too limiting to define Council’s role solely as that of advocacy. While I acknowledge council has an important role to place in being a strong advocate with VicRoads and VicRail to meet community needs, I’d like to see Council move from its mindset of being solely an advocate, to being an active, productive and equal partner in the development of key services that should meet our community’s needs, including those services provided by VicRoads and VicRail. If elected, this is one of the key changes that I would seek to bring in how council manages its relationships with departments and other levels of government. I will work to get results by working cooperatively across all levels of government, and their departments, to achieve the best possible outcomes for our community.

Q4 Council should require all major developments to provide secure bicycle parking areas, especially those at transport hubs.

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Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Traffic Management – regulating traffic on Monash’s roads

Q1 Council should press for better planning by VicRoads to alleviate the ‘grid lock’ on the major roads in Monash.

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Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Again, I see Council’s role to be more than that of an advocate to VicRoads. In fact, while there are very clear distinctions between roads that are managed by VicRoads and those that are managed by Council, in practice local and state roads impact on each other and council and VicRoads need to work together cooperatively as equal partners to find real solutions to the problem of congestion on both local and state managed roads in our community. The issue of congestion on our roads is neither that of VicRoads alone, nor is it that of Council’s. A coordinated, cooperative and fresh approach is required and if elected, I will work to facilitate this new and more productive approach.

Q2 Council should invite the Bus Association and VicRoads to cooperate in addressing the traffic grid lock problems.

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Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Absolutely – as many key stakeholders as possible should be included to address the traffic grid lock problems. Council needs to be far more inclusive in finding solutions to community issues – and I’d like to see a range of stakeholders and local residents involved in working collaboratively towards a solution, if they feel they would like to contribute.

Q3 Council should ask VicRoads should be more pro-active in forcing cars and trucks to use the East Link freeway as a means of reducing traffic volumes on Springvale and Blackburn Roads.

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Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Q4 Council should be pro-active in reducing ‘rat runs’ in local streets wherever residents ask them to do so.

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Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

There is much room for council to be more proactive generally, including in traffic management issues of which ‘rat runs’ are part of.

Access for Disabled – addressing the needs of residents with disabilities.

Q1 Council should insist that a clear line of sight be maintained along the property line on footpaths for those residents with sight disabilities and wheel chair requirements.

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Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Q2 Council should negotiate with transport providers to ensure that all bus stops provide access for wheelchairs.

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Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Q3 Council should join other shire and city councils in signing up to support the Victorian Universal Housing Alliance’s platform for universally accessible and liveable housing in Victoria.

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Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

In all honesty, I am unfamiliar with the Victorian Universal Housing Alliance’s platform for universally accessible and liveable housing in Victoria. However, I would support any platform that uses appropriate and sensible measures to make housing – and all facilities for that matter – more accessible for everyone, including people with a disability.

Support for Neighbourhood Houses and Community Associations

Q1 Monash City Council should follow the lead of other Victorian shire and metropolitan councils in providing recurrent operational funding for Neighbourhood Houses and Community Learning Centres within its boundaries.

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Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Neighbourhood Houses and Community Associations provide so much value to our community. They are vibrant places that foster community strength and pride. Filled with amazing volunteers and staff who keep them going, Neighbourhood Houses and Community Associations deserve the support of all levels of government. While I don’t agree that the funding of Neighbourhood Houses and Community Associations should rest solely with Council, as this burden may be too much for ratepayers to carry, I believe that Neighbourhood Houses and Community Associations should have security of funding. Security of funding would enable the people who run these terrific facilities to get on with the wonderful community work that they do, rather than operating under the cloud of funding shortages. I believe there is a role for each level of government to play in contributing to the funding of Neighbourhood Houses and Community Associations and I will work cooperatively across all levels of government to work towards providing Neighbourhood Houses and Community Associations with security of funding.

Q2 Council should follow the lead of other Victorian shire and metropolitan councils in allowing the operations of Community Associations and other non-profit volunteer associations to be covered by council insurance.

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Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree

Responsibilities of Councillors – matters that all prospective councillors should consider

Q1 Are you willing to attend all meetings called by Council, except when prevented from doing so by personal or family emergency?

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NO YES

Absolutely – I consider that councillors are in a very privileged position, having been entrusted by the community to represent them and if elected, I will take that responsibility very seriously. I don’t see the time involved in being a councillor as limited to attending council meetings; I believe that councillors also need to ensure that they can be easily contacted by local residents. That’s why I’ll hold regular local area meetings and ensure I am always contactable, to ensure the voices of our community are heard by Monash Council. I’ll also make time to respond to queries and while I believe that I have a good understanding of our community’s needs, I also know that there will be some areas in which I will need to learn more about and I will take the time to do that.

Q2 Are you prepared to work together with other councillors to achieve community goals, if necessary across coalitions within Council?

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NO YES

Absolutely – I will always make our community’s needs my first priority and I understand that to achieve positive outcomes for the benefit of our community, it is necessary to work with all councillors, all levels of government, and all sectors of our diverse community. I know that when you work within and across a wide selection of people, as is necessary in the role of a councillor, there are going to be times when you need to work cooperatively with people whose values and opinions may be different from your own. I believe most people’s hearts are in the right place and everyone has something special to offer. Our diversity is one of the great strengths of our community and the need for everyone to be heard is universal and in my opinion, it is the backbone of our democratic system.

Q3 Are you willing to debate all issues of concern to residents in open Council?

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NO YES

Absolutely – if the issue is important to local residents then it warrants open and appropriate debate. I believe that it is the free and respectful exchange of ideas that leads to positive solutions to community issues.

Questionnaire prepared by: John Shrives, 29 Collegium Ave, Wheelers Hill and Marian Quartly, 17 Longbourne Avenue, Notting Hill for the Monash Liveability Coalition

A GREENS candidate has demanded contenders for this month’s Monash Council election declare their political alliances to ratepayers as rumours fly about dummy candidates and dubious preferences.

Oakleigh Ward nominee Matthew Billman, who has listed ALP candidate and current councillor Stephen Dimopoulos second on his ticket, said all candidates should have to declare any political alliance when they registered to run.

“I believe voters should know who they’re voting for,” Mr Billman said.

Allegations of dummy candidates and “runners”, where a genuine candidate enlists a person to stand purely to secure their preferences, also drew fiery responses last week.

The current council is dominated by Labor including Mayor Paul Klisaris (Mulgrave), Cr Dimopoulos and councillors Joy Banerji (Mt Waverley), Charlotte Baines (Mulgrave) and Geoff Lake (Glen Waverley).

Deputy Mayor Dane Manzie, an independent standing for re-election, urged voters to “not let the City of Monash be ALP controlled”.

“I find it a huge con with the election process and I believe our residents have the right to have a clear awareness to this anomaly,” he said.

Candidates also attacked the ALP for its policy of making its members preference other party colleagues first.

The ALP did not return calls from the Leader last week to confirm this policy.

However, Cr Klisaris, who is standing for re-election, said he’d never been pressured by the party to preference members first.

“I will preference and do preference deals with people who genuinely care and have the same values as I do for the community,” Cr Klisaris said. Cr Klisaris is preferencing Cr Baines, who in turn is preferencing Cr Klisaris.

Oakleigh Ward councillor Denise McGill, a former Liberal MP standing as an independent for re-election, said candidates should be chosen for their genuine work and campaigning in the community.

VOTING in the Monash Council elections starts this week, as voters across the municipality begin to receive their ballot packs in the mail.
Ballot packs, which include candidate information, voting instructions and a ballot paper, are being mailed to all enrolled voters from today (Tuesday).
Jeff Gazzard, returning officer for the Monash City Council elections, said voting by post was quick and easy.
“Ballot papers can be completed and posted back to me as soon as people receive their ballot packs in the mail,” Mr Gazzard said.
“Every voter needs to make sure their completed ballot paper reaches the election office by 6pm on Friday, November 28, or their vote won’t count.”
Voting is compulsory for all enrolled residents aged under 70; this includes both property owners and tenants, and those who fail to vote may be fined.
People who have not received their ballot pack by next Wednesday, November 19, should contact the election office immediately on 9563 0118 for a replacement pack.
Residents can phone or visit vec.vic.gov.au for more information

MAYOR and ALP member Paul Klisaris has hit out at accusations he has stacked the Mulgrave Ward council election ballot with supporting candidates linked to his Oakleigh child-care centre.

Of the 11 candidates in the Mulgrave Ward, eight have preferenced Labor candidates. Among the eight, four have preferenced Cr Klisaris second and Cr Charlotte Baines third.

Of those four, three did not list their contact details on the Victorian Electoral Commission website. At least two of them are or have been clients at Cr Klisaris’ child-care centre in Oakleigh.

Asked if the three were his clients, Cr Klisaris said Li Chuan Tung previously had a child at his centre. He then had to speak to the “child-care centre adviser” before making further comment.

When he called back, he said it would break confidentiality to confirm whether the other two candidates, Ilaria Antoniazzi and Sharon O’Connor, had children at his centre.

Ms Antoniazzi later confirmed she had a child at the centre, but Ms O’Connor didn’t return the Journal’s calls.

“There is no insinuation anyone is doing anything because they asked me to,” Ms Antoniazzi said. “I am a serious, genuine candidate and I don’t want to be confused with anything else.”

Cr Klisaris said two sitting councillors, Gerry Kottek and Dane Manzie – who were preferenced by Labor in the past – have had children at the centre when they were running for election.

“In my capacity as mayor and as a businessman I’ve had the privilege to meet a lot of good people in our community. I’ve encouraged them to put their hand up and run for council. For that I make no apology.

“I can’t control how people preference, but people are comfortable with what I have to say. They support what I have to say.”

Mulgrave Ward councillor Craig Shiell said it sounded as though Cr Klisaris’ centre was “a breeding ground for Monash Council election candidates”.

“I believe they’re there just to push their preferences over to other candidates.

“I can’t see that they’re seriously running as a candidate and it just shows that the entire local government election system needs to be changed to make it more accountable, more transparent for the people of our city.”

Candidate Michael Doyle said he “wasn’t surprised” but he was “saddened” if everything that he heard was correct.

Last week, the Journal reported that of the 43 candidates in Monash, 11 did not list any contact details. Two candidates said it was a mistake and later listed their details, but many said they were “too busy” to speak to ratepayers.

It has since emerged that all nine candidates, whose details remain unlisted, gave their second, third or both second and third preference to Labor candidates.

Monash University Governance Research Unit’s Associate Professor Ken Coghill said it gave the appearance that a number of candidates had stood with the “apparent purpose of supporting the election of Labor councillors”.

“I think it’s been quite common for there to be people who nominate as candidates with the express purpose of supporting other candidates, rather than expecting to be elected themselves,” he said.

“That’s occurred in elections at all levels ever since there’s been a preferential voting system. Voters have got to look very carefully at exactly what these people are standing for.”