I am genuinely independent. I have never had any association with any political party. As a Councillor, I am a politician - but I see myself as a governance leader first. I don’t need partisan links to serve Whitehorse and Eley Ward well. I have a constructive working relationship with Eley’s Lower House local MPs: the State Members for Box Hill (Paul Hamer) and Ashwood (Matt Fregon), and the Federal Member for  what is currently Chisholm (Carina Garland). I had equally good working relationships with previous Liberal MPs, and I engage well with the diversely aligned regional MPs in the Upper Houses at State and Federal level.

I’m not so interested in what I can personally take credit for. Councillors can be part of initiating progress, but good outcomes are a Council team effort. There are many Eley improvements that I’ve helped to happen, including: complex Mirrabooka (Blackburn South) precinct and pavilion planning and South oval resurfacing, supporting community development at Brickworks including Cultivating Community’s use of the rooftop garden and Library story-times, new dog off-lead space at the rear of Eley Park, new half court space at Edinburgh Patch and multicourt space at Eley Park, improved Wurundjeri Walk paths and roadside parking areas, new playgrounds – notably at Highbury Park, and more. What I’m proud of is that Eley residents get prompt and holistic responses from me, and when something is difficult and disappointing, like the loss of a proposed Melbourne Water wetlands next to Brickworks, I follow up best possible communication about the issues.

I don’t believe in promising things that a single Councillor cannot deliver.  I will promise evidence-based leadership (not emotive or political reactions). I will promise to act in the community’s interest in the medium to long term (not only the short term). I will focus on how higher density housing impacts environment and liveability. I will promise effort and attention on community resilience – with emphasis on climate challenges and health challenges - and empowering Whitehorse participants to create community-led solutions to the very complex problems we face. 

Whitehorse applies the rate cap set at State level (meaning the limit on the % average rate rise for ratepayers). That annual increase is forced to be less than the increases that State applies to their own services and generally sits well below CPI. While Whitehorse has consistently applied that rate cap increment, it is also true that Whitehorse, at base, has one of the lowest rating structures of metro Councils.

The money that Council receives (from rates and other sources) needs to keep up with the cost of managing infrastructure renewal and maintaining service levels. Perhaps the best question is not ‘can I pay less rates’, but ‘can I be assured that the most important community services are properly maintained’. Answering yes requires local government to do some things differently, and to stop doing others. My focus is on ‘right service, efficiently delivered to the right level’.

I stand against inappropriate development to the fullest extent permitted by the Planning Scheme. I also stand for the need for greater access to housing in Eley and Whitehorse, and for a greater diversity of types of housing. Local government has a super important role in advocacy to State about planning reform and housing targets; as much control as possible should be in the hands of the local community. But this doesn’t mean we can prevent everything we don’t like. My prime focus is on appropriate setbacks (so site coverage, where we can influence it, is lesser) and allowance for deep soil planting for healthy canopy trees. I also engage with the community voices of concerns about parking, traffic management, height/visual bulk of some developments, and more.

Open space is a lifeline for communities. I support tree planting (right species in the right spot, properly maintained) to combat the heat island effects we increasingly experience. Trees are the right shade for playgrounds, the best friend of carbon capture and cleaner air, and a boost to collective mental health. The right tree will withstand, and indeed reduce, many extreme weather effects. Open space needs to support both active and passive recreation, as inclusively and accessibly as possible. I will keep working to ensure that passive recreation gets a fair priority. I do prioritise human recreation over dog recreation, while recognising that each can support the other.

I started my career as a local government planning and environment lawyer. Through roles more focussed on community development (local and international), I have come back to local government with a ton of wider life experience and governance experience. I am not self-interested. I am community-health-interested. I value personal integrity above all else. I always seek to be a non-anxious and listening presence. It is together, inclusive of what makes us different, that we have the best chance of building higher quality of life for all.