Cr. Hyams’ reference to the Leader pre-election blurbs by the various candidates has been the catalyst for this post. Just over a year out from the next election, we thought it would be opportune to consider where we’ve come from, what’s been achieved, and what still needs doing.
The rhetoric that we continually hear is that councillors run the show and that administrators administer. Reading the promises below, a total rethink on this proposition is in order. Nearly every councillor opposed ‘inappropriate development’; nearly every councillor promised better consultation; nearly every councillor thought that carbon reduction was important as was keeping rates ‘reined in’. Three years down the track and very, very few of these promises have materialised into concrete achievements. So what’s gone wrong? Why can’t councillors deliver on their promises – especially since they’re supposed to be in control? Have we simply elected the wrong people? Why have many of these initial worthwhile promises simply bitten the dust? What is the reason for the failure of vision, the failure of real initiative, and the failure to fully engage and represent the wishes of the community? All your views are welcomed!
Councillors’ comments (including those from our ‘dearly departed’) are cited below from the Leader (November, 2008)
TANG: What do you see as the most important issue in Glen Eira?
Environmental, financial and social sustainability. We need to invest in community assets and community building whilst minimising our environmental impact. This can be achieved while keeping our rates below peer councils.
What is one thing you think you can achieve if elected to council?
I can deliver record investment in community infrastructure such as roads, footpaths, drains and buildings. Top of the list is the Duncan MacKinnon Pavilion and Booran Rd Reservoir Park.
ESAKOFF: What do you see as the most important issue in Glen Eira?
Having a responsive, service-oriented, financially and environmentally responsible Council that governs well and fully consults the community to make the best possible decisions for the people of Glen Eira.
What is one thing you think you can achieve if elected to council?
Making Glen Eira even more liveable by keeping rates low, retaining the pensioner rebate, improving services, facilities, safety, shopping strips and open space, whilst protecting our environment and residential amenity.
PILLING: What do you see as the most important issue in Glen Eira?
Genuine community consultation. We need to build a better council that genuinely listens and acts on what the community needs. I will conduct quarterly open focus forums to discuss concerns and issues.
What is one thing you think you can achieve if elected to council?
Our present council doesn’t take climate change seriously! I will advocate strongly for Glen Eira Council to become carbon neutral by 2018 with a 40% reduction in carbon pollution by 2012.
PENHALLURIACK: What do you see as the most important issue in Glen Eira?
Gaining a financial and recreational benefit from the Caulfield Racecourse Crown Land, which is a jewel hidden behind a gulag-style fence and used for only 20 race meetings a year.
What is one thing you think you can achieve if elected to council?
My experience as the owner of Penhalluriack’s Building Supplies will enable me to bring local knowledge and business efficiencies to council, thereby enabling lower rates and better services and facilities.
FORGE: What do you see as the most important issue in Glen Eira?
Develop Caulfield Racecourse into a world standard sporting and recreational complex; reform State planning rules in the best interest of ratepayers; and make greater progress of greening our city with canopy trees.
What is one thing you think you can achieve if elected to council?
I attended over 90 per cent of Glen Eira Council meetings in past three years, so am well aware of how I can contribute. I am a skilful negotiator and have experience lobbying.
WHITESIDE: What do you see as the most important issue in Glen Eira?
My priority issue during the past three years in council has been and remains town planning, particularly inappropriate development, protection of heritage properties and streetscapes, especially at boundaries of minimal change areas.
What is one thing you think you can achieve if elected to council?
I am committed to good governance and to a council that listens to people. I believe that the high standard of governance can be continued in Glen Eira with my influence.
LIPSHUTZ: What do you see as the most important issue in Glen Eira?
We must have balanced development but at the same time preserve streetscape and period homes. Additionally rate increases must be contained, Glen Eira must be a leader in environmental matters.
What is one thing you think you can achieve if elected to council?
I can assure voters that responsible and decisive governance will continue. Rates will be reigned in and Glen Eira will become a much greener municipality. Planning will be reviewed.
HYAMS: Why should the electorate vote for you?
Council is about community, and helping residents and ratepayers. As President of the Moorabbin Historical Society, Vice President of Glen Eira Community Associations, local Bendigo Community Bank committee member and until earlier this year cricket club president and Neighbourhood Watch Area Secretary, and as a former councillor, I have a strong history of community involvement. I will work for low rates and a high pensioner rebate, improved community and sporting facilities, better support for sporting and other clubs, improved services for families and the aged, better community consultation, improved safety and better representation to State Government. I will strongly oppose over-development.
STAIKOS: Why should the electorate vote for you?
As a Tucker Ward councillor for the last three years, I have worked to ensure that Bentleigh and East Bentleigh are not forgotten. Some positive outcomes for our local community include the redevelopment of the East Bentleigh Pool, keeping the McKinnon Maternal and Child Health Centre open as well as expanding services at the Bentleigh Centre, committing to the rebuild
of the Centenary Park Pavilion and ensuring that the Home and Community Care Service is as efficient as possible. Looking forward, I want to ensure that Council opposes inappropriate development, establishes a child care centre in East Bentleigh, reduces carbon emissions and fights graffiti.
MAGEE: Why should the electorate vote for you?
I have lived in East Bentleigh with my wife Claire and two children since 1988. I have watched our area grow year by year. The number of double, even triple, dwellings on single blocks has started to change the very look and feel of Tucker Ward. The pressure for places at our kindergartens, child and maternal health centres and schools shows how popular this area is. We need our parks and playgrounds to be safe, our streets well lit and footpaths in good order. I am committed to the redevelopment of the East Bentleigh Pool.
LOBO: Why should the electorate vote for you?
As a Justice of the Peace for Victoria, I believe I am community spirited. By the nature of my professional background I am result oriented. My commitment to the residents of Bentleigh, East Bentleigh and McKinnon is to give our suburbs a strong voice on the council and put community safety and welfare before council’s surplus. I will oppose inappropriate developments; ensure that senior citizens are properly supported; support parents with young children and give young people opportunities to express their creativity in positive ways. A vote for me is a vote for someone who cares with heart and mind.
Glen Eira Debates 
August 25, 2011 at 11:02 AM
I would wholeheartedly agree that looking back over the reign of this council very few of the election promises have come to fruition. Development continues to be a major sore point for countless residents and what is euphemistically called a “planning review” a total waste of time. There’s also been no halt to continual rate increases, nor have we seen in my opinion responsible financial management when millions upon millions are spent on more sporting facilities in a time of hardship for many in the community. Lack of proper consultation doesn’t need any further comment – the C60 and the racecourse issues alone provide indisputable evidence of how little these individuals really listen to what the people want. On environment there’s no carbon reduction targets, no action on gesac emissions and no proper evaluation of anything. Of course the argument is that this is politics and that you need a certain number of votes to get anything done. My counter to this is how come the promises of 3 years ago have all been still born when we had nearly all councillors vowing to change the direction of this council – that totals more than 5 votes. If the promises were genuine then plenty could have been achieved by now.
August 25, 2011 at 5:30 PM
Consultation acheives nothing. Why pay people to work for the Council then waste time asking the residents what to do? We elect Councillors. It is called representitive government. When the Council has any sort of consultation with the residents they might get 30 people. That is about 0.023% of all the residents. You would hardly say that the Councillors or staff would be inclined to take too notice of that size sample. What consultation does do sometimes is annoy people. They turn up and have their say and when things don’t work out the way they prefer then they get annoyed. The vast majoroity of people are quite happy to ,leave it all up to their elected Councillors. Let them worry. You can relax.
August 25, 2011 at 6:28 PM
You keep bringing up the same old argument that doesn’t have too much going for it. ‘Why pay people to work for the Council then waste time asking the residents what to do?” That’s the old top down approach instead of the bottom up approach. “When the Council has any sort of consultation with the residents they might get 30 people”. Ask yourself why only 30 people and who’s to say that 30 people can’t have great ideas and suggestions as shown on Monday night. You’re also assuming that there is “representative government” in Glen Eira. I’m sorry to say that is not the case. These councillors represent us only in name and not in action. The real decision makers reside in their corporate offices. That’s not democracy and not even representative government.
The other thing you need to take into account is that when for years and years people haven’t been listened to then they either give up or can’t be bothered to show up for these manipulated and already decided events and forums. It’s no coincidence that when there is real engagement that other councils can get thousands of people to put in submissions and hundreds upon hundreds to attend meetings. Glen Eira people are no different, except that they’ve been hoodwinked and grown tired of being continually ignored and taken for granted. I’m very happy that recent times have seen a ground swell and opposition to such treatment. If they keep going the way they have been then these councillors will have successfully generated a revolution. Just wait and see.
August 25, 2011 at 2:37 PM
It hasn’t been all negative in Glen Eira, The lone Greens councillor has been beavering away in the background and some very worthy environmental initiatives have made it though the chamber. The Carbon Reduction Plan for Glen Eira is on the table right now and has some very worthy actions within it pages. I recommend everyone to have a read and submitting your comments.
It has been amazing to see what one person can achieve, ideas thought impossible 3 years ago are getting aired and adopted. This is undeniable.
The GESAC emissions mess can be laid solely at the feet of the conservative councillors. GESAC should have never been built in the first place, or it should have been built with the latest technologies to keep the carbon emission to a minimal.
No doubt in will have to be retro fitted in the next decade if Glen Eira is going to take its carbon emissions seriously.
It is was a interesting read and to see all the councillors pretending to be environmentally aware in their electioneering materials. Whilst many if not near all are the opposite in real-life.
But the last few years of experience has shown us which councillors are green and who isn’t. The conservatives are hopelessly lost on the importance of emission control, biodiversity protection and sustainable living initiatives and a lot of social issues like Kindergartens and meaningful public consultation.
However voters must be careful not to throw-out the baby with the bath water. If the next election see a majority of progressive councillors elected, the sad story the has become Glen Eira could be turned around very quickly.
August 25, 2011 at 5:32 PM
By progressive I take it you mean socialist. Why not just say what you mean?
August 25, 2011 at 5:16 PM
Guess it’s kind of ironic that on his blog Cr. Pilling is lamenting the value of forums: “All local residents in the area know this is the biggest issue in the area right thru from Caulfield to Oakleigh and Im not sure of the value of further ‘workshops’ – Everyone knows what the problem is and what the solution is.”
I think the very same could be said for the waste of time that Glen Eira forums are. We all know what the problems are about consultation and there are probably plenty of people out in the community who would have marvellous suggestions. The fact that these forums are nothing but talk fests and that nothing ever comes out of them is not the fault of forums themselves but that these councillors hold them, listen, but never act on them. Personally I’m really tired of hearing that everything has had ‘extensive consultation’ when everyone knows how far from the truth this really is. There’s then the next step of doing something about this. That’s where councillors have shown how ineffectual they are and how administrators are capable of undermining all the best intentions.
It’s also impossible to believe that in the face of all these election promises five community minded councillors can’t bring down a vote that would really embrace the democratic process – regardless of what Newton and Burke and the gang of 4 might want.
August 25, 2011 at 8:05 PM
anonymous ……. Please do not put words into my mouth I meant as I said progressive, not socialist.
August 25, 2011 at 10:49 PM
For yourself there is a difference, for many others there is none.
August 26, 2011 at 5:19 AM
I note from viewing these promises and remember Cr Magee being in chamber and speaking on the spending of money on the East Bentleigh pool, other councilolors are banned from voting to carry out their election promises. Cr tang also voted in favour of the Duncan McKinnon grandstand when this was a matter in his policy. Maybe we could move to have them winkey popped in court OF LAW!!!! There seems to be a double standard here. Cr Lipshutz remained in chamber when discussing the removal of the heritage building in Hawthorn Road although heritage was also mentioned in his election policy!!!!
Maybe we could see a lawyer as we are continually seeing our two Camden Ward councillors being excluded from debate when they attempt to carry out their election policies!!!!!
August 27, 2011 at 8:35 PM
It has long been very clear that as far as this blog is concerned, if you can’t write something nasty about this Council, don’t write anything at all. The term Glen Eira Debates is simply ironic. A great example was the way you were very happy to print the initial Leader article about the community satisfaction survey, in which the results were unintentionally misinterpreted in a way that made it look as though Council was performing badly, but were not willing to print, as a post, the corrected version which made it clear we are doing better than other Councils. Your excuse taht it was pasted in a comment doesn’t cut it. There have been plenty of other times when you have thought a comment worthy of a separate post.
This post takes the cake though. It’s nothing less than completely dishonest.
You say “Nearly every councillor opposed ‘inappropriate development’; nearly every councillor promised better consultation; nearly every councillor thought that carbon reduction was important as was keeping rates ‘reined in’.Three years down the track and very, very few of these promises have materialised into concrete achievements.” Frankly, this is just rubbish. On inappropriate development, VCAT, on many occasions, gives developers more than we do, overturning either our refusals or conditions, but I can only think of one occasion where it has given an applicant less.
We are redrafting our consultation strategy and have introduced several initiatives to improve consultation, including the e-newsletters, and have sent various items to consultation, or further consultation on councillors’ initiative when this may previously have not been the case.
The carbon reduction plan put out for consultation at the last meeting sets out the many steps we have taken to reduce carbon emissions, and further steps we propose to take.
Our rates are the third lowest per assessment in Melbourne.
Just because you say something is true or, more likely, wish it to be true, doesn’t mean that it is true. It’s almost as if you’ve worked yourself into a state where you are psychologically incapapble of coping with the thought that this Council may not be all bad.
Again, it’s no wonder you stay anonymous. If readers knew who you were, you would be responsible for the accuracy and fairness or otherwise of your statements, and perhaps readers would understand the grudges that are driving such bias and bitterness.
If there is some other reason other than that you are too ashamed of your comments to stand by them, please share it with me.