In just on two weeks the deadline for nomination for council elections will be upon us. It is therefore time for reflection and for answers to the following questions:
- Has this crop of councillors ‘delivered’?
- Have they made major progress on such vital issues as planning, traffic management and consultation processes?
- Have they really and truly delivered the best outcomes for the vast majority of residents?
Our answers to the above have to be a resounding ‘No’. What we have witnessed over the past 4 years is simply more of the same. And that ‘same’ is anathema to the hopes and aspirations of this community. Put simply, we sum up the past few years as:
- Higher and higher rates
- More and more investigations and waste of public monies
- Horrendous decisions (C60; 10 storey developments; centre of the racecourse; no notice of motion; continued gagging of councillors – to name but a few)
- Governance at an all time low with no transparency, no accountability, and too much secrecy
- A dysfunctional council run by a ruling clique (the ‘gang’) that far too often ignores community concerns and favours hidden administrative agendas
- A pro-development council with no sign of even attempting to control and rein in inappropriate development – ie. low open space levy; dropping development contributions, dropping of commercial policy, removing childcare from non residential uses in residential areas policy and amendments galore that favour developers
These are just some of the perennial problems that Glen Eira has faced for more than a decade. Many of these councillors have simply been there too long and even the ‘newbies’ have been seen to flounder and lose their way..
We urge all readers to think carefully about their votes and the significance of this upcoming election. Glen Eira desperately requires reform. It desperately requires a change in corporate culture, where it is councillors who lead and officers simply follow. Under Newton, this has never been the case. It is time for long overdue change! This can only happen if most of the current incumbents are denied your vote.
Glen Eira Debates 
September 11, 2012 at 4:34 PM
Ya can add arrogance and stupidity to the list. The first is for Lipshutz and Hyams and then the second is for Pilling Lobo Forge.
September 11, 2012 at 5:20 PM
You can also add a extremely poor record in traffic management (and it’ll only get worse) – ad hoc decisons – a council who doesnt give a damn what the community and perhaps more importantly what the ratepayers want.
There are no contemporray business mangement thinking & certainly no strategic thinking or planning. Stats & data (intelligence) to aid sound decison making doesnt exist.
Traffic congestion and total disrefgrad by drivers to speed limits in our residential streerts.
We need some clever innovative thinking to improve this horrific situtaion.
C’mon October council elections!!!!
September 11, 2012 at 5:30 PM
Add lack of independence on ‘independent’ Audit Committee members Gibbs and McLean who have both fed from the Glen Eira trough for over 14 years – a record for local government audit committees.
September 11, 2012 at 6:15 PM
Another black mark on this issue is that each of these appointments have been held in camera with no public announcement. I can only think of one reason why this is so – to avoid questions and embarrassment. It is a black mark against all councillors who supported this Newton move and allowed it to remain as confidential.
The other black mark has to be the contuing presence of Lipshutz on the audit committee. As the chair of gesac and numerous other committees he has shown his complete inability to provide open and accountable governance. Best practice tells us that no individual should remain on such an important committee for so long.
Governance has been at the heart of most of the ills plaguing Glen Eira. These councillors have done nothing to instil confidence in the electorate that they have turned things around. Their repeated cow-towing to this administration is not why they were elected in the first place. I cannot see one thing that the gang has achieved for Glen Eira, except a perilous financial position and the alienation of most reasonable people. It is time for a change that is for certain.
September 11, 2012 at 9:23 PM
Plenty more to add.
Frisbee
gesac basketball
heritage listing for Seaview avenue and Esakoff property
Ajax and caulfield bears
Alma club and open space
c87 and hoodwinking residents
public questions now become “harassment”
lawyers,court cases and more lawyers and court cases all because Newton wants his job and his toadies agree to do as he wants
liquidated damages that are a joke and run by Lipshutz
lousy planning conferences where residents don’t get a say or allowed to ask questions of developers
The whole damn lot need to go.
September 13, 2012 at 6:45 PM
You forgot to mention the elephant in the room HallucinogenicPenhalluriack
September 11, 2012 at 5:38 PM
Four Councillors – Hyams, Lipshutz, Pilling and Esakoff – voted for improving the centre of the racecourse and having its use as a park for residents. there was also a plan to remove fences and replace with pallisade and landscaping on the streets around the racecourse. Great idea but no follow through. Anyone seen overgrown Queens Avenue? Cyclists can no longer even use the bike lane. Great bargaining with the MRC on C60!?
September 11, 2012 at 7:55 PM
This lot are all talk on increasing open space but no action. The Mayor takes the role of Melbourne Racing Club Spokesman. Also high rate rises cheeses me off.
September 12, 2012 at 8:23 AM
can someone run through the candiates and there policy on Caulfield Racecourse (I know this will probably change after the election!). I only found out that Mary Delahunty is not the ‘Mary Delahunty’. she doesnt seem to have anything about the racecourse although wants more open space. To me the only way to deliver more open space is the racecourse. No more can be grown.
September 12, 2012 at 11:37 AM
Ask her Fan Club. I’d be interested in her answer. Her web site has this email address mary@marydelahunty.com
September 12, 2012 at 9:11 PM
Wow she has a great website. Hope she can maintain it unlike Pilling and Lipshutz pathetic attempts.
September 12, 2012 at 4:33 PM
Mary Delahunty will not get into the race track issue as her mate, Nic Staikos is a trustee and gets on well with the MRC. Very well.
September 12, 2012 at 9:02 PM
If she fails to get involved in opening up Caulfield Racecourse, she should just staat home with the kids and forget Council. It is the key issue in Camden ward where she is standing and important for all Glen Eira. Penhalluriack and Forge are certainties to be elected. It would be interesting if Delahunty can pip Lipshutz for the third spot. Her stand on the racecourse will be the difference.
September 12, 2012 at 9:59 PM
Aint gonna happen: the Delahunty family has some serious links to the racing industry and hence the MRC. She will never be involved in any issue concerning the MRC: ever heard of conflict of interest
September 12, 2012 at 9:56 PM
Unfortunately the Delahuntys, like all political families of both Liberal and Labor pursuasions, have major links with the racing industry. This means a vote for Mary is a vote wasted when it comes to any issue dealing with the MRC – she will always have to declare a conflict of interest. What’s the point of electing a Camden Ward Councillor who will never be able to vote on the contension issues concerning the MRC.
September 12, 2012 at 9:08 PM
I received a letter from Danby canning Jellyback Southwick and stating that a vote for Penhalluriack and Delahunty is a vote for opening up Caulfield Racecourse. Hope Danby is being honest. I am getting very sick of Politicians who lie. Didnt Pilling, Hyams, Esakoff and Lipshutz promise opening up of the racecourse through an agreement with the MRC by 27 April 2012. Hmmmmmmmmmmm????
September 12, 2012 at 10:06 PM
Forget Danby being honest: how many letters did you receive from him opposing the C60 development when it was happening. The answer is none. Yet here we have an endorsement for Penhalluriack (because he stood up over the racecourse issue) and Mary Delahunty who never raised a peek at the racecourse issue and who is very well connected politically. I have heard Delahunty speak and outline her issues: she doesn’t have a clue (very light weight).
September 13, 2012 at 8:42 AM
I hope Danby is using his own money to pay for mail when canvassing for Council elections. It is unlawful to use his parliamentary allowances for electioneering. Be careful Michael, you have done it before. Try it again and you will be gone.
September 12, 2012 at 5:04 PM
I’ve been having an online browse of local Leader editions. Councillors are on the nose everywhere. Everyone is calling for change. That’s what has to happen in Glen Eira. I don’t want councillors who are there for their own petty political futures or for themselves. We’ve had plenty of those in the past. I then don’t want namby-pamby gutless wonders who forget their promises and high-tail it for cover as soon as Newton starts putting the pressure on. I want people who really care about what’s been happening in the municipality and are determined that things must change.
The c60 cost my sister plenty when she sold her house. Lipshutz, Pilling, Hyams and Esakoff have got to be put last on any vote in these wards. The payoff is on October 27th. People, don’t forget what they’ve done.
September 12, 2012 at 10:04 PM
October 27 marks 18 months since the MRC and Hyams, Pilling, Lipshutz and Esakoff signed off on the centre of the racecourse agreement. But it was supposed to be completed within 12 months. Go there yourself and you will find NOTHING has been done. Great job Glen Eira Council. That’s about as bad as it could get.
September 13, 2012 at 5:39 AM
In some ways I hope these four run for re election. You just have to ask them how the racecourse agreement with the MRC is progressing and watch them wince.
September 13, 2012 at 9:50 AM
unfortunately Lipshutz is the only one in Camden. He is a shoe in with the Jewish vote. Will anyone in Bentleigh (Tucker) really care about Caulfield Racecourse when reelecting Hyams. Be better if we could all vote for all the wards
September 13, 2012 at 6:43 PM
Cr Penhalluriack and the deplorable way he has behaved Is the greatest example of a dysfunctional council. The fact that he is still able to run in the upcoming elections means this council will continue to have issues into its future.
September 13, 2012 at 8:25 PM
Glen Eira’s history of dysfunction started the moment Newton stepped in. He then recruited the current elephants in the room – Lipshutz and Hyams in particular. Get rid of Newton and the other two and we might have a half way decent council.
September 16, 2012 at 11:31 PM
Hi everyone,
I am Mary Delahunty. I appreciate the interest in a change of local representatives.
I can assure you, I find the development at the Racecourse to be grossly inappropriate and, despite enjoying the races occasionally – I do not have any conflict of interest.
My family has been involved in public office for many generations, it is a history I am very proud of – although we don’t always share common platforms!
I look forward to meeting many of you in the coming weeks and we can discuss stopping the over-development of Glen Eira in person.
Mary.
September 17, 2012 at 11:23 AM
Hi Mary, welcome to the Forum. Forgive the residents of Camden, in particular the areas surrounding the racecourse being Glenhuntly and the four Caulfields – Central, North,South and East. We have been lied to by a number of politicians who promised to stop the inappropriate 20 plus storey development only to have them change their minds and work against the residents suddenly after being elected. Promises are cheap – just ask Southwick, Pilling, Hyams, Esakoff and Lipshutz about their agreement with the Melbourne Racing Club. The racecourse was going to be opened up to the community, playgrounds were going to be built, fences removed and even a soccer oval built. All by 27 April 2012. Drive along Queens Avenue and see what has actually happened. A barrier was recently built by Council to stop people even walking and riding around the outside! Have a look at the ‘park’ on Booran Road. So sorry if we appear cynical but we need people of action as Councillors not more political wannabees.
September 17, 2012 at 12:10 PM
How is Mary Delanhunty (Cambden) related to Hugh Delahunty the sports minister? I would have thought that was a conflict ? Hasn’t the coalition committed additional funds to the ‘hard done’ by racing industry which are also property developers. Funny how governments have created multi million dollar gambling companies as well and now the gambling companies are suing the governments because the government says they no longer want them. So taxpayers and gamblers will be stung twice.