How ‘Green’ is Mayor Pilling, or has he turned a darker shade of Blue? Is Lipshutz’s ascendancy to Deputy Mayor primarily to be Pilling’s ‘minder’ and watchdog? Is the Mayoral position a ‘reward’ for complicity with the ‘conservatives’ on C60 and numerous other decisions? Only time will tell how truly committed Neil Pilling is to Green policy and turning Glen Eira into the ‘green’ and ‘gregarious’ community the publicity blurbs keep telling us it is. We start by asking a few questions:
- How does the support for the removal of 39 established trees in Caulfield Park coincide with Green Policy?
- How does the continued planting of exotics align with stated policy for native re-vegetation?
- How does the reappointment of Newton without advertising the position accord with Green philosophy of open democratic processes?
Glen Eira Debates 
November 19, 2013 at 11:20 AM
The Greens supported Pillings election campaigns with cash. He’s supposed to be a green but doesn’t act or vote like one. He should give the money back quick smart.
November 19, 2013 at 12:28 PM
Since the Greens promote “open democratic processes” Pilling’s vote against accepting a petition on the Caulfield Trustees is another black mark against his green credentials. Naturally, this would have meant voting against his new found buddies in Lipshutz, Esakoff and Hyams, and since he helped approve C60 and the racecourse centre his die was cast. Being mayor should cause plenty of other crises of conscience and hard decisions based on whether loyalty to his party gains the upper hand, or loyalty to his latest acquired friends. As with Lobo, he will soon discover the fickleness of such newly acquired soul mates.
November 19, 2013 at 1:21 PM
When people voted for Pilling and recently Sounness I would think that they were voting in favour of change and for the Green’s basic philosophy and policies. From this point of view both Pilling and Sounness have been major, major disappointments. Their alliance with the gang has done nothing to introduce much needed change in Glen Eira. It has only succeeded in further diminishing any hope that this council might at the very least be seen as giving a thought to what residents want.
November 19, 2013 at 4:10 PM
He likes the idea of visitrs to unit blocks using railway parks. How green is that. What will the train travellers do?
November 19, 2013 at 4:17 PM
I think in Glen Eira Council we have six Libs two Labor and Lobo.
November 19, 2013 at 4:41 PM
Cr Pilling cannot legally follow the dogma that is espoused by the Greensparty. He is sworn to make decisions based on what he thinks. Not what somebody else thinks. This is not Parliament. Big difference. People can understand the reqirements by studying the LGA. He has been a model councillor and is an honest man. He will make a fine mayor.
November 19, 2013 at 5:16 PM
Maybe you should look at the number of trees now in the municipality compared to 7 or 8 years ago rather than concentrate and obsess about the few that have been removed. My guess is that in totality there would be at least a 1/3rd more now. Some (notably at the McKinnon Road park) were crap trees with no redeeming features. Much more pleasant park to visit now.
Agree with your point about the re-appointment of Newton without advertisement. All senior appointments in the council administration should go to the market in order to get the best available candidate. They (and Council) should have no fears about going to the market if they are the best qualified for the various positions. I thought that was Pilling’s position on the matter too. If he voted for the appointment without advertisement he has done a back flip with triple pike.
November 21, 2013 at 7:04 AM
Its not about how many trees we have or had, its about how many we are going to need. If trees are deemed as disposible commodities we are in trouble, as a Green, Cr Pilling should be supporting the retention of trees and comimg up with greener solutions to issues. Were’s Mr Sounnous he is a Camden ward councillor, what are his views on Caulfield park tree massacre.
November 21, 2013 at 9:30 PM
You retain trees that are healthy, possess redeeming qualities, and serve a useful purpose. Not merely because they are mature- I would have thought. Somehow think the council arborist would know better than we do on these matters.
November 21, 2013 at 1:18 PM
He seems to follow the crowd and forget his love pf being green. I suppose he agrees with using railway car parks as visitor parking for the flats they approve too!