Last night’s GERA’s forum was illuminating for several reasons:
- The anger of residents was palpable
- The impotence and unwillingness of the four councillors (Lobo, Okotel, Hyams and Magee) to commit to any possibility of change was damning
- The most outrageous comments by these councillors included:
- The zones were a ‘neutral translation’ based on data dating back to 1996
- The minister would only make things worse if council attempted to amend anything
- Residents should ‘advocate’ to councillors about their concerns (never mind that 150+ people were already expressing their views directly!)
We’ve uploaded the audio of the Q and A session and ask that you listen carefully to the ‘answers’ provided by councillors.
PS: BAYSIDE CITY COUNCIL THROWS OUT ITS RESIDENTIAL GROWTH ZONES. WATCH THE SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING AND RESIDENTS ADDRESSING COUNCIL AT – http://stream.bayside.vic.gov.au/archive/video14-1118-1.php#placeholder
Also refreshing to hear councillors apologising to their community for inadequate consultation. Pity it doesn’t happen from too many councillors in Glen Eira!
November 20, 2014 at 9:42 AM
What! no Greens Councillors to be seen?
November 20, 2014 at 11:22 AM
The Greens are irrelevant. Ask their opinion on Nuclear Fusion and you get a blank stare as they don’t understand what it is. All too hard. Solar and wind are only stop gaps.
November 20, 2014 at 9:59 PM
I think solar is here to stay, your Nuclear option/s are far to expensive for an increasing poorer world
November 21, 2014 at 6:42 AM
Fusion is reliable, no waste and should be available in 10 years. It will not be as expensive as solar currently is. Although solar may get a lot cheaper it is not reliable.
November 20, 2014 at 12:32 PM
No they are busy worling for the election anyway, Cr. Sounnes always seems to support laege developments and parking waivers. cr. Hyams actually said he did noot know of any parking waivers!!!!!!!!! It is a shame he has such a bad memory.
November 20, 2014 at 10:00 PM
Hyam’s couldn’t (MODERATORS: rest of sentence deleted)
November 20, 2014 at 1:13 PM
I could literally write pages on my reactions to the recording of the meeting. I won’t bore everyone though and just concentrate on a couple of things that I picked up on.
Mayor Magee is technically correct when he says that he didn’t have to turn up. He was invited I imagine and to his credit he did show up. That needs to be seen in context though. As a councillor and now mayor his first duty is to serve residents. Council didn’t bother having any forums as someone said. That was left for residents to organise. Council didn’t bother to explain anything to anyone even after the fact. I therefore think it is compulsory for Magee to have shown up and to take up the opportunity to listen to what residents had to say. His acid test will be to see what he does with the views of residents.
Okotel sounds like she got her messages all twisted too. Urging residents to write or communicate with councillors in order to get something done isn’t the way things should be working. Residents aren’t sitting on council. Councillors are and it is this group of 9 councillors who should be advocating on behalf of their residents. Putting the onus on residents is passing the buck. She has heard the complaints so the ball is firmly in hers and the other councillors court. It is not up to residents but councillors.
Not one councillor seemed capable of justifying the zoning except to say that the changes aren’t new and had been there for the past decade as if this was justification in itself. It isn’t and never was.
November 20, 2014 at 1:30 PM
I listened carefully to the tape and can only say that anyone expecting Councillors or any politician to represent their views without pressuring them to do so is bunkum. Listen to Okotel, give her your views, pressure her to represent you as she says she will, and judge her on her promises and actions. Most of all do it in an organised way, overdeveloped street by street, so she feels the pressure. Make her feel uncomfortable, then may be she will understand. The same goes for all other Councillors.
One more thing, Councils do depend on State government rules and regulations. Glen Eira suffers the population and development explosion, because we went from having 4 million to 5 million people in metro area under Labor, and now to 7.7 million people in metro area under Liberals. Pox on both of them. But you need to choose what is best for you at the time and make sure you make politicians shake in their boots frequently.
Labor is promising to allow Councils to change zoning schemes and improve public transport. So, if you think that helps you then you stir like hell and get Liberals out of Bentleigh, ensuring other candidates e.g. Nick Staikos represent your views loud and clear. You have only a real say once in four years. Use it now.
If you are not active don’t blame anybody else for your inaction.
November 20, 2014 at 2:17 PM
You must be Little Nics cousin.
November 20, 2014 at 4:08 PM
Not at all, but you don’t live in Bentleigh or Carnegie.
November 20, 2014 at 4:32 PM
Wrong
November 20, 2014 at 4:43 PM
They have to get themselves a new and better excuse. Relying on the minister possibly, maybe, perhaps, potentially, could be, might, is really hitting the bottom of the barrel. The mrc got what it wanted because of this ruse and now Newton and Akehurst get what they want with the same old wives tale. I can imagine what those lovely folks in the sublime streets in Elsternwick or north Caulfield would be saying if they suddenly became grz all thanks to the minister. We’d have a bloody revolution on our hands. But poor old Carnegie, Bentleigh is okay. That’s pleb land and likely lab voters. Guy’s philosophy aided and abetted by 9 total nincompoops who haven’t even got the guts to challenge their ceo much less any future, potential, maybe, could be, possible ministerial decision.
November 20, 2014 at 5:19 PM
Dear Editor/Owner of Glen Eira Debates.
I believe you may have unintentionally put my name “as not willing to commit to any possibility of change was damning: The most outrageous comments by these councillors included …
I was not asked for my views and I believe there was no need for me to say anything if you had listened to my speech in the Chambers when we discussed the Penang and Mavho streets. A lot of anonymous people have attempted to down grade me and I can only consider this because I am an odd man out. Over all I do not think Australians are prejudiced minded.
Those under cover of ‘anonymous’ should be ashamed of themselves at least since Modi’s visit and indirect benefits for the country. Time to come out hiding from the petticoat garments and write the facts on every subject and disclose your name Also, please ask residents on how the Councillors are helping residents. Too quick to judge, perhaps the anonymous with musk should tie up their fingers and stop fingering. Let Councillors do what they have to do.
I would like to throw an open invitation to the anonymous to ring me on 0404 848 345 and I will shout you a coffee to answer your questions rather than insulting me as a human being and insulting my intelligence. Too much is too much.):-
November 20, 2014 at 5:43 PM
You are correct on several points Cr Lobo. You did not speak and neither were you asked any direct questions. However, our comment regarding “commitment” from councillors still stands. We do not think that a statement in chamber should be a one off – especially when council meetings are generally poorly attended and here was a huge audience waiting for some sign of ‘commitment’ from councillors that they would address the issues raised by the audience. It is all very well for councillors, including yourself, to “feel the pain” of residents as one councillor stated last night. It is another thing to ignore that “pain” and refuse to even acknowledge that change is desperately needed and that councillors as representatives of the people will devote themselves to this task.
November 21, 2014 at 7:41 PM
Hello Glen Eira – Just saw your response where you have stated things as they were that night in the forum. We are supposedly living in a democratic world and keeping that in mind majority needs to agree or disagree. I am sure you know that very well. Although I believe if one has faith one can move mountains but in my case I find it difficult although I am trying my best in different ways and forms. A few people after the forum (when I was going to my car) approached me and said “Cr Lobo what are you going to do about these new residential zones” I said nothing because the whole evening I just zipped my mouth for fear of your anonymous “gutless” people who keep criticising me and few other Councillors. Just so that you know, I will, God willingly, move a motion after the elections (subject to getting support from the majority of Councillors) whoever forms the government. Patience is a mother of virtue. I hope some smart person ‘Anonymous’ will think 7 times before he/she responses.
November 22, 2014 at 9:06 AM
The horse has bolted. Or as they say “Elvis has left the building”. Good luck with your efforts.
November 22, 2014 at 9:47 AM
1,2,3,4,5,6,7 … now watch Lobo fold on “number 1” – (MODERATORS: rest of sentence deleted)
November 22, 2014 at 12:44 PM
Just another unusually stupid petticoat garment anon. I would have liked to read what the moderators have deleted. Australia has been sold by you to China & India. What are you going to do when at least half of 2.5 billion move in. Where will you go? Are you bothered about your children (if you have any!) and their future. Do you think they will have to learn and speak Hindi and perhaps the 100+ languages including Chinese and various dialects. Please ring me or stop this stupidity unless you need ajute.
November 22, 2014 at 4:25 PM
Councillor Lobo, you may be well intentioned and have the interests of residents at heart but your latest comments are irrelevant and quite frankly do not make much sense.
November 21, 2014 at 8:20 PM
Off-topic, but it amused me. “East West Link is a right Cock Up Royal Park”
November 21, 2014 at 8:54 PM
dont worry we will be getting 30 + hectares back at Caulfield Racecourse!
November 23, 2014 at 10:20 AM
D. Evans
I could have chosen to ignore your comment of 22 November 2014 sent at 4.25pm. I will not because:
1. You have put your name, unlike the cowards; whether it is genuine or not,
I am no judge like those ‘anonymous’
2. According to me, you have been reasonably fair in your various postings,
sometimes assuming things without verifications. You are far better than
those hiding behind the curtains.
I have said this several times in the chambers (I am not sure if you attend, if you do next Tuesday, please signal me or for that matter any anonymous who degrades other Councillors – Let us remember they are chosen by people democratically) that English is not my mother tongue.
What I have written is what I have written. Let us not jump to conclusions – there may be a perfectly good explanation for what you just saw/read. I am sure you are also aware that English is a funny language, (unlike Latin based), even a comma makes a difference and that is why the English courts are busy making money.
We do not know one another but it would be great if we could have a chat on a bench in one of our parks that are well maintained. You know where to reach me, alternatively, please send me your mobile number.
Thank you Mr/Ms/Mrs Evans.