With council elections looming fast, we will be presenting information on all candidates as this becomes available.
First cab off the rank is an interview conducted by Gary Max (“Talking to the Max”) on the local radio station J’Air (J’air.com.au). It features Simone Zmood who is standing as an independent in Camden Ward.
Glen Eira Debates 
September 16, 2020 at 1:33 PM
I’ve spoken to Simone on planning and other matters, and would be happy to vote for her, if only she was in Rosstown Ward. She is likely to ask harder questions than the incumbents have done to date on contentious matters.
September 16, 2020 at 2:17 PM
I concur completely. She sounds like she is on top of many issues and knows what needs to change in this council. I wish her all the luck in the world and hopefully we can get another 4 councillors like her. It is time for out with the old and useless and in with the new.
September 16, 2020 at 3:55 PM
I liked what I heard.
September 17, 2020 at 9:16 AM
Her beating around the bush on the Inkerman Road bicycle plan is absolute nonsense. She sound like a person activated by the anti-bicycle people along Inkerman Road.
“One who said it would bring criminals down the Djerring trail into their neighborhood”.
If this is an indication of her logic and arguments she is going to support, I wouldn’t entertain voting for her.
Here’s 2 questions Simone asked at TUESDAY 30 APRIL 2019 Council meeting.
(Honestly what was the point of the lux question)
Simone Zmood – Caulfield North
1) What is the lux of the old and new (LED) street lighting in the following streets? –
Glen Eira Road – Balaclava Road – Inkerman Road/Street – Alma Road
2) What capital works can be done with the $400,000 allocated to the Inkerman safe
cycling corridor pilot in the 2019-2020 budget? Please provide more detail than
“Finalise design and commence construction”.
Response:
1) It is not possible to measure the exact lux level of current lighting on those streets
without a detailed on-site assessment. However Council’s road street lighting
upgrade will see approximately 1300 lights being changed over to efficient LED
technology. The lights have been industry assessed through a rigorous process and
have been approved on the basis that they are ‘like for like’ replacement in terms of
lighting levels. The lights we are changing over are 150W HPS (high pressure
sodium) to equivalent 70W LEDs, and 250W HPS to equivalent 155W LEDs. The
new lights perform better at the start of their life and so may appear to be at a higher
lighting level than those currently in place.
2) Council’s 2019-20 Draft Annual Budget, discussed tonight (item 9.14), allocates
$400,000 for the Integrated Transport Strategy – Inkerman Road Safe Cycling
Corridor Pilot. The money allocated is to allow for design development of the project,
including treatment design, traffic modelling, intersection analysis and quantity
surveying.
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September 17, 2020 at 1:24 PM
Anonymous, it is interesting what you have chosen to comment on in your post.
First, I have never said: “it would bring criminals down the Djerring trail into their neighborhood”. By using quotes you are implying I have actually said that which is defamatory, but you are too cowardly to share your true identity with us.
I admit that I am only a recreation rider (not a commuter) as it is many years now since my kids have grown and I sold my cargobike. However, I think there are some serious issues around the way the Council has handled the cycling pilot and that should cause concern for all residents about the quality of Council’s consultation processes and strategic decision making generally.
In not understanding the diversity of people’s needs and views, you actually undermine the credibility of what you claim. I made several suggestions to Council that would have addressed many Inkerman residents’ concerns and Council has taken some of the ideas on board. What constructive contributions have you made? Or are you simply the sort of person that publicly denigrates other people but does nothing to creatively problem-solve?
Second, there is strong research from around the world on the detrimental impact of street lighting on people’s health and that of animals and insects in our metropolitan environment. Recent health research has raised concerns about the LED lighting that is being installed because it is usually “cool white” light (also referred to as blue light) which is not as healthy for us as the previous yellow light of halogens (which mimics natural moonlight). Why didn’t Council choose to install “warm white” LEDs? Residents deserve to know the details for the decisions Council is making.
Third, why should residents not be informed about how the Council spends our money?
This is a democracy and you should definitely vote for someone whose positions align with your own.
September 17, 2020 at 4:41 PM
I was in no way implying it was you who said “it would bring criminals down the Djerring trail into their neighborhood” as I know it wasn’t your.
I was commenting on the lack of logic used by a handful of isolationist that you have have chosen to support. Another comment was (not by you again) by a Inkerman Rd residents said he didn’t think females past puberty should ride bicycles ………. My question to you is do you support these two comments.
Bicycle routes are about connection and not having one right up the middle of Glen Eira (your quote) That was just uniformed and mighty silly.
September 17, 2020 at 6:34 PM
Personally, I do not support those comments. We do not live in gated suburbs so anyone can enter Glen Eira no matter their character or intent. And anyone who is able and willing should be able to ride bikes (I don’t care whether they are male or female, young or old – that is just discriminatory).
With regards to bicycle routes, if you listened carefully to the interview then you would have heard that I think the process and priorities used by Council for the pilot of a safe cycling corridor in Glen Eira were wrong. Of course, bicycle routes are about connections. It is going to take time make changes across the municipality and I think the priority should have been on putting separated cycles paths alongside schools first. I also think that some roads are going to be easier to reconfigure than others (for a whole host of reasons) and that if we want to roll out changes as quickly and easily as possible then it would have been better to start with the “low hanging fruit”.
Perhaps, rather than calling me uninformed and silly you might take the time to inform yourself by speaking with others who are different from yourself. Listen to what they say. Listen to their priorities and concerns. Understand what is important in their lives. In my opinion, the reason that the bike lobby and vocal cycling advocates in our community have been so spectacularly ineffective is because you don’t actually listen and try to come up with creative solutions that address residents’ concerns. Instead you name call and present dichotomous responses when in reality there are many more options available.
If you want change then you will be more effective if you bring the community along with you.
September 17, 2020 at 8:38 PM
“cycles paths alongside schools first”
I am a bit confused by your statement “alongside school” Where are these bike routes starting and finishing. People come from every directions to schools. This alongside schools just doesn’t make sense
September 17, 2020 at 5:07 PM
I was in no way implying it was you who said “it would bring criminals down the Djerring trail into their neighborhood” as I know it wasn’t you.
I was commenting on the lack of logic used by a handful of isolationist that you have have chosen to support.
Another comment was (not by you, again) by a Inkerman Rd or thereabouts) resident said he didn’t think females past puberty should ride bicycles.
My question to you is do you support these two comments.
Bicycle routes are about making connections and safety, they do lower the collision rate possibly saving lives and injury.
Do you support saving bicycle riders from injury or worse?
Your suggestion of having a bicycle path right up the middle of Glen Eira (your quote roughly ) was uninformed and a mighty silly suggestion in the context of the Inkerman Street bike route connection and the coming Camden Ward election.
Perhaps you could now illuminate me and the other post readers on your LUX question to council.
I’m very intrigued, as I hate to miss out on a good conspiracy case of something like council is trying to keep residents along these roads in the dark, or maybe the lights are to bright, or will fade your curtains. I have no idea here.
September 18, 2020 at 4:41 PM
Feel free to contact David Zyngier Greens Candidate for Camden https://www.facebook.com/DavidZyngierGreensForCamden 0413537613