Glen Eira Debates

Starting next week (6th, 7th and 8th October) Save Glen Eira & the Glen Eira Residents’ Association, are holding forums where residents can interact with candidates and hear their views on what is needed in Glen Eira going forward. There will also be time for questions to the candidates.

In order to participate, everyone will need to register for these Zoom forums. The details are:

CAMDEN: Tuesday, 6th October – 7.30pm

Registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEvce6vqDMtE9UHSDunNUyaBTquv9sxr08q

ROSSTOWN: Wednesday, 7th October – 7.30pm

Registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIsceqpqDsuH9zG_QakYfk7XIzfyEIw2mM3

TUCKER: Thursday, 8th October – 7.30pm

Registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIofuGrrD0qHdK_bu4XAwM8useR0ropg3b2

Those who register will receive an email as confirmation and be provided with access to the meetings.

Council elections are often seen as a meaningless imposition for many people. Most we suspect wouldn’t have a clue as to who is who, or even who their current councillors are. Yet, when one considers the role that local government has, and how it affects almost every aspect of our lives, those we elect have a tremendously important role to play. From land use, to rates and how this is spent, to child care, aged care, environmental responsibility, parking, etc. local government plays a huge role. Therefore, everyone’s vote does count!

We urge all readers to take the time and to consider what each individual candidate has to offer and therefore what they could contribute to making Glen Eira a far more cohesive and resident respondent council. Huge challenges are facing all of us – economically through COVID, massive overdevelopment, traffic congestion; loss of tree canopy; and consultation that needs to improve dramatically.

As we’ve said – it is definitely time for a change. So please register for these forums and consider who will best serve the interests of the community over the next four years.

For all the talk about running for council elections as an ‘independent’ it is pretty clear that for many candidates their political allegiances often outstrip their so called ‘independence’. Whilst not all candidates have listed their preferences as yet, it is obvious that for many the decision to nominate others is based on their Liberal or Labor affiliations. There’s nothing wrong with this of course, but not when some candidates keep declaring that they are fully ‘independent’.

For all the good intentions to remain autonomous, one must question what role party policies might have in crucial decision making. Have candidates been ‘ordered’ to preference fellow party members? Do they have the autonomy to preference whomever they like? Have any of these political parties assisted in funding, or providing discounts for corflutes, flyers, etc?

Here are examples of what we mean –

ESAKOFF: Claims to be ‘independent’ yet preferences Liberals. Those Liberals reciprocate by preferencing her (ie Zois & Balzer)

CADE: preferences Liberals

BEILBY: preferences Liberals

MAGEE: preferences Labor members Zhang & Martin. This is also reciprocated with their preferencing of Magee.

As far as we can tell, true independents are in the minority. We believe the following to be genuinely running as independents:

Harry Graeve (Camden)

Sam Parasol (Camden)

Cameron Simpkin (Camden)

Jesse Mansfield (Camden)

Simone Zmood (Camden)

Markus Oswald (Rosstown)

Neil Brewster (Tucker)

Christina Santos (Tucker)

This is not to decry political party membership or affiliations, nor deny that councillors can and some do go against their party politics. But doing so is difficult and rare. Plus, the history of Glen Eira is replete with instance after instance where voting has basically been along strict party lines. The result is block voting patterns that fly in the face of ‘independent’ decision making. Furthermore we have often witnessed cheap shots from various councillors according to this political leaning. Enough is enough. We repeat: if residents truly want councillors who listen to them and who act in accordance with majority ratepayer views, then we believe that the best way to achieve this is to elect candidates who are fully committed to these precepts and not the policies of their political parties.  We need strong minded individuals who will put party politics aside and vote according to their individual values and what the community says it wants and needs.

The Victorian Electoral Commission has now uploaded the complete list of Candidate Statements. This post features a candidate for Camden Ward – Mr. Cameron Simpkins.

Source: https://www.vec.vic.gov.au/voting/2020-local-council-election/elections/glen-eira-city-council/nominations#camden-ward

CLICK TO ENLARGE

The Save Glen Eira (SGE) community group has published a questionnaire that is/has been distributed to all ward candidates for them to fill out if they so desire. The questions are broad ranging and we believe will assist voters in determining who to vote for. The questions cover everything from:

• planning
• open space
• personal motivation and skills
• local involvement

The full questionnaire may be accessed via this link: https://savegleneira.com.au/questionnaire-to-candidates/

SGE also intends to publish all candidate responses as they come in.

Here are the commitments made by Tony Athanasopolous’ for the 2016 elections in his candidate statement:

I believe in a council where your rates are low and you get proper service for your money. Cleaner streets. Well maintained footpaths and trees. And better local roads. I want our council to stand up for you to stop overdevelopment You deserve active representation. Your Councillor should be open and someone who fights for your equal share of our resources. I live in Carnegie and proudly run a family business, Liana James Hair & Beauty on Koornang Road. We have been in business in Glen Eira for 16 years. I am the Chairperson of the Carnegie Traders Association, I’ve worked closely with the Murrumbeena Scope House (disability support) and I’m currently the President of the Chrisalis Foundation helping people living with a disability. I’m passionate about our community and helping others. I will: fight to keep your rates low; stop over development; ensure maintenance of skyrail; provide more local parking; clean up shopping areas and be your strong voice on council. I would be honoured if you voted 1 for me and after that, consider two other outstanding candidates Jane Karslake and David Box.

Residents will need to decide how well these ‘promises’ have been carried out!

In the four years he has been on council, our reckoning is that he has missed at least 11 council meetings – that is almost a year’s worth of formal council meetings. Hence close to a 25% absentee rate. More importantly, he has voted in favour of the officer recommendations for all of the following contentious planning issues – many in the face of a huge community outcry (ie Elsternwick Structure Plan in particular):

Bentleigh structure plan

Carnegie structure plan

Elsternwick structure plan

Quality Design guidelines

Glen Huntly Structure Plan (both versions)

Parking Policy

East Village Structure Plan

Inkerman Road Bike Path

On individual planning applications, he has either moved or seconded the approval for permits on the following: (the dates indicate the respective council meetings)

1110-1112 Dandenong Road, Carnegie– Part three and part four storey building comprising of 38 dwellings above two levels of basement car parking (20/12/2016)

153 Poath Road, Murrumbeena – Four storey building comprising a shop and 10 dwellings above basement car parking (20/12/2016)

360 Neerim Road, Carnegie – Four storey building comprising ground floor shop and 16 dwellings (28/2/2017)

1254-1258 Glen Huntly Road, Carnegie – A 6 storey building comprising a shop, cafe and 79 dwellings above a basement car park. Resolution was for 5 storeys. (21/3/2017)

248 Jasper Road, McKinnon – Four storey building comprising a food and drink premise, four (4) dwellings and the waiver of the car parking requirement for the food and drink premise. (12/4/2017)

102 & 102A Balaclava Road, Caulfield North – Three storey building comprising 8 dwellings above basement car parking. (23/5/2017)

532 North Road, Ormond – Five storey building comprising a retail premises and six dwellings. (23/5/2017)

1A Kokaribb Road, Carnegie – Six storey building comprising a shop and 12 dwellings above basement. (23/5/2017)

16-18 Hamilton Street, Bentleigh – 4 storey. 29 dwellings (13/6/2017)

219 Tucker Road, McKinnon – Construction of a four (4) storey building comprising of five dwellings, a shop and basement carpark; reduction of visitor and shop car parking requirements. Permit for 3 storeys. 5/9/2017

48 Thomas Street, Brighton East – 2 double storeys. 17/10/2017

27 Draper Street, McKinnon – 3 double storeys 6/2/2018

11 Perth Street, Murrumbeena – Construction of five (5) triple storey dwellings above a basement car park. 27/2/2018

279-281 Jasper Road, McKinnon – child care centre. 20/3/2018

45-47 KANGAROO ROAD & 33 HOWE STREET MURRUMBEENA – Demolition of the existing three dwellings A total of fifteen (15) dwellings proposed including 10x three storey and 5x two storey attached townhouses   (22/5/2018)

1207 Glen Huntly Road, Glen Huntly – Construction of a part three (3), part four (4) storey building comprising a shop, office and dwelling (26/9/2018)

749-753 Glen Huntly Road, Caulfield – Demolition of the existing building and construction of a 4 storey building on land within the Heritage Overlay, use of the land for the purpose of dwellings and reduction of the car parking requirement for a shop. (27/11/2018)

846-848 North Road, Bentleigh East – Construction of fourteen (14) townhouses and alteration to a Road in Road Zone Category 1 (30/4/2019)

317 Neerim Road, Carnegie – Construction of a five storey building comprising offices and dwellings and associated car parking. (13/8/2019)

456 Glen Eira road, Caulfield – 5 dwellings in NRZ (16/10/2019)

1 Foster Street, Elsternwick – To consider an application for the demolition of the existing building and construction of six double storey dwellings above basement carparking (12 OBJECTIONS) (9/6/2020)

For all of those residents who are seeking change in Glen Eira we are delighted to announce that only 4 incumbents have decided to stand again. They are:

Margaret Esakoff

Tony Athanasopolous

Ann Marie Cade, and

Jim Magee

This means that with the potential for at least 5 new councillors, things can change. Camden ward is now entirely open given the resignation of Delahunty and the fact that Silver and Sztrajt have decided not to run again.

Rosstown is still being fought for with two incumbents standing again, (Athanasopolous & Esakoff) whilst Tucker also has two councillors seeking re-election (Magee & Cade)

Please note the following:

Margaret Esakoff was first elected in 2003. That makes it 17 years straight on council. Residents should ask themselves: ‘what has she achieved’ throughout this mammoth time? If change is what people want, then in our view, 21 years should not be endorsed again.

The same could be said for Magee. First elected in 2008. What has he achieved in 12 years?

Ann Marie Cade is a third time council candidate having exchanged preferences over the past few elections with Hyams. Once more, what can she offer and what has she achieved?

Athansopolous is the most recent addition to council chambers. In his 4 years on council his voting patterns have been clearly aligned with those seeking more and more development and bike paths where they simply cause much angst and division.

Finally, we are truly delighted that Hyams has decided to call it quits. His run stretches over 14 years as a councillor and Mayor. His legacy will forever be the secret introduction of the residential zones, his support for the Caulfield Village, demolition of Frogmore, and in recent times his support for the 9 storey application for 7 Selwyn Street. All of these accomplished in the face of strong community opposition.

Unfortunately, we also find that the current crop of candidates feature more ‘faceless’ stooges standing NOT because they know a damn thing about council, and probably their community, but they are there simply to support one or other of the major political parties, or see being a councillor as the first step to a parliamentary career. We will comment on these individuals in the days to come.

What is absolutely clear however, is that the October elections are the first real opportunity for residents to voice their disapproval of what has been happening in Glen Eira for well over the past decade. So if you care about open space, overdevelopment, real community consultation, and actions that are in accord with the majority of resident wishes, then now is the time to vote out all incumbents and elect councillors who will truly represent us as ratepayers.

Below is the complete list of candidates in their ballot paper positions –

CAMDEN

ZYNGIER, David

GROSSBARD, Alan

GRAEVE, Harry

IAMPOLSKI, Rachel

KARSLAKE, Jane

MILEIKOWSKI, Ethan

ZMOOD, Simone

MANSFIELD, Jesse Dean

STECKOLL, Ricci

TEROLLI, Jon

SIMPKINS, Cameron

KHOROSHINA, Nellie

PARASOL, Sam

ROSSTOWN

OSWALD, Markus

PTOK, Gregor

ATHANASOPOULOS, Tony

HO, Kelvin

DARIOL, Jack

PILLING, Neil

ZOIS, Con

PENNICUIK, Sue

ESAKOFF, Margaret

OZA, Dev

SPAULDING, Robert

BALZER, Simon

VAN NOORDEN, John

TUCKER

BEILBY, Joanne

ZHANG, Li

BREWSTER, Neil

MAGEE, Jim

BACH, Joshua

DZIALOSHINSKY, Jacob

CADE, Anne-Marie

DE’ATH, Philip

MARTIN, Declan

SANTOS, Cristina

Source: https://www.vec.vic.gov.au/voting/2020-local-council-election/elections/glen-eira-city-council/nominations

It’s somewhat of a surprise to read that a former councillor and Mayor, Neil Pilling, is seeking to stand for council again in Rosstown Ward. Residents may remember his far from auspicious departure in 2016 when he failed to gain re-election. Also worth remembering is the fact that when first elected, Pilling stood as a Green candidate. This time around he is standing as an ‘independent’.

Throughout his previous reign as a councillor, Pilling drew plenty of criticism for his stance on development, and repeatedly supporting the likes of Lipshutz, Hyams and Esakoff. In fact, he represented 25% of the four man panel that granted the MRC everything it wanted in regards to the Caulfield Village development. He was also part of the vote that decided to abandon an amendment to place the building at 1 Wahgoo Road, Carnegie under heritage protection thus ignoring over 1000 signatures that had been signed in a formal petition to council. His was the casting vote in this decision!

Here are some facts on how he voted during his previous time as a councillor. The majority of the following were either moved or seconded by Pilling.

1056-1060 DANDENONG ROAD – application was for 12 storeys and 173 dwellings. Esakoff and Pilling moved motion for 8 storeys and 97 dwellings. The motion was carried on the vote of the chairman (Hyams). VCAT then awarded the developer the 12 storeys.

451-453 SOUTH ROAD BENTLEIGH – 5 storeys, 12 units

2 MORTON AVENUE, CARNEGIE – 6 storeys, 40 dwellings

30-32 Ames Avenue, Carnegie – 13 double storeys

115-125 Poath Road Murrumbeena – 4 storeys, 33 dwellings

67-73 Poath Road MURRUMBEENA – 5 and 6 storeys, 30 dwellings

401-407 Neerim Road Carnegie – 5 storeys, 57 units

144 Hawthorn Road CAULFIELD NORTH – 6 storeys 40 dwellings. Pilling voted against refusing this application.

2-4 Penang Street MCKINNON – 3 storey, 24 units. Pilling voted against refusing this application

15-17 Belsize Avenue & 316-320 Neerim Road CARNEGIE – 4 storeys, 52 units.

22-26 Bent Street BENTLEIGH – 4 storeys, 41 units

29-33 Loranne Street BENTLEIGH – 4 storeys, 42 units

168 Hotham Street ELSTERNWICK – application was for 7 storeys, 104 dwellings. Motion became 5 storeys and 78 dwellings

64-66 Bent Street MCKINNON –3 & 4 storey, 31 dwellings. Pilling voted against refusal of permit

1240-1248 Glen Huntly Road CARNEGIE – 6 storeys, 117 dwellings

27 and 29 Jasper Road BENTLEIGH – 3 storeys, 25 units

629-631 Glen Huntly Road CAULFIELD – 4 storeys, 25 units

337-343 Balaclava Road CAULFIELD NORTH- 3 storey 32 units

1 WAHGOO ROAD, CARNEGIE – voted to abandon amendment to go to panel regarding Heritage protection. Pilling used his casting vote here.

5-7 Nepean Hwy ELSTERNWICK – part 4 and 5 storey, 53 units

23 Bent Street BENTLEIGH – 4 storey, 34 units

670-672 CENTRE ROAD & 51 BROWNS ROAD BENTLEIGH EAST – part 3 and 5 storey, 67 dwellings

There are plenty more, but what voters need to ask themselves is pretty clear – is this candidate worthy of your vote?