Glen Eira Debates

Esakoff was first elected in 2003 and apart from a few months ‘vacation’ after council was sacked, she has run again and again – and been elected. She is now seeking another 4 years – as is her right of course. Whether or not it is a good thing to have such long serving councillors is a personal viewpoint. Any answer should be based on the facts of their tenure – such as ‘what have they achieved’; ‘how have they improved the municipality’, ‘what is their stance on so many issues that now confront residents’ and do their actions support the claims?

What needs pointing out as well is that to the best of our knowledge Esakoff has never fronted up to answer residents’ questions in any Candidate Forum for the past 3 elections. Nor has she partaken in any ward meetings that were run occasionally years ago.

So, despite all the flyer statements as to opposing overdevelopment, creating more open space, etc. we have to rely on what has actually occurred in relation to these issues. That means looking at voting records.

The following lists some of Esakoff’s voting on planning applications only since 2012. These were all granted permits and were either moved or seconded by Esakoff.

Readers will notice that some addresses are repeated. This is because there was either a planning application to amend, or the proposal was passed on to another developer, so this meant a new application.

The standout feature for many of these is the penchant for lopping off a storey or two, or the number of apartments, only to have VCAT grant the developer everything he wanted. Of course, instead of fixing up the planning scheme, councillors (including Esakoff) continued with blaming VCAT for all the losses. As we’ve repeatedly stated, the VCAT member is bound to assess applications against the current council planning scheme. If the scheme is so archaic, and contains no viable constraints, then for the most part, this is not VCAT’s fault, but the councillors who have allowed this situation to continue.

Apart from all the following applications that received permits based on Esakoff’s endorsements, readers should also remember that she was in support of the introduction of the odious residential zones (in secret), the current interim structure plans, and countless other policies. Plus for years and years she was opposed to a tree register that included controls on private land.

After 17 years of ineffectualness, it is definitely time for a change.

1056-1060 DANDENONG ROAD – voted for 8 storeys. VCAT granted 12 storeys and 173 dwellings

149-153 NEERIM ROAD & 4 HINTON ROAD, GLEN HUNTLY VIC 3163 – 17 double storeys

2 MORTON AVENUE, CARNEGIE – 5 storeys, 33 dwellings. VCAT granted 6 storeys

730A CENTRE ROAD BENTLEIGH EAST – 4 storeys, 21 dwellings

328-330 NEERIM ROAD CARNEGIE – 4 storeys, 16 dwellings

259-261 NEERIM ROAD, CARNEGIE – 4 storeys, 28 units

33-35 Jersey Parade, Carnegie – 4 storeys, 28 units

534-538 North Road ORMOND – 4 storeys, 20 units

7 Ormond Road Ormond – 3 storeys, 15 units

115-125 Poath Road Murrumbeena – 4 storeys, 33 units. VCAT granted additional storey and 7 units

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

2-4 Penang Street MCKINNON – 3 storey, 23 units

15-17 Belsize Avenue & 316-320 Neerim Road CARNEGIE – 4 storey, 47 units. VCAT granted 52 units

670-672 Centre Road BENTLEIGH EAST – 5 storeys, 50 units

14-16 Elliott Avenue CARNEGIE – 3 storey, 18 units. VCAT granted permit for 4 storeys

482-484 North Road ORMOND – 4 storeys, 21 units

143-147 Neerim Road GLEN HUNTLY – 3 storeys, 32 units

247-251 Neerim Road CARNEGIE – 4 storeys, 48 units

253-255 Neerim Road CARNEGIE – 4 storeys, 38 units

1100 Dandenong Road CARNEGIE – 4 storeys, 22 units

30-32 Ames Avenue CARNEGIE – 12 double storeys

600-604 North Road, ORMOND – 5 storeys, 45 units

37-39 NICHOLSON STREET BENTLEIGH – 3 & 4 storeys, 10 units

8-12 ELLIOTT AVENUE CARNEGIE – 4 storeys, 40 units

322-326 NEERIM ROAD & 17 ELLIOTT AVENUE, CARNEGIE – 4 storeys, 38 units

45 Orrong Road, Elsternwick – 4 storeys, 13 units

1110-1112 Dandenong Road, Carnegie – 3 & 4 storeys, 38 units

153 Poath Road, Murrumbeena – 4 storeys, 10 units

813-815 GLEN HUNTLY ROAD, CAULFIELD – 5 storeys, 9 units

360 NEERIM ROAD, CARNEGIE – 4 storeys, 16 units

1254-1258 GLEN HUNTLY ROAD, CARNEGIE – 5 storeys, 68 units

777 Glen Huntly Road, Caulfield – 4 storeys, 5 units

3 Rigby Avenue, Carnegie – 5 units

2 Newman Avenue, Carnegie – 5 units

1110-1112 Dandenong Road, Carnegie – 2 to 4 storeys, 19 units

7-11 BELSIZE AVENUE, CARNEGIE – 4 storeys, 36 units

13-15 HAMILTON STREET BENTLEIGH – 4 storeys, 27 units

14-22 Woorayl Street, Carnegie – amend permit to be 13 storeys

81 DALNY ROAD, MURRUMBEENA – 3 units

20 BENT STREET, BENTLEIGH – 4 storeys, 7 units

285-287 NEERIM ROAD CARNEGIE – additional floor level and another 5 units to 46

1 AGNES STREET BENTLEIGH EAST – 4 triple and  one double storey unit

80 HOTHAM STREET ST KILDA EAST – 3 storey, 10 units

For those residents who were not in attendance at Tuesday night’s Camden Candidates Forum, and would like to know what was said, we have uploaded several audios from the candidates initial 3 minute address. The video version will, we are told, be available soon on both the Save Glen Eira and Glen Eira Residents Association websites.

We will upload all statements over the next week. First cab off the rank is Harry Graeve

Next is Jane Karslake

Last, but not least is Simone Zmood

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)