NOT sure who to vote for in the Knox council elections? We put the tough questions to all candidates to help you make up your mind - read on for their answers. All candidates have been sent the same questionnaire. We will post their answers as we receive them - check back here regularly for updates.
TIRHATUAN WARD
Includes: Rowville and Scoresby
Incumbent: Mick Van de Vreede (since 2003)
Was elected unopposed.
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PHILLIP KEILY
Suburb of residence: Rowville
Occupation: Storeman
Ward nominated for: Tirhatuan
How long have you lived in Knox? 20 years
Have you run for council/ been a councillor before, or any other level of government? If so, please list details (where, when, length of time, etc). No
Are you/have you been a member of a political party? If yes, which party? If no, with which party do you most identify? No not a member of a political party, Do not identify with any individual party
Are you or have you ever been a member of a political interest or lobby group? No I have not
If you are elected, will you commit to remaining a councillor for the whole term? Yes I will serve the full term
What is your campaign budget? Who is funding your campaign? Who has paid for your nomination fee? My budget is about $3,000, personally funded, and the nomination fee was paid for by myself.
Who will you direct your preferences to? My preferences will go to Nicole Seymour
Describe your involvement in the local community. I have been involved with the Apex Club of Rowville since 2000, the Rowville Primary School Council for 3 years, and the Stamford Park Community Reference Group since 2008.
What do you think being a councillor involves? Representing the view of the residents and community organisations at meetings, assisting and preparing council budgets and plans, advocating with State and Federal Governments and departments for better services and facilities, and assisting in making Knox a better place to live, work and play.
What do you think are the most important issues for your ward?
1/ The Rowville Rail is a huge issue, the Rail MUST be built, there have been to many talks, discussions, feasibility studies, and they all point to the same conclusion, it is needed and needed now.
2/ Building development is a big issue, ensuring that adequate provisions are in place to protect our area from overdevelopment.
3/ Traffic Management, on our main roads to reduce traffic congestion, and in our side streets to reduce the number of late night hoons.
What do you think are the most important issues facing Knox? The most important issues facing Knox are residential developments, public transport, traffic management, management of council land and building, and the council budget.
There has been much debate about development in Knox recently, particularly in Boronia and green wedge zones. What are your thoughts on the future of planning in these areas? Are there any other areas’ future development needs to be addressed? Why? Development will always be an issue in Knox, we have green leafy streets and large block, and developers will always try to fit the maximum housing on to a site. The Council needs to ensure that the necessary provisions are incorporated into the State Government Planning Schemes, to ensure that the local character of our suburbs are not lost with the developments that are proposed. Nearly every suburbs within Knox has an area that should be protected and the Council needs to make an urgent review of all of Knox to ensure that protection is in place with the new planning scheme amendments that are being proposed.
What would you suggest the council could to do continue to advocate for better public transport in Knox (ie. the Knox Tram and Rowville Rail)? Both of these projects are priorities for Knox, and further pressure needs to be applied with both State and Federal government to gain commitment to funding of these projects. Both of these projects need to actively talked about and pressure kept on to obtain the funding and commitment to build both projects.
There has been strong debate recently about the extent of sport funding in Knox. Do you think sport deserves significant money or are there other groups or sectors in Knox who also deserve more funding? If so, who? There has been a very large amount of funding made available to sport in Knox, and a lot of this funding has gone into improvements to sports grounds, ovals, grandstands and water management systems, plus the creation of the Eastern Recreation Precinct. There are many sports groups that utilise facilities owned by the Council, and many of these still need upgrading, such as tennis clubs, but without blowing out the budget, and increasing rates, the Council needs to take a balanced approach in its upgrades.
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NICOLE SEYMOUR
Suburb of residence: Scoresby
Occupation: Currently - Stay at home Mum. Pre children - Marketing Director GE Capital UK
Ward nominated for: Tirhatuan
How long have you lived in Knox? 17 years living in Scoresby. Family association dates back 32 years
Have you run for council/ been a councillor before, or any other level of government? If so, please list details (where, when, length of time, etc). No
Are you/have you been a member of a political party? If yes, which party? If no, with which party do you most identify? During my late teenage years & early adulthood I was a member of the Young Libs. Have had no association with any political parties for 10+ years. I tend to identify with the Libs on economic management but the other Parties on social / environmental issues.
Are you or have you ever been a member of a political interest or lobby group? No
If you are elected, will you commit to remaining a councillor for the whole term? Absolutely
What is your campaign budget? Who is funding your campaign? Who has paid for your nomination fee? No set campaign budget. Campaign is being funded by me. I paid my own nomination fee.
Who will you direct your preferences to? Phillip Keily
Describe your involvement in the local community. Being a Mum with two young children, I am heavily involved in community groups associated with children and families. I am President of Scoresby West Community Playgroup (7years), am on Scoresby Primary School’s school council (3 years) have served as the Treasurer of our local Preschool and am a founding member of Knox Council’s Early Years Strategic Advisory Committee (2+ years). In addition my children actively participate in local sports and dancing which my husband and I are involved with too. I was a past co-ordinator of our local Neighbourhood Watch [no longer running] and am a supporter of the Gardens for Wildlife program.
What do you think being a councillor involves?
1. Excellent communication and listening skills
2. Approachability
3. Accessibility
4. Ability to be pragmatic and make decisions that are in the best interests of the community.
5. Strong grassroots understanding of the municipality and its issues / opportunities.
6. Being proactive rather than reactive.
7. Advocate for transparency and accountability. Most importantly - commonsense!
What do you think are the most important issues for your ward? Planning & Development: The next few years will be pivotal in terms of medium-high density development across Rowville. Eg: Rowville Structure Plan, Stamford Park Estate, Kingston Links Estate
Job Creation: Ensuring vitality in existing and future retail precincts across the Ward as well as continued development of the high tech industrial parks across the Ward (eg: Caribbean Industrial Estate).
Having a Balanced Transport System that supports residential growth. Ensuring congestion is minimised on our major arterials (Stud Rd, Wellington Rd, Ferntree Gully Rd) through effective Bus systems and the delivery of the Rowville Rail. Appropriate investment in Early Years services such as the provision of 4 year old preschool, the continued support and resourcing of 3 year old kinder and playgroups and readily accessible maternal health, immunisation and additional needs support services. Investment in Sporting & Community Infrastructure to assist in meeting growing demand and or ageing facilities that require refurbishment to remain functional.
What do you think are the most important issues facing Knox?
1. Rates affordability, particularly for seniors and low income families.
2. Appropriate planning and development, particularly areas designated for medium - high density development.
3. Public transport infrastructure - Knox Tram & Rowville Rail.
4. Ongoing balanced investment in Sporting and Community infrastructure.
5. Jobs, jobs and more jobs.
6. Affordable housing especially for low income families.
There has been much debate about development in Knox recently, particularly in Boronia and green wedge zones. What are your thoughts on the future of planning in these areas? Are there any other areas’ future development needs to be addressed? Why? It is critical that there is significant community consultation re significant developments, that a standard "one size fits all" approach isn’t taken that instead appropriate due diligence is taken for each submission where practicable and only developments that are size and aesthetically appropriate to the immediate precincts go forward. This commonsense logic should apply to all proposed developments not just in Boronia and the Green Wedge zone. The future development of the potential Kingston Links residential estate and Stamford Park residential estate in Rowville and any proposed medium-high density development near Stud Park Shopping Centre will need to be managed well with lots of community consultation too.
What would you suggest the council could to do continue to advocate for better public transport in Knox (ie. the Knox Tram and Rowville Rail)? Ultimately delivery of these projects can only happen through Federal and State Government funding. Council’s role is to keep the pressure on at State & Federal level, lobbying at every opportunity. This includes communicating the intrinsic link between residential growth with increased traffic with the ever increasing demand for public transport infrastructure.
There has been strong debate recently about the extent of sport funding in Knox. Do you think sport deserves significant money or are there other groups or sectors in Knox who also deserve more funding? If so, who? There are so many groups and sectors well deserving of funding and sadly not enough funds to go around (Seniors, Arts, Women’s Health just to mention a few) Sport as a sector does deserve funding as our sports clubs play a major role in creating quality of life, supporting general health and well being and keep young people involved at community level. Being part of a sports club also helps foster positive life skills in young people like teamwork, leadership skills, commitment and communication. I would also like to see increased funding to our Early Years and Community Health & Wellbeing Services. For me it will be about balance and merit. Understanding the logic behind current distribution of funding will be the first step.
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GLENDA FROST
Suburb of residence: Rowville
Occupation: Tax accountant
How long have you lived in Knox? 40-plus years
Have you run for council/ been a councillor before, or any other level of government? Yes, last elections in Dinsdale.
Are you/have you been a member of a political party? If yes, which party? If no, with which party do you most identify? I am a member of the Liberal Party.
Are you or have you ever been a member of a political interest or lobby group? No.
If you are elected, will you commit to remaining a councillor for the whole term? Absolutely.
What is your campaign budget? Who is funding your campaign? Who has paid for your nomination fee? I am an Independant self-funded nominee.
Who will you direct your preferences to? Phillip Keily.
Describe your involvement in the local community. I am a Justice of the Peace and avail myself to the Knox Civic centre and Dandenong Police Station on a rostered system. I am a member of the Rowville Community Reference Group and the Rowville Rail Group.
What do you think being a councillor involves? Time wise I anticipate 20 hours but also dedication, integrity and community spirit.
What do you think are the most important issues for your ward? Transport, transport, transport.
What do you think are the most important issues facing Knox? Again transport, but also an open and accountable council.
There has been much debate about development in Knox recently, particularly in Boronia and green wedge zones. What are your thoughts on the future of planning in these areas? Are there any other areas’ future development needs to be addressed? Why? N/A.
What would you suggest the council could to do continue to advocate for better public transport in Knox (ie. the Knox Tram and Rowville Rail)? Keep open the comunications with the ministers and lobby groups.
There has been strong debate recently about the extent of sport funding in Knox. Do you think sport deserves significant money or are there other groups or sectors in Knox who also deserve more funding? If so, who? Sport is an important factor for our young.
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