Statement – Rosny Hill Friends Network, 2 October 2022
CCC candidates forum
16 candidates (out of 27) attended. Apologies were sent by 2 candidates.
It is perhaps worth noting that 1 candidate for Mayor did not attend (or present an apology) and 3 candidates for Deputy Mayor also did not respond to the invitation.
I took some notes of the main points mentioned by the various speakers, mainly for my own imperfect memory…but have attached to this email in case they are of use to anyone else.
I freely admit that they are not comprehensive and I may have missed a point here and there, but they are generally as spoken without any layers of my own interpretation.
Jenny
The order of speakers was determined by drawing names from a hat.
Tony Mulder
Suburban, not urban
Planning directions largely in hands of state government
Smaller lots for houses are limiting family activities
Infrastructure priority – parks, potholes, drainage
Experience – 10 years on Council
Independent
Kate Rainbird
Represent community
Good governance – experience in business and community organisations
Better representation for younger female demographic
Upgrade parks, childcare
Focus on basic services – eg concerns about rubbish collection
Lead by example
Member of Labour Party
Hans Willink
Good governance – more open and transparent, immediate disclosure of donations
Cooperation – within Council and with other Councils
Independence – avoid factional allegiances.
Richard James
Unfinished business from existing Council – Kangaroo Bay, Rosny Hill, Kangaroo Bay apartments, South Arm golf course.
New planning scheme impact
Councils should retain decision-making role on planning matters
Stormwater drainage and roadworks
Experience
Independent
Jade Darko
Commitment to truth, treaty, democracy and transparency
Community representation
True consultation and accessibility
Social justice -gender equity, health, housing
Environmental action
Proud to be a member of Greens
Matthew Combey
Management and teaching background, mentoring through Swinburne College
Accessible
Available
Support community regardless of personal opinions
Beth Warren
Experience
Built good working relationships in Council with elected members and staff
Values – people before profit
Protect environment
Communicate with community
Develop Climate change plan
Member of Greens
Heather Chong
Accountant and business background
Listen and work with people
Strong governance
Community work – focus on support to homeless
Growth in municipality presents challenges in funding infrastructure
Collaborative
Michael Figg
Need to represent community interests
Bad decisions made in the past
Expensive reports commissioned and not acted on
Accountability
BJ Walker
Member of Rokeby Hills Landcare
Need to get out into whole community
Listen and represent
Work with others
Anna Bateman
Wants to be of use to community and answerable for decisions made
Experience managing projects, people, large budgets
Lobby federal government for more money
Support appropriate development
Introduce citizen juries
Andrew Jenner
Law and commerce background and served in local government in UK
Accountability and transparency
Traffic and infrastructure issues
Consultation should be acted on
Would not support sale of public land for short-term profit.
Jimmy Collins
Cost of living issues – what could Council do?
Improve management of public spaces – roads, verges, parks
Grow facilities in Clarence
Support small business
Wendy Kennedy
Listen to community
Experience in committees has given good understanding of community expectations and priorities
Climate change plan
Commonsense approach
Bree Hunter
Offers knowledge, skills and experience through role with Hobart City Council
No empty promises
Integrity
Sustainable and considered approach to planning issues
Community-led decision-making
James Walker
Democracy is fragile and people’s rights should be protected
Offers experience and chance of renewal in new Council
Focus on parks, ambition to create state of the art dog park for Clarence
Good financial management
Association with Liberal values but has acted independently
Update
Apologies for using outdated information in relation to the apologies received for Saturday’s forum. I regret any confusion or offence caused as a result of this, but hopefully this will set the record straight.
Jenny
Just wanted to clarify about those who didn’t attend. There were apologies for various reasons, health, family, work and other commitments from: Sharyn von Bertouch, Anthony James, Daniel Hulme, Simon Walker, Dave Tilley, John Peers, Allison Ritchie and Emma Goyne all acknowledged and sent an official apology. And Daniel Hulme and Simon Walker answered the forum questions beforehand. Dave Tilley has sent his answers today. Emma Goyne said she would.
Brendan Blomeley indicated he was attending but nothing in writing or a reply to a phone message left on the 28th.
There was no response to the invitation from Noelle Harb (or a phone message) and Kaye McPherson.
Attached is a voting record on some issues, by current councillors.
Statement – Tony Mulder, 1 October 2022
Election Poster wars
Clarence Council poster war has gone another step with Mayoral candidate Tony Mulder taking a shot at the Richie/Blomeley Team for putting multiple posters on fences around the city while excluding other candidates from previously shared sites.
“The Ritchie/Blomeley team are ‘bombing’ commercial fences with multiple posters on sites occupied by other candidates and refusing to let candidates share sites that were previously available to all-comers,” Tony Mulder said.
“Posters are an indication of community support, not an opportunity to use business contacts to bully other candidates,” Cr Mulder said. “That is why I rely on broad community support and don’t use all-comer sites.”
“This aggressive bullying behaviour of the Ritchie Blomeley Team is what bedevilled the last council”, Cr Mulder said. “But if its bombing you want, its bombing you’ll get, as he unveiled a large a poster that dominates the all-comer site opposite Eastlands at Rosny Park. “I do this on behalf of all those genuine candidates who struggle to be heard above the noise of the bullies,” Tony Mulder said.
Complaints about the size of the sign have been dismissed as the Planning Scheme does not apply to the way this sign is erected.
