Over the 4 years former Liberal Candidate Daria Kellander has been on the Council, she has repeatedly voted against capital works budgets that included the following community infrastructure:
PA Burns Reserve Dog Park and beach – public toilet, entry improvement works, upgrade Dog off leash area, sand retention and beach access.
Altona and Seaholme Foreshore improvements – upgrades to seawalls, shared paths, access ramps, drainage, amenity & public toilets.
Pier St upgrade works including full upgrade of Pier Street (Queens Street to The Esplanade), upgrade of Weaver Reserve (including new car park), permanent closure of the Esplanade from Bent Street to Pier Street; and a new pedestrian entry point to the Altona Pier.
H W Lee Reserve open space upgrade, Altona – Upgrade of open space area across from the Altona beach.
Altona Tennis Club Refurbishment, Altona – This work has included the renewal of the existing clay surface courts and reconstruction of four synthetic grass courts and new lighting for improved training and competition. Minor pavilion renewal works were also conducted.
G J Hosken Reserve Upgrade, Altona North – The upgrade includes a new adventure playground, fitness equipment, footpath networks, new park furniture, a multi-use court with a basketball hoop and tree planting throughout the reserve. The western part of the reserve has been fenced to create a dog off-lead precinct, with new seating and bins.
Weaver Reserve and Pier St streetscape enhancements – Works included improvements to open space reserve, streetscape improvements along the southern section of Pier Street, and improvements to public amenities such as public toilets.
Brooklyn Community Hall upgrade and extension – The facility provides a place of belonging and an interchangeable space for several users groups, including two large multipurpose rooms, lounge area, industrial kitchen and business centre.
HC Kim Reserve, Altona – New Pavilion and oval upgrade, Altona – These works included the demolition of the existing pavilion with a rebuild of a new pavilion consisting of six change rooms, first aid room, umpire facilities, social space and storage. Works were also undertaken to the fields including the complete rebuild of pitch one and irrigation upgrades to pitches two and three.
WJ Croft Open Space enhancements, Altona North – The project has delivered a range of new facilities, including: A new playground, providing a safe and fun environment for children, new pathways ensuring accessibility and connectivity throughout the reserve, an overflow carpark to accommodate additional vehicles on game days, soft landscaping with grassed areas and seating, creating inviting spaces for spectators and visitors.
Altona North Children’s Centre Expansion – Altona North Children’s Centre Expansion (One Tree), to increase kindergarten spaces and accommodate introduction of three year old kinder program.
Drainage upgrades in Altona, particularly for the birdcage area in Altona.
Road and Footpath renewal program.
Unsealed laneway upgrade program.
The people of Altona and Seaholme should know these facts before they vote for their next representative on the Hobsons Bay City Council.
Authorised by Tony Briffa, PO Box 51, Altona VIC 3018
Daria Kellander claims to be an independent candidate for Altona Ward in the Hobsons Bay City Council elections in October 2024, but is she really an independent? Is she being supported by developers?
Two years ago Kellander was the Liberal Candidate for Williamstown – as you can see from her campaign images below. She associates with the extreme right wing of the Liberal Party, including disgraced former Liberal MP Moira Deeming, and some of her campaign material reveals links with a local real-estate agent / developer. Does this pass the pub test? Is this someone you want on the council?
She is standing candidates across all council wards to take over the council. In Williamstown North Ward, for example, she has her friend Alexander Ansalone standing as an independent. Ansalone was a candidate for the Freedom Party in the last state election, and a candidate for the Australian Federation Party in the last federal election.
Voters get the council and the representatives they vote for, but are voters really told the truth?
The candidates for Altona Ward are as follows:
BROWN, Irene – Political Party Candidate – endorsed by the Animal Justice Party
KELLANDER, Daria – Liberal Candidate for Williamstown in the 2022 State election. Daria opposed successive capital works budgets including funding for local improvements to the foreshore, clubs, drainage, reserves, shopping strips, etc. Her campaign has links to developers. Kellander has also been found guilty of misconduct twice, and suspended from office earlier this year.
MILLER, Susan – Political Party Candidate – endorsed by the Victorian Socialists
PAULL, Phillip – Ally of Daria Kellander and likely to be standing to support her with preferences.
RIPPON, Tim – Independent Candidate and local Altona resident. Local Justice of the Peace, member of local clubs (including the Altona Lions) and runs a nursing business.
Having considered all these candidates I encourage voters to VOTE 1 Tim RIPPON.
Kellander – a Liberal for Williamstown, not an Independent for Altona2022 Liberal candidate for Williamstown Daria Kellander, right wing local government antagonist Dean Hurlston & expelled Former Liberal MP Moira Deeming.2022 Liberal candidate for Williamstown Daria Kellander with the candidate for the right wing Freedom Party, Alexander Ansalone. Ansalone is now standing as an “Independent Candidate” in the Hobsons Bay Council Elections.Kellander’s billboard shows the “Ray White” logo on top – the name of a local realestate agent and developer.Liberal Candidate for Williamstown Daria KellanderAlexander Ansalone, candidate for right wing Freedom Party, now standing as an “Independent Candidate” in the Hobsons Bay Council elections.Alexander Ansalone, was also a candidate for the right wing Australian Federation Party, now standing as an “Independent Candidate” in the Hobsons Bay Council elections.
Authorised by Tony Briffa, PO Box 51, Altona VIC 3018
Arbiter Simon Heath, a former IBAC Deputy Commissioner, was appointed by the Victorian Principal Council Conduct Registrar to hear two complaints lodged by Cr Briffa against Cr Peter Hemphill alleging that he breached 3 of the Councillor Standards of Conduct.
The arbitration process resulted in findings of misconduct against Cr Hemphill for breaches of clauses 1,3 and 4 of the Councillor Standards of Conduct.
The Arbiter subsequently directed that Cr Hemphill:
Make written apologies to Cr Briffa and Ms Eyckens;
Apologise to Cr Briffa at the next Council meeting (being the Council Meeting of 10 September 2024) acknowledging that he failed to treat her with “dignity, fairness, objectivity, courtesy and respect”;
Apologise to Ms Eyckens acknowledging that he failed to treat her with “dignity, fairness, objectivity, courtesy and respect”; and
Be suspended from the office of Council for a period of one month to take effect the day after the Arbiter’s determination is tabled at the next Council meeting, or from 11 September 2024, whichever is sooner.
Cr Peter Hemphill is the second Hobsons Bay City Councillor ever suspended from office (Cr Daria Kellander was the only other one).
It is also of note that the 1 month suspension is the maximum suspension an arbiter can impose.
Arbitration Details
Cr Briffa lodged applications seeking findings of misconduct against Cr Hemphill on 17 May 2024 and 12 June 2024. In relation to the first application, the Principal Councillor Conduct Registrar (PCCR) advised Crs Briffa and Hemphill on 7 June 2024 that he was satisfied that:
the Application was not frivolous, vexatious, misconceived or lacking in substance; and
there was sufficient evidence to support an allegation of a breach of the Councillor Code of Conduct as specified in the Application.
On 21 June 2024 the PCCR advised the parties he was also satisfied of these two criteria in relation to the second application.
The first application was about an email Cr Hemphill sent on 29 February 2024 to the Council’s Executive Leadership Team, all Councillors, and Manager Corporate Integrity (Legal Counsel) in which he made numerous inaccurate, inflammatory and nasty remarks about Cr Briffa.
The second application was about Cr Hemphill’s statements during the Council Meeting held on 11 June 2024 in which he made inappropriate, inaccurate and disrespectful remarks about a council officer and Cr Briffa, and in which he breached confidentiality.
An Arbiter was subsequently appointed and issued written directions on 24 June 2024, establishing a directions hearing via video-conferencing for 9 July 2024. The arbitration process comprised a directions hearing on 9 July 2024, a brief hearing on 30 July 2024, which was adjourned to and completed on 15 August 2024.
Cr Hemphill was advised of all of these processes and Directions by the Council’s Councillor Conduct Officer (CCO). Cr Hemphill contacted the PCCR to have the Arbitration process delayed to September 2024. Cr Hemphill chose not to participate in this process. He could have joined the Hearing remotely but chose not to. At any rate, these complaints were about an email Cr Hemphill sent and his comments during a council meeting and nothing he could have contributed would have justified his conduct. The Arbiter read the email and watched the video recording of the meeting.
Arbiter’s Decision
The Arbiter’s decision notes:
“The Arbiter remained of the view that the Respondent had been given ample opportunity to be heard and, in the absence of any explanation as to why the Respondent had not complied with the directions, further directions and additional directions, the hearing proceeded.”
The Arbitration ultimately resulted in findings of misconduct against Cr Hemphill for breaches of causes 1, 3 and 4 of the Councillor Standards of Conduct.
The Arbiter also finally puts to bed some of the nasty and erroneous nonsense Cr Hemphill has been spreading about me for years.
The full Arbiter determination is available via the following link:
As a public official it is sometimes difficult to disclose everything being done behind the scenes for the community. There’s a lot of politics involved, rules and laws regarding privacy, confidentiality, planning, Councillor conduct and more. This means that sometimes issues come up where I work behind the scenes to respond and resolve issues for residents, local businesses and groups, but can’t always share everything I do.
One such example is in relation to the issue of people living in properties located on land zoned for industrial use, that is immediately adjacent to a Major Hazard Facility (Mobil) and has a number of other health and safety issues that increase the risk for people living there. I am referring to Techno Park Drive in Williamstown North (the area some locals remember as Wiltona or the old Migrant Hostel).
I was born in Altona and lived locally all my life. It was news to me when my Councillor colleagues and I were advised last year that people were living in Techno Park Drive. I appreciate another Councillor said that they always knew this, but I certainly didn’t.
As confirmed by the CEO in a recent public Council meeting, Councillors were all advised of this situation at the same time, we were all given the same information and the enforcement action was not a decision made by the Mayor and Councillors. This was a decision purely made by the Planning Department and had Councillors tried overriding the council’s Planning Department we would have been in breach of the Local Government Act.
That said, as Mayor I wanted to work with all parties and work to find a solution to resolve this issue. I didn’t want to see people evicted or homeless, and even explored the possibility of having the land rezoned.
I met with residents living in Techno Park Drive. At first they welcomed me and other Councillors as we discussed their plight, but this changed very quickly as they started to work with one Councillor who turned this into a political and media frenzy. The residents at Techno Park Drive then started to attack me in their posts, which I understand to an extent as their homes were being threatened. However, their attacks were misplaced because I was (and am) an ally. So were the other Councillors.
My canvassing of the possibility of rezoning the Techno Park area included discussions with council officers, the CEO and local MPs and was documented in a letter from me (as Mayor) to the Minister for Planning on 20 July 2023. The local Member of Parliament, Melissa Horne was cc’d in that letter along with the council CEO and council Director responsible for Planning. That letter stated:
“Council has received a number of questions from landowners and occupants at Techno Park, as well as other stakeholders, about whether the land at Techno Park could be rezoned to allow residential uses – whether through a rezoning or a specific controls overlay. Council’s advice to date has been that the move would be extremely unlikely to be entertained by the State, given the current Industrial 1 zoning and the immediate proximity to an MHF which is also a site of strategic significance to the state. It would also be very likely to be opposed by Mobil and other authorities such as WorkSafe.
We recognise there is a formal process to put forward Planning Scheme Amendments to the Minister, and that work to justify any amendment to allow residential uses has not been undertaken. However in this case, Council would appreciate any early guidance you could give as the responsible Minister as to whether there would be any scenario where you could support an amendment process to allow residential uses at Techno Park.
This would help to give greater certainty to a number of stakeholders and community members who are advocating for this change, including through a petition tabled in the Council chamber on 11 July 2023 which Council will formally respond to. Council is keen to work with the State to ensure that our work is consistent.“
It is important to note that Council cannot rezone land or approve a control overlay, as that is outside of our authority. The intention of the letter was to see whether the Minister would consider rezoning the land or permitting a specific controls overlay in the first instance, so that council could then pursue that as a potential solution.
The Ministers response to my letter, dated 10 October 2023, was as follows:
Ministerial Direction 1 – Potentially Contaminated Land refers to land that has
used or known to have been used for industry;
used or known to have been used for the storage of chemicals, gas, waste or liquid fuel (other than minor above-ground storage that is ancillary to another use of the land); or
where a known past or present activity or event (occurring on or off the land) may have caused contamination on the land.
“Ministerial Direction 19 – Amendments that may Significantly Impact the Environment, Amenity and Human Health” requires planning authorities (i.e. Council) to seek early advice from EPA when undertaking strategic planning processes and preparing planning scheme amendments that may significantly impact Victoria’s environment, amenity and/or human health due to pollution and waste.
The Council’s Planning Department subsequently engaged in discussions with the EPA which I understand is ongoing. The latest correspondence to the EPA and WorkSafe Victoria available to me is as follows:
In addition to that correspondence, council is addressing planning issues with the Minister for Planning as shown in this correspondence:
Importantly, the council’s Planning Department has put any enforcement in relation to people living in Techno Park Drive on hold and have encouraged them to apply for certificates to assess their existing use rights as a result of the February 2024 changes by the Minister for Planning for all Planning Schemes (noting that there may be building law, emergency management and safety implications for their homes).
As you can see from the above, as a Councillor or Mayor, I have advocated for residents living in Techno Park, and the Council is working to help them in every way possible. It is easy to drum up panic and media frenzy, but it is unhelpful, does not achieve results and is not what genuine community leadership and support is about.
I would like to share with you my decision that has been in the making for 12 months. I will not be seeking election to the Hobsons Bay City Council for a fifth term. My time as a Councillor will therefore end on 26 October 2024.
This decision comes after considerable reflection on my career, family and future. I have been involved in local council issues and advocacy for 23+ years. Prior to being elected to the Council I served as Convenor of the Hobsons Bay Residents’ Association advocating for residents and even representing them at VCAT on planning issues. I was elected to the Council in 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2020 and served as Deputy Mayor three times. I am honoured to have also served as mayor twice; most recently in 2022-2023.
As a Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Councillor I have had the privilege of working with many incredible colleagues, council staff, dedicated community leaders, community groups, businesses and residents. Together, we have improved our community through upgrades to the foreshore, reserves, sporting facilities, playgrounds, shared paths, shopping strips, public toilets, kindergartens, libraries, dog parks, other infrastructure and much more. We’ve improved accessibility and ensured the council’s policies, plans and community services are inclusive of everyone irrespective of age, disability, sex, gender identify, race, faith, sexual orientation and sex characteristics. As Mayor I also had the privilege of conferring citizenship to hundreds of residents.
I am very grateful to the community for the incredible support I have enjoyed including the amazing results at every election. Your support and active participation have been essential in everything I’ve done in the council, and for that, I am profoundly grateful. I’m especially grateful to my friends in the Residents’ Association who have always been there to guide, challenge and support me. They are friendships that I’m sure will endure.I am also indebted to my family for their support during my years on the Council; especially my lovely wife. I know it’s been very difficult for her at times – particularly when people are unkind about my sexuality, sex, gender or intersex variation. I’m looking forward to spending more time with her and other members of our family, and to having a more private life.While I am excited about the new chapter ahead, I will always carry with me fond memories of my time on the Council and a deep appreciation for the opportunity to serve our local community.
Thank you for sharing this journey with me, and please stay in touch.
Warmest regards,
Tony
P.S. I wanted to acknowledge and thank people individually in this message but there are so many people I am grateful to for their support. I hope you all know who you are.
In October 2023 I lodged an application to the Principal Councillor Conduct Registrar seeking that Cr Daria Kellander be found to have breached the Councillor Standards of Conduct in relation to several matters including in respect to inappropriate and inaccurate comments she made in an email and Facebook about me.
The Arbiter determined Cr Kellander’s conduct in relation to one of the three allegations was a breach of the relevant Standards and therefore made a finding of misconduct against her. Cr Kellander was suspended from the office of Councillor for a period of 7 days in relation to this breach.
It was the first time a Hobsons Bay Councillor had been suspended.
Facts about the complaint
21 September 2023 – Noting that the election for Mayor was scheduled for 10 November, that the new Mayor would chair the Ordinary Council Meeting on 14 November and that there are 4 Councillors on the Council that have not been Mayor before, I wrote a confidential email to the Councillor group as Mayor on 21 September 2023 inviting them to a Councillor only discussion after the Councillor Briefing Session on 17 October. The email is provided below:
17 October 2023 – Not all Councillors attended the briefing on 17 October so the discussion did not occur. As councillors were all getting together for the CEO’s performance appraisal on 31 October, the Councillor-only discussion was re-scheduled to that date.
29 October 2023 – Cr Kellander wrote to all councillors, the EA to the Mayor and Councillors and the Manager of Corporate Integrity, completely misrepresenting my email and claiming we were predetermining decisions, that it was collusive conduct etc. Cr Kellander’s email is provided below:
29 October 2023 – I responded to Cr Kellander later that evening stating: “There was nothing in my request to have a discussion about the mayoralty that would constitute corruption, and any link with IBAC’s findings and recommendation in Operation Sandon is contrary to reason and judgement. To remind you of my request for the discussion, my email of 21 September 2023 is pasted below in full. My email even noted “the election for these positions is conducted in the chamber on 10 November, and that the discussion during the briefing does not bind us to an outcome”. I look forward to our discussions on Tuesday night and, like all Councillors, am keeping an open mind to any candidates that come forward.”
31 October 2023 – Despite this, and not wanting the facts getting in the way of her public narrative, Cr Kellander posted the following on her Facebook page:
31 October 2023 – Councillors met to discuss potential candidates for the positions of Mayor and Deputy Mayor. Cr Kellander was the only Councillor not to attend. There was absolutely no predetermination about who would be Mayor or Deputy Mayor (and there were multiple councillors that expressed an interest as was seen during the public meeting to elect the Mayor and Deputy Mayor on 10 November.
Cr Kellander’s inaccurate and deliberately misleading comments became the subject of much media speculation against the council and the Mayor, with claims about predeterminations of the decision for the next mayor, “dodgy deals” and even attacks on me and my sex.
Arbitration Process
Both Cr Kellander and myself participated in the hearings and provided evidence. The following statements are from the Arbiter’s decision:
“Cr Kellander’s evidence comprised written material provided pre-hearing, and oral evidence given during the hearing. She gave evidence during the hearing that she did not believe it was appropriate to have a Councillor only meeting to have detailed discussions about upcoming mayoral elections. She believed that they acted to ensure the ‘deal has already been done’ to elect a mayor. She conceded that while it would be appropriate to discuss whether a councillor may want to run for Mayor with other councillors on an informal basis, it was not appropriate to do so at Council premises, with all Councillors invited, without the public being present. I note that the purpose of the meeting, according to Cr Briffa’s email, was also to air ‘any questions councillors have for each candidate, [and] what support the prospective candidates have from each councillor’.
In both the hearing and her written material, Cr Kellander referenced the Australian Constitution’s implied freedom of political communication and the extent to which this freedom is applicable to the Standards of Conduct from the Local Government (Governance and Integrity) Regulations 2020 (Vic). She cited the Councillor Conduct Panel Decision of Hely v Lew (2022) which had cited part of Kirby J’s judgment in Coleman v Power (2004) 220 CLR 1 (‘Coleman’). For example, in her pre-hearing written material she wrote, quoting some of Kirby J’s judgment:
‘the standards of my conduct when engaged in debate ought to be judged by the standards required of all politicians (including Federal politicians) … I am engaged in the struggle of ideas. In Australia I am entitled to use insult and emotion, calumny, and invective in my armoury of persuasion’ (p. 1).
Cr Kellander stated that she had not meant to imply that Cr Briffa was corrupt in calling the meeting. In the hearing she stated that she had read IBAC’s Operation Sandon report and conceded that the Operation Sandon investigation primarily involved findings of improper conduct by councillors in relation to planning matters, including for personal benefit, and that those matters could not be compared to the meeting called by Cr Briffa. In the hearing she also conceded that she understood why it might be inferred that was the implication she was trying to make, and offered to apologise to Cr Briffa.“
Arbiter Decision
“… I find that she [Cr Kellander] did breach this Standard when she referred to ‘Operation Sandon’ and ‘collusive conduct’ in relation to the meeting being called. The Australian Macquarie Dictionary (‘the Dictionary’) defines collusion to be, among other things, an ‘agreement or cooperation, usually secret, for the purpose of fraud, deception, or the gaining of an advantage at the expense of others.’
I find that referring to ‘Operation Sandon’ and ‘collusive conduct’ as an explanation for why she thought the meeting was inappropriate contains a clear implication that she believed that the meeting was collusive conduct. I make this finding despite Cr Kellander saying that it was not her intention to imply collusive conduct.
Collusive conduct is an extremely serious breach of public trust and allegations of collusion should not be made lightly. They could cause extreme damage to Cr Briffa’s reputation. These comments are clearly in breach of the need to ‘treat other Councillors … with dignity, fairness, objectivity, courtesy and respect’ (Standard 1). For this breach I order that Cr Kellander be suspended from the office of Councillor for a period of 7 days pursuant to my power under s 147(2)(b) of the Local Government Act 2020 (Vic).
It’s been an honour serving as Mayor of the City of Hobsons Bay for another term. As the level of government closest to the community, I love supporting families, community groups, businesses, schools, elderly and disabled people, young people, multicultural and faith communities, indigenous people and LGBTIQA+ people. While it is disappointing local government has become the target of conspiracy theorists, people against trans, non-binary and intersex people, and people attacking councils for their self interests, it’s been especially satisfying being Mayor during this time to help counter this negativity.
In addition to the usual work a mayor does, I was pleased to have put together a Mayoral Program that focused on the following areas:
Celebrating the diversity and community spirit of Hobsons Bay;
Greater community voice and opportunities to participate in Council activities;
Strengthening the relationship between Council and the Victorian and Australian governments;
Stronger connections and purposeful engagement with the business community, sister cities, members of parliament and neighbouring councils;
Promoting awareness of First Nations people through Council’s relationship with the Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation, the Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council friendship alliance and exploring support for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament; and
Making Hobsons Bay a greener, more environmentally proactive and liveable city.
The council was presented with reports about my Mayoral Program during the year which are available here:
As a proud member of the LGBTIQA+ community and longstanding LGBTIQA+ human rights advocate, I am pleased to have included a program of activities and events to support the LGBTIQA+ community in my Mayoral Program. I am extremely grateful to the LGBTIQA+ Community Liaison Group and Council “Pride Squad” for their amazing work, and for the support from my Councillor colleagues and the administration. The Western Rainbow Awards were especially significant, and celebrated LGBTIQA+ work being done across the Melbourne’s Western Region. The awards culminated in a celebratory event at the Williamstown Town Hall on 6 October that was kindly attended by prominent members of Victoria’s LGBTIQA+ community including the Victorian Commissioner for LGBTIQA+ Communities, Todd Fernando, and the Victorian Commissioner for Equality, Ro Allen.
At the Western Rainbow Awards night I announced I won’t be seeking re-election at the 2024 council elections. I’m grateful to the community for their overwhelming support at four council elections and through two terms as Mayor and three as Deputy Mayor, and feel the time is right for me to look at other ways I can make a contribution while allowing for some renewal in the Council Chamber.
In the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact me if I can help you with any local issues, if you have some feedback (constructive criticism is welcome!) or if you’re an LGBTIQA+ person and would like a chat.
Much has been published and said by councillors and some vocal supporters in recent weeks about the council’s decision to support weekly general rubbish collection. The councillors that put up the motion to rescind the council’s decision to restore weekly general rubbish collection included many unsupported and blatantly incorrect statements in their motion, so the remaining councillors put together the below document to correct the facts.
Please download the following document below, noting it was approved by Councillors Kellander, Tyler, Grima and me.
Here’s also some of what I had to say at tonight’s council meeting in support of the vote for weekly rubbish collections:
“We have been discussing this as a council – amongst ourselves as councillors, with the Council Administration, with the community and have heard thousands of residents from all sides of the debate. I will be voting against the rescission motion tonight and continue to support the resolution passed by the Council last Tuesday night.
I believe in a minimum basic service level for waste services and believe that includes having general waste collected by council every week. That’s not too much to expect.
This is not to say the council will not continue to raise awareness and support reducing waste and increasing recycling – amongst other environmental initiatives and education programs. We must care for the environment, but limiting a service so that it’s only accessible to families and residents that can afford to upsize their bin is not the answer.
Despite comments by some and the fake news mentioned previously: • Reduction of landfull waste will continue; • The four bin system will continue; • The messaging and awareness raising of environmental issues and the need to reduce waste and increase recycling will continue; • FOGO will continue; • The purple bin for glass recycling will continue to be collected; and • Importantly, the council will continue to seek continual improvement to gain environmental outcomes and improved service levels in relation to our waste services.
We can do all of those things while still collecting people’s rubbish weekly.”
During the Council Meeting held on 20 April 2021 I formally voted against the proposed increase to residential rates, which is consistent with my voting against the rate increase last year. Given the hardship many residents, businesses and community groups are experiencing during the pandemic, I cannot in good conscience support a rate hike. I am firmly of the view now is the time we should be supporting families and individuals, not increasing rates, fees and charges. I also acknowledge the struggles of local residents on fixed or reduced incomes and people who are underemployed and that other expenses such as gas, water, electricity insurance and food continue to rise.
It is important to note that residential rates in Hobsons Bay will effectively be increasing by an average of 3.5%, and for many other residents the increase will be more than this. This is because the council increased rates by 2% last year (which I also opposed) but provided ratepayers with a once-off rebate to offset the increase. As I predicted last year, this rate increase will now be applied in the 2021-22 budget along with an additional 1.5% as per the Victorian Government approved rate cap for 2021-22.
I support most of the Capital Works Program 2021-22, but cannot support the rate hike, particularly with council’s projected $27.38 million surplus for 2021-22. This is a summary direct from the published council budget:
The following graphics from the proposed council budget show the increases proposed to average rates when compared to last year. In addition to the increase in the residential rate, it’s important to also note the increase to the Waste Charges which are payable on top of the general rates.
It is a sad fact that council rates – essentially a property tax – is not applied consistently across Victoria or even Melbourne. A ratepayer would pay much less in rates for a property worth $1 million in Brighton compared with a $1 million property in Altona Meadows. How is this fair? Rates in Hobsons Bay are one of the highest in Victoria’s 79 councils, so not applying a rate increase in 2020-21 and 21-22 is more like a rate adjustment.
Some residents have concerns about how the council will pay for future capital works if the rates don’t increase. My view is that the council must live within its means, and that like many households and businesses we have to tighten our belts a little as a result of the pandemic. Not applying the 3.5% rate hike will not result in a disaster for our existing or future budget. It’s just a small adjustment. Council does not need to be greedy or treat residents as cash cows.
So what can residents do about this?
I urge every resident or business owner to visit the following page on the Council website to read the budget and make a submission to the council before Sunday 23 May 2021:
The Proposed Annual Budget 2021-22 and Rating Strategy are scheduled to be considered at the Council Meeting from 7pm on Tuesday 29 June 2021.
What if you are experiencing financial hardship?
If you are experiencing financial hardship and are struggling to pay your rates, pleas contact the council to access the Financial Hardship Policy. It includes provisions for rate deferrals and waivers, and I hope it will be easy to access. Please contact the council or me directly if you want more information about that.
I also respectfully acknowledge Crs Grima and Kellander who also voted against the rate rise.
The Hobsons Bay City Council is undertaking a review into the current waste services system, so as a local Councillor I’m keen to hear from residents about your experiences and perspective. I’ve therefore put together an online survey and encourage as many residents as possible to complete it. The link for the survey is:
I would also appreciate if you can forward / share this link with other residents in Hobsons Bay and via social media or by printing this flyer and distributing it to your neighbourhood. The more feedback I get the better equipped I will be to both understand the needs and concerns of residents and advocate for real change.
Many residents have raised concerns with me about the current system and I am committed to seeing improvements made as soon as possible. I believe the council must provide a suitable minimum waste collection service for residents while also promoting the reduction of waste and increasing the uptake of recycling. I know there are people that are ok with a 120lt general waste bin being collected every fortnight, but I also know many families that are struggling and require a better system.
I look forward to your feedback!!
P.S. For more information about council’s waste services, visit the council’s website here.
Our Pier is a much-love community asset and is owned and managed by Parks Victoria. As part of their renewal program for piers, the Altona Pier is going to be replaced in the coming years. Following community consultation in 2020, Parks Victoria have announced the new pier will be made of concrete (not like the existing wooden pier) and will have an angled end.
The report from Parks Victoria describes the new Altona Pier as follows:
“A concrete pier with an angled pier head creating a visually unique pier that offers more space for recreational fishing, additional shade and improved seating options. This option is aligned with Pier Street, with the pier head angledtowardsthe offshore artificial reef balls to maintain an achievable casting distance.
Facilities and features included: • Angled end of pier with seating and shelter • Widened concrete abutment to adjoining seawall • Entrance and pier head public art/sculpture • Respite seating along length of pier • Motion sensor lighting at 30m spacing • Gangway to 24m fixed low landing on western pier head • Large format seating on eastern edge of pier head • Ramp to lower platform on eastern pier head • Emergency vehicle turning area at pier head”
For more information about the new Altona Pier, see:
I am very honoured and grateful to have been elected to represent and serve my community on the Hobsons Bay City Council for a 4th term. Thank you to the local community and especially my fellow residents of Altona, Altona Meadows, Altona North, Brooklyn and Seaholme for your amazing support. I was honestly humbled by the huge result and promise I will not let you down. I love our community.
Thank you to the many people that helped my campaign in any way. From sharing or commenting on my posts on social media, distributing flyers, having a poster in front of your home, spreading a kind word to neighbours and friends, or to community groups encoring their members to support me. It’s been a very positive campaign and I’m so proud my team and I did not respond to the nasty attacks and misinformation on social media and continued to focus on what was most important – serving the community to make Hobsons Bay an even greater place to live, work, visit and enjoy. I don’t want division and recognise that it wastes so much time and energy. I want to work with everyone and if we disagree on something then we should talk about it and respectfully disagree. We are all neighbours in Hobsons Bay.
I am already planning my work for the next term and am strongly focusing on our community’s recovery after the difficult challenges of this year – for our businesses, community groups, families, schools, elderly and disabled citizens, multicultural and faith communities, etc. We have so much to do to rebuild and support our community and I’m really keen to work with all my colleagues on the council to do that, and with the collaboration of our partners in the community.
Please keep in touch!
Kindest regards,
Tony
P.S. The election results can be found here and is posted below.
Cherry Lake Ward – Hobsons Bay City Council (Election 2020)
Wetlands Ward – Hobsons Bay City Council (Election 2020)
Strand Ward – Hobsons Bay City Council (Election 2020)
