Briars Ward
Dion Mullett Treloar

The key issues I am hearing about from the community are:

• A strong recovery from COVID-19 for small business
• Stopping overdevelopment on the peninsula
• Protecting our natural environment that is one of our main drawcards
• Providing better transport options
• Cleaning up our green spaces and beaches

I will contribute to resolving these issues by making sure the community is listened to, rather than told what needs to be done. I will not be persuaded by outside interests or those who have ulterior motives. Please see my statement and following answers as some of the ways we can resolve these problems.

I have a Double Bachelor’s Degree in Aviation & Business, with an Economics minor and Management major. This included studies of finance and business law, which would all be critical knowledge areas for the operation of council. I have been club captain of my football club and worked right across the country in many industries. From running my own small business, labouring on construction sites, working in resorts and pubs, operating in a frontline medical team and having a career in an international airline – this shows I can work with anyone across the community.

This is an exciting project that I hope will be the start of a true Peninsula Rail Link. Extending the current electrified network will encourage those in the areas surrounding Baxter to start their journey from there, rather than travelling into Frankston where parking is limited. An electrified network is cleaner for the environment than a diesel service, with the potential for this to be powered from renewable sources. With an extension to Baxter, this creates opportunities for the line to be extended to Mornington, helping people get to the city safely, taking pressure off our road network and encouraging more tourists to visit the peninsula.

I support the Shires commitment to the program however the actual follow-through of enacting upon this commitment has been weak and requires further focus. The impact of the pandemic on small business has been immense with many small business now struggling to survive. This now requires a reset by the Shire. • Councilors will require regular briefings, at least every fortnight, not only from Shire officers but from a local business taskforce consisting of local industry leaders. • This information will then guide decisioning on best advice into Operational policy and planning to assist small business recovery. • The Shires policies with regards to approvals, payments and collaboration will be key to a successful outcome.

Although this status has been revisited several times it has now come to a head given the impact of the Covid-19 lockdown on the community, mental health, small business, in fact almost every aspect of the Mornington Peninsula has been impacted. I would have liked to see a more tailored approach to the lockdown by the State Government given the low local distributions alike to the ruling for Mitchell Shire. A change in status must be structured to protect the Green Wedge, the natural systems and particularly our coastline which is coming under increasing pressure. We have benefited from some aspects of regional classification so I would strongly endorse a review of this classification and seek community input to potentially endorse a hybrid model to obtain the ideal result.

The current Mornington Peninsula Council has recently taken an approach to enforcement that has seen a significant increase in prosecutions at VCAT and the Victorian Magistrates Court at great expense to ratepayers, and in relation to VCAT- very low success rates. If elected, will you support this current approach to enforcement and if not how do you propose Council can create a more harmonious productive relationship with ratepayers?

A transparent two-way consultative process must first be established and a councilors role in part is to facilitate that given the councilor cannot instruct a council officer. I believe there is always scope to review and improve process but we must be mindful when we generalise this as “cutting red tape” if that then results in detrimental community impact.

I certainly do not support blatant disregard by some to further clear the fragment remaining bushland we have or an inappropriate development in the Green Wedge. Ratepayers expect council to protect these areas. Enforcement and Compliance are complex areas of regulation and planning often with varying interpretations. The current increased expenditure certainly indicates a consultative breakdown.

Council needs to listen to the business community to hear what is most needed to support them through this disastrous time. Business has made huge sacrifices this year to keep the community safe and it’s time this was recognized and rewarded. Some ideas I have for recovery, subject to consultation with business, are:

• Opening up street parking spaces for business to expand outside, creating a market like environment for retail and dining
• Shuttle buses to bring people into our main streets if less parking is available
• A “buy local” initiative, encouraging businesses to source locally and customers to buy locally, with rewards and incentives in place.

I see great opportunity for an exciting, prosperous and sustainable future on the Mornington Peninsula. Everyone should have access to excellent services, fantastic career prospects and a beautiful environment to live in. We can have all this and more, by investing in council services that connect the community, provide leisure activities, support small business and keep our environment clean. I am standing for council for the sole purpose of serving the community, with a vision for a bright future for this generation and those to come.

A “buy local” initiative that continued past our COVID recovery would be something I would be very proud to be a part of. To create a label or an endorsement that business can use to show customers that products are made, sourced or created locally, employing local people and supporting the community, would be a fantastic legacy. I would also like to ensure that we are the first council in Victoria to implement kerbside soft plastic recycling. To set an example for the rest of the state and potentially much of the country, would really show how much we value the environment on the peninsula and would have a long lasting impact for future generations.

Thank you for the opportunity to speak on these topics. I ask that everyone takes the time to ensure they vote for candidates that truly represent the community and those who stand for creating a better future for us all.