Briars Ward
Julia McCarthy

I believe the top issues facing our shire are how we can protect our natural assets whilst allowing businesses to succeed and helping the residents and business in our shire to recover from COVID. I believe a councillor that listens to the residents and business owners and represents them in the discussions at council can contribute to creating solutions to these issues. Residents have already expressed their dismay at the recent rate rise approved by the current council, if I was elected stopping any future rate increase while we all face difficult economic times, borne of the COVID pandemic, would be a priority.

I love our local community and I am dedicated to being actively involved. Since moving here I have served several community groups:

• Frankston Peninsula Multiple Birth Association Incorporated (President, 2017 to present)
• Australia Multiple Birth Association Victorian Subcommittee (Committee member 2018 to present)
• St Thomas More Primary School Parish Education Board (Board member, 2018 to present)
• St Thomas More Primary School Parents Association (President, 2018 to present, previously held the position of Assistant Treasurer for 2 years)
• DAISY Study Volunteer (Depression and Anxiety Peer Support Study)

Prior to this I spent 15+ years as an Australian and European communications and marketing manager within asset management and banking – with my last 2 positions at ANZ in Melbourne and Morgan Stanley in London.

I am also genuinely interested in local government. So that I can serve to the best of my abilities I have enrolled in the Diploma of Governance offered by the Institute of Community Directors (delivered via Gippsland TAFE) – for which I am delighted to be awarded a part scholarship in the Womens Scholarship Round.

I am also genuinely interested in local government. So that I can serve to the best of my abilities I have enrolled in the Diploma of Governance offered by the Institute of Community Directors (delivered via Gippsland TAFE) – for which I am delighted to be awarded a part scholarship in the Womens Scholarship Round.

Infrastructure Australia included Frankston public transport as a priority initiative in its updated priority list, which would indicate that this project, which would improve connectivity to Frankston, should be investigated further. The Council and local MPs should continue to request the federal government to release the business case into the expansion of the Frankston line to Baxter so this can be pursued.

As part of the program, the Shire pledged to:

• pay small businesses within 14 days
• support local businesses in managing the impacts of infrastructure projects
• streamline the approval process when starting a business
• help set up and support local business networks.

I understand that the third point is the one where the council needs to make the most improvements given the high level of feedback I have received from small business owners about the lengthy delayed in permit approvals. I believe this is something that the council should brief the new councilors for review.

I don’t hold a view on this as the due diligence has not been done on the benefits and disadvantages that moving to regional status would bring. However I would be wary of any rush to change given the effect it would have on the Green Wedge which we hold so precious in the Mornington Peninsula.

The percentage of the Shire's planning decisions upheld at VCAT in FY19 has decreased by 33%. Out of the 69 decisions set aside by VCAT, 61 (88%) were against Council decisions to refuse a planning application. This is largely due to Council continuing to hold its position in regards to the Localised Planning Statement and the Housing Settlement Strategy. Clearly pursuing these Strategies is at odds with what businesses and residents want – this needs to be addressed as a high priority so that relationships can be improved and money better spent on the community.  I would be in favour of reviewing these strategies as a matter of urgency.

Rates should be frozen and a program of rate relief – not just deferral of payments, should be considered for the residents and businesses (based on a qualifying set of principals). I believe there would also be benefit in looking at a Shire small business grants program, similar to what Frankston Council has recently run, and a specific COVID relief community grants program.

At a local government level, Women have long been disenfranchised and under represented. We know that in every part of Victoria, women play a pivotal role in the leadership of their communities, but this work is often under appreciated and not formally recognised. I want to run for local council so that it looks more like the communities that they represent – after all, local government is supposed to be the level of government that is closest to the people.

I am passionate about what I can do to ensure the Mornington Peninsula is a vibrant place where families want to raise their children and people dream of retiring, I believe I can contribute to this as I have with the contributions I have made to the other community organisations I am a part of.

Ratepayers knowing that they were always heard by me and that I had the communities interests at the heart of every discussion at council.