Red Hill Ward
Melissa Goffin

1. Supporting COVID Recovery: We need a whole of Shire and community response to our current crisis. As a local hospitality business owner, I feel the pain of our community and the concerns for jobs and our future. I will secure grants, removal of red-tape and common sense proposals in consultation with affected communities to urgently support our recovery.

2. Preserving our Green Wedge: Strengthening protections to the green wedge by advocating into the current State review taking place.  I will ensure that our community interests are front and centre in decision making so we can secure and strengthen this critical asset for future generations.

3. Developing Business Partnerships: I will drive Shire partnerships with local businesses to ensure a thriving post-COVID economy and a collaborative business community that works with local government on shared community goals. I will ensure that our Shire is genuinely and comprehensively adhering to its commitments within the Small Business Friendly Charter it is a signatory to.

4. Improving Community Voice: I will go into our community and find the things that matter to you. I will ensure that projects like the proposed Hillview Quarry and the AGL Gas Refinery have community concerns within decision making and I will advocate for them across all levels of our government. Every stakeholder has a right to transparent and authentic ways to participate in the matters that concern them, I will ensure this. 

5. Focusing on Good Governance: We need our Shire to understand that it works for our community and improved transparency and accountability is needed to rebuild trust. I will create a Councillor Code of Conduct that outlines ethical advocacy, a review of Shire spending, quarterly review and publishing of key Shire performance measures.

6. Improving Quality of Life: Invest in progressive and compassionate solutions to improving the quality of life for those struggling with drug addiction, homelessness, family violence and mental health issues in our communities.

7. Improved and Extended Footpaths: We need safe and accessible footpaths between our key township areas - between schools and parks - between shopping centres and beaches.

8. Creation of a Sustainable Business Community: The creation of a business community supported to engage in sustainable practices - environmentally friendly products, composting, renewable energies, water re-use, farm gates and local food networks and more.

9. Improve Connectivity: I will prioritise improving connectivity around our communities so that we can consistently connect to technology and phones.

Benefits that my skills and experience offer the Mornington Peninsula Community:

1. Consultation and collaboration:

I have a decade of teaching in local public schools within which I was led whole school initiatives. My roles were implementing new educational philosophies and teaching leadership to our school leaders. Through this I developed a passion for building consensus, developing capacity and driving change.

Across 2012-2015, I was a member of and then President of Victoria’s English Teaching Association and a member of the national board. I lead with a focus on consultation and collaboration within ever changing policy frameworks.

2. A voice for all:

In 2016 I was one of three founding Organising Members of the Women’s March on Melbourne. A grassroots women's advocacy march that saw thousands march in the city - joined by millions around the world. I am passionate about advocating for the most vulnerable and marginalised within our community.

I use my platform as an ethical business owner to share these ideals and build and extend our business community. I have held and spoken at ethical forums, participate in ethical business communities and talk and write about being an ethical business leader.

3. Demonstrated commitment to sustainability and the environment:

At the start of 2018 our business became the first restaurant in Australia to achieve B Corp status. An ethical accreditation that sets rigorous standards for meeting criteria in environmental sustainability, community, people, financial and business transparency.

In 2019 I was named Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year by Womens’ Agenda for my focus on ethical business practices.

Over recent years our business has won numerous state and local awards and one that we’re most proud of is the ‘Best in World - Community’ by B Corp. Where our commitments to local have been recognised as amongst the best in the world.
 

4. I am a local business owner

As a local business owner, I understand our unique community. I have also experienced firsthand the challenges many Mornington Peninsula businesses face when dealing with the Shire, and so I feel I can advocate for our community with authenticity and from real experience.

I understand that the Shire has made this commitment but I have not seen evidence of this though its engagement with business. The Shire claims to understand the importance of its business community through media communications but does not evidence this in advocacy or collegiate partnerships with business. One of my priorities will be to establish a stronger business partnership program where genuine and extensive consultation can occur, a review of Shire processes and policies that interact with business and measurable outcomes are implemented.

I do and yes, I think it should be a priority of the new Council. We need to further consider the implications of this shift and ensure that advocacy occurs at state level to change our status and maintain protections for our green wedge and other benefits.

An extensive review of internal shire processes with regard to use of enforcement, legal and consultants should take place with a view to understand that policy or staffing decisions have created the current situation. Our 88% of VCAT decisions turned over in 2019 cost rate payers millions and reflects a serious issue in what cases are brought forward, their merits and the costs associated with doing so. We need to ensure that the Shire is living up to its Model Litigant requirement and not progressing to legal action against any party unless all other avenues have been exhausted.

Processes should be developed where any legal action, VCAT or Magistrates, must reflect a process of interventions and mediation before doing so. The planning department should be measured on their ability to significantly reduce these figures during early stages and increase their success rates at VCAT – reflecting adherence to law and appropriate resourcing.

As above, there must also be a shift in how the Shire proactively communicates to the business community. This  community should be seen as a valuable resource, providing jobs, serving our community and a partner to achieving shared goals.  

This must begin with extensive and genuine consultation with businesses to understand the issues they’re facing. We must work closely with state and federal government to identify the most effective supports and implement those with expediency and clarity ensuring that they are accessible and meaningful.

This includes a reduction of red tape, access to business grants, reduction of planning permit timelines and complexities and individual solutions for businesses to adapt through economic development supports for businesses. 

I will ensure that their rates are spent on projects and policies that are important to them. I understand the issues they’re facing and the work required to make a change.

I have not previously held a position in any local government. My desire to stand for councillor of the Red Hill Ward is borne from my desire to create change in how our local government is working for our community. Our Councillors and our Shire need to be creating greater transparency and accountability in decision-making, extending consultation and ensuring that every stakeholder has a seat at the table. 

A shift in Shire culture toward a more transparent, accountable, consultative organisation. A better working relationship with MP businesses and a reduction in legal action against rate payers.