Susan Bissinger
Nepean Ward, Mornington Peninsula Shire

Totally non political, have never been a member of a political party or affiliated with one. I have never run for election at any level of government

Tangible issues - dilapidated infrastructure & amenity blocks, lack of transport, housing, disability inclusion & access. Intangible issues - council overspending inc staff, activists & extremists advising council, policies that don't prioritise The root cause of most tangible issues can be fixed with money, and that will come from better money management - currently approx $100M on staff wages, and spending millions on global agendas and taking on Fed and State issues. Simple and tangible issues are infrastructure inc. roads, bike lanes, footpaths, beach access, parks, road side reserves, incorporated disability provisions, basic amenity (inc toilets). Transport is a major issue, as well as confusing & resident unfriendly council policies, planning, bad ideas (eg 3.5% levy on all new builds and renovations still being worked on by officers), the solar plan that was scrapped, a Reconciliation Action Plan that includes treaty & other "Voice" reforms etc. Local businesses need assistance not hurdles. Another issue is ensuring that policies are not dividing people by race, gender, sexual orientation above that of the State and Federal Government mandates, &. Housing is the remit of the State and Federal Governments, but we should be advocating to retain the existing 1300+ social houses on the peninsula of which 300+ are uninhabitable and are being sold off. There are no plans to maintain these properties.

I've been there 3.5 years and I know how it works, I know what drives it and what it will take for change. My skills are very diverse - construction and small business owner for 25+ years, procurement manager in many different fields, recent experience with the Disability Advisory Committee, financial experience and an understanding of the council's budget, an ability to understand what AI would bring to the council administration and the huge cost savings that could be had.

With the current C219 amendment that is being considered by the minister, there is no real option but to support the re-zoning of this land. With over 70% of the Shire Green Wedge, we need the industrial component to remain relevant and the residential to aid with the housing crisis. Of course all this has to be worked with the environment as Hastings is a world recognised Ramsar listed environment.

This is a tricky one. Protection of the Green Wedge is paramount as we are the food bowl of Melbourne and parts of Victoria, so there will be no land for serious development. This is why they are counting on the release of port of Hastings land as amendment C219 restricts housing. Current infrastructure and transport is already inadequate with no possible funding in the near future, services are also stretched. We also currently don't have the jobs or diversity of jobs on the Peninsula to support a larger population. Honestly the only way I can see forward is to create more density in our townships, which will be hindered by amendment C219 and countless heritage reviews.

It is imperative that we have a fully functional Hospital in Rosebud to meet the needs of residents and the millions of tourists each year. However, it was not a priority for the current group of councillors, preferring to advocate for a performing arts centre in Hastings, homelessness and recycled water for a particular area. I was the only councillor who made a fuss about the Rosebud Hospital - the only one. Every single resident and councillor should be advocating for the Hospital as priority number one as peoples lives rely on it, especially those of us on the Southern Peninsula. Frankston is too far away, and whilst Rosebud is doing it's best, it is not able to provide a lot of services so it is often on bypass by ambulances. The dedicated staff at Rosebud are nothing short of amazing and the culture there ensures that workers just don't want to leave. Hospitals are not cheap and are a state government responsibility, however I don't think we will see action unless there is a change of government. Personally, I would like to see a new hospital built in a better location in Rosebud with better access.

I have proven consistently that I am focused entirely on listening to and acting for our community, not some global agenda. I will do my utmost to keep our children and young people safe, that our way of life and freedoms are protected, and our businesses are supported with simplified processes. I have collated a significant body of work from our community and if given the chance will continue to progress it www.nepeanvoters.org. There is a lot to do to "right this ship", but given the opportunity and a lot of new councillors more aligned to our communities across the peninsula, it can be done. Honesty, Integrity and Courage are my trademarks.

Apart from very tangible improvements as listed on www.nepeanvoters.org I would like to see policies amended so that residents are elevated to top spot. I would love to see a "can do" council in position where every request is met with a positive attitude and officers are focused on working toward making it a reality. I would like to see the end of political ambition to the detriment of our residents, extremism and activism in council.

The relationship between MPSC and CfFMP is vital to a mutually beneficial cohesive and functioning advocacy program. With the weight of numbers belonging to Frankston behind the CfFMP, it is highly advantageous for us to work together. The degree of professionalism and the non politically biased base of CfFMP is everything MPSC needs. I would like to see both organisations using their synergy to work closely together on matters where they have similar strategies and an agreed outcome. As a councillor, I would provide support and ensure that decisions made will dictate that a strong relationship is established and maintained between the two organisations. This would include regular catchups etc. It is not been possible to do as much as required due to the make up of the councillor group.

Vote 1 Susan Bissinger - not for empty words, we have a plan