Campaign Topics

Most people know me as a person who sees opportunity in crisis. At home, I’m a mediator for sibling squabbles. At work, I’m a CEO whose days are incomplete without crisis management. And in council, I’d be much the same.

I believe that as Stonnington residents, we can seek out opportunity in the face of this tremendous economic threat. At the moment, we’re still reeling from the proposed 2% rise in rates that was cancelled soon after by our council. However, in light of COVID-19, many of us feel crippled by the normal rates.

Are you a Stonnington household that would be helped out by a 10% discount on rates? After speaking to families in my area, it seems like this would really make a difference. The council’s rates increase might’ve been scrapped, but this means that rates still remain the same as before. I believe that Stonnington residents need more than the simple maintenance of rates. We need a decrease in rates.

I propose a 10% discount on rates for 12 months, with a review at the end of the year. As a community, we need to be mindful that our country’s economy has changed dramatically. This means we must pivot and embrace the unprecedented changes coming our way. I understand what this means for you. I know the toll that it can take. And I want to support you.

Be the change.

Just as Stonnington’s households are struggling, so are our businesses. Specifically, those in the hospitality sector. Picture this; you’re the owner of Armadale’s very own little piece of Paris, the restaurant Chez Bob. My local favourite. Your turnover has dropped drastically in the face of COVID-19. You aren’t known as a takeaway restaurant, but you have to adapt to facilitate takeaway. Rates have been suspended until March, but you think this needs to be extended.

In June this year, the statistics told us that 161 retail trade businesses were making zero-$50k turnover, which meant just 66 of food service businesses were making that cut. And just 3 hospitality businesses were making $10m or more (Remplan VIC Trends, 2020). This tells us that things aren’t looking too good for retail. I would love nothing more than to help out my local favourites during this time of hardship.

I suggest that as a community, we support local businesses like Chez Bob, by offering them benefits such as more outdoor eating areas, heating and outdoor awnings to make our outdoor spaces more versatile throughout the seasons. In Melbourne, we have the pleasure of experiencing all 4 seasons in a single day, so we should support these businesses by ensuring that they can trade in any weather. I also propose that our council ensures that approval documents and footpath trading rights are fast-tracked for businesses, so they can resume operations quickly and smoothly. I want to make that change happen for our cherished businesses.

Be the change.

While I spend a lot of my time running after my kids, I try to enjoy some “me” time. My husband and I used to have a pretty clear idea of fun: shop-till-you-drop on Chapel Street for the outfit we would dance the night away in later that day. From pacing up and down the strip to find the perfect dress to the endless summer nights spent at Revolver, Chapel Street was the place to be.

Unfortunately, due to a variety of factors, today’s Chapel Street nightlife and culture isn’t what it once was. Even before COVID-19 struck, business was down in the once-bustling High Street. In 2017, we began to see the rise in the vacancies we know all too well now, largely driven by the empty storefronts along Chapel Street. Now, we see vacancy on Chapel has “reached an all-time high of 16.7%, having quadrupled in the last (few) years” (Knight Frank Research). And in a post-COVID-19 world, things are even worse. The Chapel St Precinct Association’s annual report saw the hospitality sector decline from 29.1% to 26.5% (CSPA Annual Report, 2019/20).

After researching the economy of our beloved Chapel Street, something else jumped out to me. The annual report found that clothing is beginning to make way for food. Where apparel retail has been in consistent decline for the last few years (25.6% down to 21.6%), food retail has bumped up to 29.1% of the total number of shops along Chapel. This is an obvious indicator of changing consumer behaviour. Perhaps consumers are seeking more experiences over objects. I know it’s what we used to love. Fun will never go out of fashion.

I’m not simply looking through a prism of nostalgia. I have a real vision for the future of everything that Chapel Street can be. I say we pivot; we work with what we have and turn it into something great.

We know that Stonnington council is already investing in our beloved strip, but I’m worried it’s not enough. As a primary site for Melbourne’s liveability, Chapel Street deserves more. I think in order to rebuild our local economy and for the cosmopolitan High Street to truly thrive in this new world we are swiftly entering, we need to go all in.

But I’m not one to criticize without offering alternative solutions. So, here’s my vision. As consumers and residents, it’s been proven that we prioritise experiences over things, right? So why not experience Chapel Street? I’m envisioning a Chapel Street with a renewed sense of a hustling and bustling nightlife that focuses on local food and fun. Instead of the concrete jungle we currently have, let’s go green. Let’s bring people together, after so much time apart, by implementing social hubs with bench seats, and offer up a Victoria Night Market-style place-to-be on the other side of the river.

Let’s infuse Melbourne’s dynamic culture into Chapel too, with coffee on every corner, along with the multicultural food sensations that we are known for. For young and old, let’s rebuild Chapel Street’s culture into something we can all enjoy.

People used to travel from far and wide just to go to Chapel Street, a strip that historically burst with energy. It’s time to reclaim Chapel Street’s nightlife and culture. Let’s trade in the vacancies for vibrancy and restore our beloved fashion and social hub to its former glory.

Be the change.

If you are a parent reading this, I have every belief that you will be able to relate to this. As a mother, my first instinct is to always protect my children and encourage their growth But in these unprecedented times, being confined to our homes isn’t easy, and it makes our jobs 10 times harder. The odds are against us, but we need to teach our children that creativity is of the utmost importance in these times.

With only an hour up our sleeves to go out and allow our children to experience the world, we need to use every minute of it wisely. Play is crucial to a child’s development. But when it can take up to 15 minutes (or more!) to find a parking space at a park, it can be a problem. Although the City of Stonnington is home to 27 parks, I find that I sometimes need to travel to other local government areas to play with my little boys.

Here are some problems that we can work on:

1. The playground equipment hasn’t been updated.
2. Improvements haven’t been made consistently over the years (The parks in my suburb have seemingly remained the same since my kids were born).
3. Little to no spaces for older children to prosper in our parks.

While our council certainly tries, I worry that it’s just not focused in the right area. Last year, the Stonnington Council put $3.9 million into our “parks, open space and recreation renewal and improvement works” (Stonnington Budget, 2018/19). However, a large percentage of the investment went into “arboriculture” and “horticulture” services specialising in “tree pruning, planting, removal, planning and street tree strategists” as well as “parks and sports ground mowing and maintenance” (Stonnington Budget, 2018/19). In short, while significant investments were made into park maintenance, equipment upgrades and improvements are still largely lacking.

I don’t believe that Stonnington’s maintenance on our parks is enough. I think that on top of gardening maintenance, we need improvements made to the equipment and overall experience of our parks that will appeal to and attract a broader spectrum of people.

As a busy, working mother, I want to be able to nip around the corner to take my kids to the park for some old school play, away from their screens. Instead, I need to drive suburbs away to find a park that’s up to scratch.

Be the change.

Have you ever taken action for change and waited a short eternity for a response? I know I have.

According to the Stonnington website, our council “will respond…within 10 business days. If (they) can’t resolve it within 10 working days, (they’ll) let (us) know that the matter is still under investigation”. My concern is, some of these investigations tend to take months, including issuing parking permits. This hinders the council-resident relationship.

At work, I am surrounded by millennials, digital natives who teach me that websites and other digital platforms should be instantaneous. We shouldn’t have to wait weeks to months for online responses. And if we do, we should get some indication of response time.

I propose that the Stonnington website implement an “Application Status” option. For example, when you put forward an application or query, you will hear (via Email) where you are in the queue and know exactly when your voice will be heard. To me, this reflects transparency. It is my life motto that I am open with everything that I do – transparency in business and all walks of life is key to a successful outcome. This will cultivate a healthy and positive relationship between council and the general public, where Stonnington residents will no longer have to feel frustrated when they don’t hear back. Instead, they’ll know exactly when they’ll be heard and by whom.

To me, councils have to realise that they are responsible for their communities and be accountable for that. Transparency can achieve that.

I value transparency and believe that a regularly updated queue will rebuild the bond between council and residents.

Be the change.