Tag Archives: Moreland City Council

Exploring Merlynston Creek from source to confluence

Posted on June 17, 2017 by | 5 comments

National Boulevard Nature Reserve - 100 photos of Merlynston Creek

In May and June I spent some time cycling along Merlynston creek on several trips, exploring some of it’s secrets. Merlynston Creek is about 11 kilometres long from it’s source in an industrial area in northern Campbellfield, just a little north of the Ford Broadmeadows plant, to it’s confluence with the Merri Creek just north of Coburg Lake.

Merlynston Creek intrigued me. The creek, in it’s passage through Fawkner Cemetery, could be considered Fawkner’s natural geographical western boundary.
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Moreland Council turning Green – 2016 Council election results

Posted on October 29, 2016 by | 1 comment

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The results are in. Moreland Council is turning more Green. The Greens will have 4 Councillors in the new Council, with Labor aligned Councillors numbering 3, Independents 3, and Socialist Alliance 1.

Congratulations to the successful candidates elected to Moreland Council from North East Ward: Natalie Abboud (Greens), Annalivia Carli Hannan (Labor aligned), Ali Irfanli (Independent from Fawkner), and Sue Bolton (Socialist Alliance). They reflect the diversity of our community and will represent us in the (hopefully) good governance of our local city council.

Sue Bolton established a strong record of regular ward meetings and community engagement and was the only Councillor in NE ward recontesting. She was elected in second place, attracting many second preference votes.

Ali Irfanli campaigned strongly as the only candidate from Fawkner and picked up a large proportion of his vote from the two Fawkner polling booths. He defeated former Councillor (2004-2012) Tony Helou for the last position.

Irfanli will now need to carefully balance the priorities of Fawkner with Coburg and the municipality generally. He will be one of the more conservative voices on Council, but that is not necessarily a bad attribute.

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Candidate Engagement on community issues for Moreland Council election 2016

Posted on October 19, 2016 by | Leave a comment

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The election was held Saturday 22 October. See the election results.

In my article on candidates standing for NE ward I provided a matrix for what community surveys each candidate had responded to. Other people have also written candidate profiles for Moreland’s three wards:

Candidate profiles:

South Ward:

North West Ward

North East Ward

I decided to broaden my matrix on survey engagement to all candidates across the municipality. This is a relatively neutral way to assess engagement by candidates with community groups on issues, while leaving the content of their responses up to voters to investigate.

Surveys conducted by community groups included: Climate Action Moreland on climate change, sustainability and climate emergency; Moreland BUG on cycling; Bicycle Network; Pentridge Community Action Group on Pentridge Development (NE ward only); Music Victoria on support for local live music; and Alliance for Gambling Reform on Pokies reform.

I have put together this matrix so you can see at a glance who responded to each survey. Candidates are listed in the order they appear on the ballot paper. Current Councillors re-contesting having an asterisk in front of their name.
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Who is standing for NE ward of Moreland Council in 2016?

Posted on October 6, 2016 by | 7 comments

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For Moreland Council North East ward, which Fawkner is a part of, 4 Councillors are to be elected, from 20 candidates standing. See VEC Moreland City Council 2016 Nominations. The following is the list of candidates as they will appear on the ballot paper. Climate Action Moreland have done a simple survey of candidates on climate and sustainability policies which are worth checking out. Two candidate forums have been organised so far for North East Ward.

The election is on Saturday 22 October. See the election results.

Candidate Forums

Fawkner Community House have invited North–East Ward Council candidates to a community forum with Fawkner residents about how candidates will represent the interests of people in Fawkner if they are elected at the council election this month.
When: Sunday 9 October 2pm to 5pm
Where: 95-97 Major Road Fawkner
Details: Fawkner Community House

Save Coburg and Pentridge Action Group are organising a candidates forum to hear from candidates and ask them questions.
When: Thursday, October 13 at 7 PM – 9:30 PM
Where: Coburg Uniting Church on the corner of Louisa St & Victoria St, Coburg
Registration: Facebook Event details
Storify Report: Urban Development in spotlight at NE Ward #MorelandVotes candidates forum

Pentridge Community Action Group reported: “Show of Hands from Candidates present at the Moreland Council NE Ward Forum re question posed by Prof Hamel-Green on opposing > 4 storey development in the Pentridge Precinct. Candidates with hands raised are George Georgiou, Sue Bolton, David Nunns, Antonio Bonifazio, and Imogen Jubb. A late response was made by Francesco Timpano”.

A third candidates forum organised at Merlynston.
When: Tuesday 18 October 7.30pm to 9pm
Details: Facebook event

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Greening Moreland Forum – Saturday 30 November

Posted on November 19, 2013 by | Leave a comment

20131130-Greening-Moreland-ForumMoreland Energy Foundation in conjunction with Moreland City Council are holding a forum for residents, community groups and businesses to discuss and network on environmental sustainability issues, to make a greener Moreland.

It is a chance to catch up with the many groups and individuals across the municipality working on sustainability from many different angles.

The event will also provide an opportunity for ideas and input into the creation of the Moreland Community Climate Action Plan being developed by Moreland Council.

An introductory session will use a 2 minute market process, allowing every person an opportunity in turn to speak uninterrupted and explain what they or their organisation are doing regarding environmental or sustainability activities, or areas they are interested in working in.

When: 9.45am to 1.00pm Saturday 30 November
Where: Coburg Town Hall – Concert Hall, 90 Bell St, Coburg (Entry at the back via Urquhart St)
Booking: Attendance is free but RSVP at MEFL website is required for Catering purposes
Lunch: Lunch Food provided free after the forum.
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Moreland Council gets a shakeup in 2012 election results

Posted on October 31, 2012 by | 3 comments

Congratulations to the successful candidates elected to Moreland Council from North East Ward: Micheal Teti (ALP member), Lenka Thompson (Greens), Rob Thompson (Liberal Party Independent), and Sue Bolton (Socialist Alliance). They reflect the diversity of our community and will represent us in the (hopefully) good governance of our local city council.

Significantly, three of these candidates – Sue Bolton, Lenka Thompson and Rob Thompson – responded to a questionnaire on sustainability and environmental issues sent to candidates by Sustainable Fawkner. I phoned to chase up a response from Michael Teti and left a message. He returned my phone call, but did not submit any written response to the survey.

Several hundred people visited this article prior to the election and I have no doubt the information on the page helped people decide who to vote for to represent them on council. I can’t understand candidates not wanting to respond to such a survey by a local community group to outline their positions to electors.

ALP members Stella Kariofyllidis and Anthony Helou, who have represented north east ward on successive terms were unsuccessful.
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Moreland Council election 2012 North East Ward Questionnaire on sustainability and environment for candidates

Posted on October 14, 2012 by | 2 comments

Update: Election results – Moreland Council gets a shakeup
Update: Candidate responses as of Monday 22 October.

Moreland Council Wards

Moreland Council Wards

Moreland Council election is occurring with polling day on Saturday 27 October 2012. In North East ward of Moreland Council covering the suburbs of Coburg, Coburg North and Fawkner we get to elect 4 councillors from the 24 candidates standing. You can check the candidate contact details on the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC).

Representative democracy is a sham without the views of candidates being made available for voters to be informed. If your like some of us, you like to know who you are voting for. With very little public exposure of candidates views, Sustainable Fawkner wanted to canvas the opinions and policies by candidates on sustainability and environmental issues which we are concerned about. Replies will be collated and published on this page as a public service to electors for North East Ward.
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Posted in climate, community, cycling, events, Merri Creek, Moreland City Council, news, public transport

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