Protecting the remaining remant redgums of Glen Eira

At the last Council meeting Cr Sounness called for a report which I was very pleased to support.

11.1 Requests for reports from Officers
(a) Crs Sounness/Lobo

Given the recent loss of two significant mature river red gum trees(Eucalyptus camaldulensis) on Duncan Mackinnon Reserve, I request a report on how Council protects the remnant indigenous tree population on Council managed land.

The report should provide a general overview of how Council manages significant trees in its parks and provide specific detail on the health,form and expected safe useful life of the following mature river red gums trees:

1) 2x at Elster Creek Trail – Bentleigh
2) 1x Booran Road reservoir –Glen Huntly
3) 2x Wattle Grove Reserve – Ormond
4) 1x Greenmeadows Garden – North Caulfield
5) 1x Rosstown Woodland - Carnegie

The report should also detail strategies Council uses to prolong the life of its significant trees and how Council preserves local provenance of its indigenous trees stock when replacing old trees.
The MOTION was put and CARRIED unanimously.

Comment - Along with those listed above and in Boyd Park Murrumbeena,there are very few of these significant species left in our parklands -the loss of the two trees at Duncan Mckinnon in January was unfortunate. Extensive rot in several main branches had raised safety concerns given the close proximty to the jogging track and car park. Will look forward to the outcome of this report especially any means where Council can better protect these trees through preventative measures.

New school pedestrian crossing for Murrumbeena

Over the past few weeks it has been very pleasing to witness many parents and school children using the new crossing on Murrumbeena rd at the Dandenong rd intersection to access several local primary schools.

In reponse to concerns raised late last year about the lack of a safe crossing I met with a group of parents before Xmas on this issue- At the February council meeting Crs unamiously endorsed a proposal to fund this new crossing and provide a safer pathway for those families living on the western side of M/beena rd and thus encourage more to walk.

Whilst full credit goes to the parent group for raising this issue, I would like to see our Council play a more pro-active role in eliminating any pedestrian 'black holes' like this one. The walking strategy being developed this year will provide a good opportunity for improvements to be made.

Carnegie Pool - securing the pool's future

One of the issues that was highlighted amongst many candidates including myself during the recent Council elections was the urgent need to upgrade the aging Carnegie pool.

In 2010 I initiated a motion in the chamber to address this. The amended motion passed at that time noted the significance of this issue but adopted a wait and see approach till after GESAC had opened and attendance figures could be viewed.

The attendance figures at Carnegie so far this summer have been quite high showing no decrease even though GESAC has been open for almost one year.

There have been some intial discussions on this issue; it has been very encouraging that overwhelmingly this new Councillor group is keen to upgrade and improve this important community facility,with timing and funding yet to be determined>.

Campaigning in Glen Eira

The next six or so weeks will be very busy as the time draws closer to the October 27th election date.

I will primarily be using facebook to communicate campaign activities,issues,views over this time.

Follow me by searching facebook on Neil Pilling Glen Eira 2012

Must say great to see some warmer spring weather after many chilly morns doing leafleting and stalls throughout August. So far with Wilmars Mickelson,fellow Greens Candidate for Rosstown, we have done six stalls and delivered in the order of 13k leaflets.

We will continue to be very active- full details will be provided of upcoming campaign events- drop by and say hello!

This Saturday 22nd September

930-12noon Koornang rd Carnegie

(near main pedestrian crossing)

Greening Local Government in Glen Eira- press release

Am certainly proud to be part of such a talented group!
More information can be found at the Glen Eira Greens site in links opposite.

Greening Local Government in Glen Eira
The Greens are excited to be fielding a record number of candidates for the City of Glen Eira Council elections to be held in October this year. Neil Pilling, current Rosstown ward Councillor and City of Glen Eira Deputy Mayor, is standing again and is joined by Wilmars Mikelsons also for Rosstown ward, Thomas Sounness for Camden ward, and Rose Read and Brett Hedger for Tucker ward. With such a strong line-up of endorsed Greens candidates, The Greens are optimistic of gaining extra positions on Council and working to build a better Council for the City of Glen Eira.

Bayside-Glen Eira branch co-convenor, Jeannie Marsh, said ‘the Greens have endorsed a solid team of candidates representing a wealth of talent and a strong commitment to the people of Glen Eira’. Candidates come from a varied range of backgrounds and together have experience in areas including education, business, community services, urban planning and more. Most have lived in the City of Glen Eira for many years and some have raised families in the area. All are well connected to their local community and regularly interact with other residents through volunteer work with community service, educational and sporting organisations, and by participating in local activities such as dog walking groups.

‘The Bayside-Glen Eira branch of the Greens is thrilled to be putting forward such a strong team for the upcoming Council election’ Ms Marsh said, adding that she is ‘confident that residents will welcome the opportunity to make a difference in Glen Eira by electing Greens Councillors who are committed to the community and to delivering healthy, safe and liveable neighbourhoods’.

For further information and comment, please contact the candidates directly.
See additional candidate comments and contact details below.
Additional Candidate Comments and Contacts

Neil Pilling - Candidate for Rosstown ward
Mobile: 0418 310 631
Email: neil.pilling@vic.greens.org.au

Neil Pilling, who has been a member of Council since 2008, says that ‘being the first Greens Councillor elected in Glen Eira has been both rewarding and challenging’. His strong advocacy on a range of environmental, social and economic issues has seen Glen Eira take important steps forward in delivering improved and progressive community focused policies. He is proud to have also contributed to delivering great new community and sporting facilities like GESAC and the new Duncan McKinnon Pavilion. A special emphasis for Cr Pilling is ‘ensuring facilities, services and parklands are improved through sound planning for people and our environment’. He is committed to listening to residents and acting on community concerns and is ‘looking forward to the next term and the exciting potential that the election of more Greens Councillors will bring!’

Wilmars Mikensons - Candidate for Rosstown ward
Mobile: 0425 772 228
Email: wilmars.mikelsons@vic.greens.org.au

Wilmars Mikelsons has lived in Glen Eira for more than 20 years, is a teacher at a local secondary school and has raised his family here. His three children have attended local schools and participated in local sporting clubs. He is a keen gardener, loves cycling and watching his son play junior footy and basketball. He says Glen Eira is a great place to live, and is running for council because he believes that ‘a strong community voice is needed to ensure Council retains and improves facilities, services and parks’. He is committed to ‘listening and acting on community concerns; supporting families, young and old, with well planned and needed services; enhancing the health of our community and environment; and retaining and improving the Carnegie Pool’.

Thomas Sounness – Candidate for Camden ward
Mobile: 0438 499 680
Email: thomas.sounness@vic.greens.org.au

Greens candidate for Camden ward, Thomas Sounness, believes Green representation on Council will contribute to healthy, safe and liveable suburbs. He has wide experience in urban planning, small business development, international trade, farming and IT. He lives in South Caulfield, where he can be seen taking his dog on daily walks. Mr Sounness also enjoys gardening and volunteers his time to assist frail and disabled residents with their gardens. Mr Sounness said he is ‘committed to building social and environmental resilience’ and believes that ‘to achieve this, and to maintain the City’s liveability, foresight and good planning is needed’. He is committed to work hard to ‘support access to valuable social services; rejuvenate and revitalise our characteristic retail centres; prevent waste and improve Council transparency and effectiveness’. ‘I’m also committed to supporting better, more efficient and effective transport options in the City’ he said.

Rose Read – Candidate for Tucker ward
Mobile: 0409 132 338
Email: rose.read@vic.greens.org.au

Rose Read is an active community member and resident of Bentleigh. She is a representative on Council’s Environment Committee and works with local government and businesses across Melbourne to improve energy efficiency. She is also an experienced manager of services for children and families. Ms Read said ‘I love living in Bentleigh, where I raised my family and know the community well’. ‘We need a lively, engaged and healthy community for everyone,’ she said. She is standing as a Greens candidate for Council because she wants ‘to see a council that listens and works with community members to improve planning for people and the environment’. She is committed to ‘expanding childcare and kindergartens in the area; actively involving residents in neighbourhood planning and services; providing more open space, adventurous playgrounds and events for all ages; and ensuring better access to activities and services for older residents’.

Brett Hedger – Candidate for Tucker ward
Mobile: 0448 560595
Email: Brett.Hedger@vic.greens.org.au

Brett Hedger is a qualified accountant, teacher, IT specialist and sustainability professional who lives in McKinnon with his sons. ‘Community service is a high priority for me and I am ready for the challenge of representing our community’, he said. He believes ‘our city needs a clear vision that guides and shapes all our futures’ and that ‘our city needs to be safe, clean and healthy’. He has pledged to work hard to ‘create a Council that works in harmony with the community; to improve public transport; preserve and expand our open spaces; and balance the needs of development with preserving neighbourhood character’.

Campaigning in Glen Eira -election day Oct 27th 2012

To assist in providing information and comment throughout the coming months till election day on Saturday October 27th,I have recently launched a campaign facebook page.

This page will be updated regularly and contain plenty of details on issues, events and commentry. Equally it will be an important avenue for residents to have their say about concerns they have and to engage in the campaign.

Please check out the page at the top of the LINKS section opposite.

Storytelling Festival - Boyd guided walk

Last Saturday week as part of the Glen Eira Storytelling Festival program local historian and resident Colin Smith provided a facinating insight into the Boyd family history and their connections over a fifty year period in Murrumbeena.

Both events were very well attended -the morning walk with approx 140 whilst the afternoon walk which I attended had at least 100 enthusiastic participants.

Colin gave a wonderful narative of the struggles of this quite humble but gifted family and of their relationship with the emerging surrounding community. Their story is quite complicated and it was very interesting know more about this important talented family. Really living local history!

The walk began at the Springthorpe gates on Neerim rd , proceeded thru the now Boyd Park and then onto Wharoongaa Cres and the site of 'Open Country' the original family home(unfortunately demolished in '64).The only Boyd home still standing is at No.8.

The walk concluded at the site in Neerim rd of the former AMB (Arthur Merric Boyd) pottery. Many thanks Colin.