By Cam Lucadou-Wells
FOUR OAKS WARD
This week, voters in Endeavour Hills, Narre Warren North, Lysterfield South and Harkaway will be receiving ballot papers for the 2016 Casey Council elections.
Don’t feel too lost when you survey the field of 21 candidates in Four Oaks Ward.
Only 11 of the candidates were organised, diligent and committed enough to respond to Star News’s survey, most within a 24-hour deadline.
Take a read and see which candidate will stand up for you.
Who do you trust to deliver your sports grounds, pools, libraries, garbage services, local roads and affordable rates?
In the survey’s answers, candidates either follow different streams of Christianity or don’t have a place of worship.
Some candidates reveal a truly shoestring budget for their campaign, others spend thousands – thanks to fund-raisers, “friends” and a bank loan.
Chris Sargeant deserves kudos for naming and detailing his donors.
Contenders have also proposed quite a few original projects and rates-saving measures.
Survey respondents: Chris Andrews, Brian Oates, John Glazebrook, Shar Balmes, Rosalie Crestani, Richard Barrow, Rafal Kaplon, Nikolaous Palatsides, Chris Sargeant (20 minutes late), Bill Klemmer (six hours late), Barry Erlenwein (26 hours late)
No reply: Dominik Lipski, Natasha Mirra, Rick Beeby, Rod Bagon, Afroz Ahmed, Bart Tyszka, Milla Gilich, Andrew Lawler, Nicholas Juricevic, Lyndon Samuel (sent an election statement instead)
CHRIS ANDREWS
(preferences Kaplon, Crestani, Beeby)
What ward/municipality do you live in: Edrington, on the border of Four Oaks
Political party membership: Nil
Place of Worship: Nil
Campaign sponsors and donors: Nil – self funded
Campaign cost/budget: Confidential
Top three projects you’ll achieve on council: Good governance, make council more accountable and keep rates at or below CPI.
Three ways to make council budget savings: Cost efficiencies, targeted savings, renegotiate service contracts, prioritise capital works program and operating budget, sell off under-utilised assets
Your view on half-mast Casey flag: Ridiculous – half-mast is a sign of mourning and should not be used for political purposes
Law-and-order solutions: Save for local laws, law enforcement is a State or Federal government function. Accordingly as a councillor and as a council all we can do is advocate. Any proposition by any candidate otherwise would be a political stunt.
BRIAN OATES
What ward/municipality do you live in: Four Oaks
Political party membership: ALP
Place of Worship: Non evangelical secularist
Campaign sponsors and donors: –
Campaign cost/budget: $1000
Top three projects you’ll achieve on council: Change the toxic and combative culture in Casey Council over the past four years; Make Council more financially responsible with ratepayers money and aim to work within the rate cap; Catch up with some of the neglected existing facilities and infrastructure, not letting vacant Council properties stand idle.
Three ways to make council budget savings: Review current finances and obligations such as debts and regulatory payments; Review business cases for sales and use of unallocated funds; Review contractor arrangements and costs particularly on the maintenance area.
Your view on half-mast Casey flag: A pathetic and meaningless political stunt.
Law-and-order solutions: I have previously proposed Industrial Area Security arrangements for Casey. With all CSOs in operation it might be a good time to raise that proposal again.
JOHN GLAZEBROOK
What ward/municipality do you live in: Four Oaks
Political party membership: Sustainable Population Australia
Place of Worship: As an atheist my faith is in science, ideas and logic.
Campaign sponsors and donors: I have no sponsors and pay all my expenses.
Campaign cost/budget: My expenses so far are below $1000 and my budget is $2000.
Top three projects you’ll achieve on council: Improve council’s productivity; Impact poker machine addiction; Open up public Question Time on council so that any resident can interact with council.
Three ways to make council budget savings: Prioritise spending by reducing spending on nonessential projects. Cut out all council junkets immediately. Seek more funding from government grants and developers and less from ratepayers in future.
Your view on half-mast Casey flag: Little more than a political stunt. Casey Council specialises in distractions because our councillors lack the political capacity to address the real structural issues impacting on Casey residents.
Law-and-order solutions: Firstly law and order is a state government responsibility. But Casey is likely to experience more crime as our population increases. We need a cap on population growth.
SHAR BALMES
(preferences Barrow and five others)
What ward/municipality do you live in: Four Oaks
Political party membership: None
Place of Worship: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Fox Road, Narren Warren North)
Campaign sponsors and donors: Generous friends who have donated their time, talents and homes, holding a series of fund-raisers.
Campaign cost/budget: To date, a little over $4000
Top three projects you’ll achieve on council: Immediate upgrades to sports facilities at Jack Thomas Reserve and Sydney Pargeter Reserve; Road congestion; Tackling the rising rate of domestic violence.
Three ways to make council budget savings: Greater community consultation to ensure planned spending is in line with what the residents actually want; Taking energy-saving measures and more fully utilise natural sources (ie. “Going green“); Invite industry and large local business to support or fund community programs that will benefit residents.
Your view on half-mast Casey flag: As a symbolic gesture I think Council showed support and sensitivity to the victims of crime by lowering Casey’s flag.
Law-and-order solutions: City councils control only local laws, but can advocate to State and Federal levels for increased police numbers and fully staffed police stations. As a community we can be more vigilant about reporting crime and being aware of potential concerns. Council can implement and support existing crime prevention programs.
ROSALIE CRESTANI
(preferences Kaplon)
What ward/municipality do you live in: I have lived in Four Oaks but currently just over the border
Political party membership: Rise Up Australia Party but running as an Independent
Place of Worship: Catch the Fire Ministries, Hallam
Campaign sponsors and donors: Parents, family, friends, etc
Campaign cost/budget: Approximately $6200
Top three projects you’ll achieve on council: Increased safety support for residents; 1001 steps at Narre Warren North/Harkaway; and Endeavour Hills Town Centre expansion.
Three ways to make council budget savings: Review services; support continued restructure; and support continued efficiency and effectiveness review.
Your view on half-mast Casey flag: Fully support any message regarding the increasingly dire circumstances of residents’ safety and security.
Law-and-order solutions: Support police; continue advocating for enforcement resources; neighbourhood watch support and introduce an array of new community safety ideas/measures.
RICHARD BARROW
(preferences Balmes and five others)
What ward/municipality do you live in: Berwick
Political party membership: None
Place of Worship: Nil.
Campaign sponsors and donors: Self-funded with friends and family
Campaign cost/budget: To be determined
Top three projects you’ll achieve on council: More shared paths for cycling and jogging, including links to Lysterfield Lake; An increase in equestrian paths and trails; New rugby union fields at Frog Hollow Reserve.
Three ways to make council budget savings: Moving more of council’s transactional services to lower-cost online and digital delivery; Support a review of council services with an understanding of the community appetite for any service reductions; Investigate more public-private partnerships for infrastructure and facilities.
Your view on half-mast Casey flag: On its own, a symbolic gesture; in concert with the other actions implemented at the same time, it garnered increased media attention to the call for improved police resources.
Law-and-order solutions: Advocating to State Government for increased police resources; Keeping the Endeavour Hills police station open 24/7 and appropriately staffed; Investigate the use of smart-city technology solutions.
RAFAL KAPLON
(preferences Crestani and Andrews)
What ward/municipality do you live in: Four Oaks
Political party membership: Former ALP, joined Liberal Party two months ago, running as Independent
Place of Worship: Attends Catholic Church in Keysborough for Easter and Christmas
Campaign sponsors and donors: Fully funding my own re-election campaign, with help of bank loan
Campaign cost/budget: About $10,000
Top three projects you’ll achieve on council: A library upgrade including new community spaces and neighbourhood centre; Upgrading Heatherton and Hallam North roads intersection to traffic lights; The development of Bay View Park and 1001 Steps at the old tip site in Narre Warren North.
Three ways to make council budget savings: Continuing effectiveness and efficiency reforms of Council operations that I initiated to deliver significant long-term savings; Elimination of all cost-shifting from State and Federal governments by handing back responsibility for associated services to those governments; Upgrade existing facilities where possible to avoid the high establishment cost of new facilities. I’m against interstate and overseas travel by councillors.
Your view on half-mast Casey flag: Personally, I am against the use of the half-mast flag as part of political advocacy. Should only be reserved as a symbol of respect or mourning.
Law-and-order solutions: I have done my part through advocacy to the State Government and developing close working relationships with local police. I have successfully introduced an annual meeting between the Council, local area commander and senior sergeants from around Casey. These actions and existing relationships need to be continued and developed further to gain substantial community outcomes.
NIKOLAOUS PALATSIDES
(preferences Balmes and five others)
What ward/municipality do you live in: Four Oaks
Political party membership: None
Place of Worship: None
Campaign sponsors and donors: None
Campaign cost/budget: Only some personal savings
Top three projects you’ll achieve on council: Encouraging businesses to employ more people by making Casey the best place to start and run a business; Improved roads; Better support for young families and those caring for a family member.
Three ways to make council budget savings: Review council services; Sell things we don’t need; Stop the government cost shifting to council.
Your view on half-mast Casey flag: Putting the Casey corporate flag at half mast, leaving our national and state flags untouched, is a message to the State Government that costs our ratepayers nothing. I have no doubt those loyal to the State Government will feign offence at this message, but the reader should have no doubt my loyalty is with our residents.
Law-and-order solutions: I will do whatever it takes to take back our neighbourhoods as a safe place to raise a family, but I’ll send the bill to Spring Street, not to the ratepayer.
CHRIS SARGEANT
What ward/municipality do you live in: Four Oaks
Political party membership: N/A
Place of Worship: Home
Campaign sponsors and donors: Jennifer and Frank Drake $30,
Jamie and Sonny Farrugia $50
Campaign cost/budget: Under $500
Top three projects you’ll achieve on council: An Inaugural Candidate Nomination Group. Those who have missed out still have a vital and important role to play in reflecting the communities wishes to council and provide a level of accountability to elected councillors; Develop council community partnerships (CCP) with sporting groups, clubs and individuals. These CCP will provide resources such as materials, expertise and dollar for dollar donations to assist their own team members develop community facilities and programs; Concrete Skate park for Endeavour Hills.
Three ways to make council budget savings: Sanity checks on capital expenditure purchases and contracts especially in building maintenance. Reduce the current building maintenance rate of $20 out of every $100 received; Sanity checks on capital works programs – recently my street was resealed – none of us could figure out why?; Participate in Audit and Ethics committee.
Your view on half-mast Casey flag: Lowering the flag indicates to the offenders that we have surrendered – I’d rather stand, fight and win instead of lowering my community’s flag in recognition of those who would seek to harm it.
Law-and-order solutions: Reinvigorate Neighbourhood Watch; Continue to lobby the State Government to increase local police numbers; Additional funding and resources to help those with difficulty controlling their emotions or substances. By taking ownership of this problem we will then free up the police.
BILL KLEMMER
What ward/municipality do you live in: Four Oaks
Political party membership: Independent
Place of Worship: My interests include the bush, the coast and sailing, and I see the grand designer in these areas all the time.
Campaign sponsors and donors: None
Campaign cost/budget: Approximately $250 nomination fee
Top three projects you’ll achieve on council: Make housing provision a priority; Integrated public and road transport initiatives; A high-quality plan for Doveton’s re-development.
Three ways to make council budget savings: Long-term budgeting system;
Review “make work to spend money” projects; Maintain an outdoor workforce as a realistic means of assessing contractors’ costs and tenders.
Your view on half-mast Casey flag: Not as important as below.
Law-and-order solutions: Council to lobby for police stations open 24 hours. Intensive rehabilitation programs in jail for super low rates of re-offending.
BARRY ERLENWEIN
What ward/municipality do you live in: Boundary of Four Oaks and Edrington wards
Political party membership:Independent
Place of Worship: None
Campaign sponsors and donors: None
Campaign cost/budget: None
Top three projects you’ll achieve on council: Lobby for more Police numbers. Looking into Area overlays to prohibit buildings that or ratepayers/residents don’t want. Rates at 2.5% state government cap.
Three ways to make council budget savings: Cancel projects that ratepayers/residents don’t want or we can’t afford. Cut back council grants and handouts. Look into expenditure and cut back unnecessary expenses that cannot be linked to profit or the well being of ratepayers/residents
Your view on half-mast Casey flag: A political stunt for more publicity prior to a council election. Being ex military I don’t believe it should have been done – un-Australian.
Law-and-order solutions: More police numbers and heavier penalties. This needs to be addressed by state government but as a large council and with cooperation from our neighbouring councils like Cardinia we could do it.
[ More Casey Council Ward candidates here… ]
