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South Ward – Moreland Council 2016 election candidate responses on climate change

September 23, 2016 at 11:12 am morelandclimategroup 2 comments

For south ward 3 Councillors are to be elected, 13 candidates. See VEC Moreland City Council 2016 Nominations. The following is the list of candidates as they will appear on the ballot paper. We have linked all candidate responses to us and indicated if candidates are aligned with any political party.

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

PASTOORS, Ray (ALP aligned)(Response)
HANSEN, Chris (ALP aligned)
BHUSAL, Vijay (No VEC email contact)
O’BRIEN, Dave (IND)
*TAPINOS, Lambros (ALP aligned)(Response)
O’CALLAGHAN, Dean Norman (IND – Save the Planet Party)(Response)
CAPUTO, Joe (ALP aligned)
DORNEY, Jess (Greens)(Response)
SMITH, Kelly Maree
*RATNAM, Samantha (Greens)(Response)
YUAN, Melissa (IND)(Response)
RILEY, Mark (Greens)(Response)
*HOPPER, Meghan (ALP aligned)(Response)

* – an asterisk before name signifies a current councillor standing for re-election. If a candidate has no information after their name it may indicate they did not provide email contact details to the VEC or failed to respond to our survey.

Candidates Forum

Brunswick Residents Network are organising a candidates Forum to meet candidates for South Ward and ask them questions.
When: Monday, October 10 at 7 PM – 9 PM
Where: Siteworks, 33 Saxon Street Brunswick 3056
Registration: Facebook event details

South Ward Candidates state in 2 minutes their main policies:

Surveys and other Information

Moreland Bicycle User Group has a survey of South Ward candidates on cycling issues. There were 9 candidate responses from: Chris Hansen, David O’Brien, Dean O’Callaghan, Jess Dorney, Joe Caputo, Lambros Tapinos, Mark Riley, Mel Yuan, Samantha Ratnam.

Michael Stanley has written Moreland Council Elections 2016: A hopefully useful guide at Medium which has a strong focus on South Ward candidates.

Candidate Responses

Mel Yuan

Q: If elected, what concrete measures will you be advocating for on Moreland Council that relate to environmental sustainability and action on climate change?
A: Thanks for the opportunity. I am actively involved in Brunswick Communities for Nature which encourages planting indigenous plants in under-utilised open space such as nature strips. On Council I would pursue strategies to increase street tree canopy and encourage greater mid- and under-storey planting wherever possible, to mitigate the heat island effect. As a past employee of Sustainable Energy Authority (now part of Sustainability Victoria) I understand the key importance of education and regulation to support household and business energy efficiency.

Q: Are you a member of a political party, and if so, which one?
A: I am not a member of any political party.

Q: Please also provide a link to your website or social media site
A: https://melyuan4moreland.wordpress.com/
https://www.facebook.com/MelYuan4Moreland/

Lambros Tapinos

Q: If elected, what concrete measures will you be advocating for on Moreland Council that relate to environmental sustainability and action on climate change?
A: I have provided strong leadership on climate action. I have served as Mayor twice. In my first speech, I set the challenge for Moreland Council to become carbon neutral. This was achieved with investment in renewables. In my second term, I launched Carbon Evolution Strategy decreasing emissions for our community. I voted to divest from fossil fuels and supported sustainable environmental design in planning. I voted to support CERES and MEFL with vital operational grants and will continue to do so. Climate action is important to me and I will continue to provide strong leadership and action if re-elected.

Q: Are you a member of a political party, and if so, which one?
I am a member of the Australian Labor Party and LEAN (Labor Environment Action Network).

Q: Please also provide a link to your website or social media site
https://www.facebook.com/Crtapinos/

Ray Pastoors

Q: If elected, what concrete measures will you be advocating for on Moreland Council that relate to environmental sustainability and action on climate change?
A: As part of Moreland’s ZERO strategy, it’s important that council continues to examine the impacts its decisions have on the environment.

If elected, I plan to be an advocate for sustainability. There are a number of areas that can be worked on e.g.

• Explore a ban on lightweight plastic bags.
• Introduce more compost ‘hubs’.
• Work with industry partners to reduce landfill.
• Consider impacts development has on carbon reduction plan.
• Look at incentives for developers who go above green standards.
• Provide community members with more opportunities to offset their emissions e.g. personalised tree planting.

Q: Are you a member of a political party, and if so, which one?
A: ​I’m running as an independent. However, I am a member of the Australian Labor Party. The ALP do not endorse candidates for Moreland City Council.

Q: Please also provide a link to your website or social media site
http://​www.facebook.com/yourvoiceinmoreland

Meghan Hopper

Q: If elected, what concrete measures will you be advocating for on Moreland Council that relate to environmental sustainability and action on climate change?
A: The most practical ways I have been contributing to environmental sustainability as a current Councillor have been by supporting environmentally sustainable development and as a Board member of CERES Environment Park for the past 4 years. In 2015 I funded my own travel and was the only Mayor to speak at Future Cities Asia in KL, on the topic of sustainable urban planning. I strongly supported the Nightingale proposal and C71 on Council and will continue to do so if re-elected.

Q: Are you a member of a political party, and if so, which one?
A: I am a member of the Australian Labor Party

Q: Please also provide a link to your website or social media site
https://www.facebook.com/Meghan4Moreland/

Samantha Ratnam

Q: What concrete measures will you be advocating for on Moreland Council that relate to environmental sustainability and action on climate change?
A: The Greens on Council will work to transition Moreland to a pollution and waste-free city. We will accelerate Council’s Carbon pollution reduction targets through properly funding Council and community actions, including more solar on homes, businesses and community buildings, improving energy efficiency for buildings; supporting community renewable energy projects, and facilitating more sustainable transport, like walking and cycling. We will work towards a zero waste culture by increasing composting and reducing consumption of single-use plastics.
We will improve environmental sustainability by rebuilding healthy watersheds; increasing open, green space; improving biodiversity; and turning Moreland into a water sensitive city.

Q: Are you a member of a political party, and if so, which one?
A: I am a member of the Greens

Q: Please also provide a link to your website or social media site
http://greens.org.au/candidate/vic/samantha-ratnam
https://facebook.com/SamanthaRatnamGreens/

Jess Dorney

Q: What concrete measures will you be advocating for on Moreland Council that relate to environmental sustainability and action on climate change?
A: The Greens on Council will work to transition Moreland to a pollution and waste-free city. We will accelerate Council’s Carbon pollution reduction targets through properly funding Council and community actions, including more solar on homes, businesses and community buildings, improving energy efficiency for buildings; supporting community renewable energy projects, and facilitating more sustainable transport, like walking and cycling. We will work towards a zero waste culture by increasing composting and reducing consumption of single-use plastics.

We will improve environmental sustainability by rebuilding healthy watersheds; increasing open, green space; improving biodiversity; and turning Moreland into a water sensitive city.

Q: Are you a member of a political party, and if so, which one?
A: Greens candidate for Moreland City Council, South Ward

Q: Please also provide a link to your website or social media site
http://greens.org.au/candidate/vic/jess-dorney

Mark Riley

Q: What concrete measures will you be advocating for on Moreland Council that relate to environmental sustainability and action on climate change?
A: The Greens on Council will work to transition Moreland to a pollution and waste-free city. We will accelerate Council’s Carbon pollution reduction targets through properly funding Council and community actions, including more solar on homes, businesses and community buildings, improving energy efficiency for buildings; supporting community renewable energy projects, and facilitating more sustainable transport, like walking and cycling. We will work towards a zero waste culture by increasing composting and reducing consumption of single-use plastics.
We will improve environmental sustainability by rebuilding healthy watersheds; increasing open, green space; improving biodiversity; and turning Moreland into a water sensitive city.

Q: Are you a member of a political party, and if so, which one?
A: Greens candidate for Moreland City Council, South Ward

Q: Please also provide a link to your website or social media site
www.facebook.com/MarkRileyGreens/
http://greens.org.au/MarkRiley

Dean O’Callaghan

Q: If elected, what concrete measures will you be advocating for on Moreland Council that relate to environmental sustainability and action on climate change?
A: To prevent extreme global warming and ensure our community is prepared and safe, I will:
– Achieve Zero Emissions

• Reduce council emissions to zero
• Reduce emissions & save money with community energy efficiency & solar
• Increase zero emission transport options
• Reduce rates for households that compost & grow own food

– Reverse global warming

• Let’s draw down atmospheric carbon by converting green & food waste into Biochar, Biochar improves soil & traps carbon for 100s of years

– Create resilience

• Create local food growing initiatives & encourage community support networks to help in global warming related emergencies
• Build a local micro grid to service Moreland in case of state grid failure

Q: Are you a member of a political party, and if so, which one?
A: I am a member of the ALMOST registered “save the planet” party

Q: Please also provide a link to your website or social media site
A: https://www.facebook.com/deano4pm

Entry filed under: election, Moreland Council, Vote Climate. Tags: City of Moreland, election, MorelandVotes.