Friends of Darebin Parklands

Council Elections

2024 Candidate Survey

Ahead of the 2024 local council elections, the Friends of Darebin Creek and Friends of Darebin Parklands are inviting candidates to participate in a survey to understand their support for the continued protection and revitalisation of the Darebin Creek and Darebin Parklands. These survey questions are based on our advocacy platform.
 
This survey was sent on to all candidates in Banyule, Darebin and Whittlesea, and candidates for Yarra Bend ward in Yarra, on 24 September 2024. You can read the invitation and questions sent to candidates below, and view the responses received from each candidate.
 
Candidates were contacted using their nominated email address, as published by the Victorian Electoral Commission. Candidates who did not provide an email address are listed below as ‘no contact’.
 
Survey results will be posted shortly after the 4th, 11th and 18th of October.

Dear [Candidate],

Friends of Darebin Creek and Friends of Darebin Parklands are surveying candidates to understand their support for continued protection and revitalisation of the Darebin Creek and Darebin Parklands.

Over the last 40 years local governments in Melbourne’s north-east have demonstrated leadership and vision in their introduction and commitment to coordinated stewardship and management of the Darebin Creek catchment and the Darebin Parklands¹.

Banyule City Council’s proposal in October 2023 to de-fund the Darebin Parklands rangers demonstrated to the community that it cannot take for granted that all local governments and councillors appreciate the value and importance of these community assets.

The next twelve months is a critical time for securing the Parklands and the Darebin catchments future.

Banyule’s 2023 proposal was paused in response to community uproar to allow for a fuller review of options and for community engagement to take place. The recommendations from this review will be delivered to Banyule councillors in early 2025.

Darebin City Council is due to consider an options paper on the future management of the Parklands in December 2024.

The Banyule and Darebin communities are watching this issue closely.

We will update the community on candidate responses at various points throughout the campaign. We will be identifying if candidates ‘Will Support’, ‘Won’t Support’, ‘Don’t Know’ or ‘No Response’. We will update the responses on our website once a week. The cut-offs for your response to be included in the weekly update are 5pm on the 4th, 11th and 18th of October, 2024.

¹ Darebin Parklands is used to collectively refer to Rockbeare Park and Darebin Parklands

Dear [Candidate],

Friends of Darebin Creek and Friends of Darebin Parklands are surveying candidates to understand their support for continued protection and revitalisation of the Darebin Creek.

Over the last 40 years local governments in Melbourne’s north-east have demonstrated leadership and vision in their introduction and commitment to coordinated stewardship and management of the Darebin Creek catchment.

Our waterways and natural open spaces are increasingly important for the well-being of our community and the environment. The catchment will see significant population growth over the next decade and with it the loss of private open space. A growing share of residents will seek passive and active recreation, and wildlife will seek refuge in the Darebin Creek and Parklands environment. At the same time our waterways and natural spaces are experiencing increased pressure from global warming and increased stormwater run-off from urban development.

We will update the community on candidate responses at various points throughout the campaign. We will be identifying if candidates ‘Will Support’, ‘Won’t Support’, ‘Don’t Know’ or ‘No Response’. We will update the responses on our website once a week. The cut-offs for your response to be included in the weekly update are 5pm on the 4th, 11th and 18th of October, 2024.

View candidate responses

Candidate Responses – Banyule

Please let us know if you support and will advocate for:

1. Continued coordinated stewardship of the Darebin Creek catchment through the Darebin Creek Management Committee;

2. Continued joint governance of Rockbeare Park and the Darebin Parklands by Banyule City Council and Darebin City Council in partnership with the community through the Darebin Creek Management Committee;

3. Continued stewardship of the Parklands by an onsite full-time ranger team as the best way to deliver on the complex needs and roles it plays;

4. Local government funding for the catchment and Parklands to keep pace with the growing demands on and importance of these community assets;

5. Action and investment by local and state governments to mitigate the negative impacts of urban development on our waterways.

Banyule ward map (2020)
WardCandidate1. DCMC stewardship2. Joint governance3. Full-time rangers4. Parklands funding5. Waterways action
BakewellCallum Shaw
BakewellDavid Scott
BakewellMark Di Pasquale
BakewellNicola Rooks✅ Will Support✅ Will Support❔ Don't Know✅ Will Support✅ Will Support
BakewellStephen Hird
BakewellWilliam Roumeliotis
BealeElizabeth Nealy
ChelsworthAlida McKern✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support
ChelsworthHouwaida Ayoub
ChelsworthKristina Murray
GriffinDavid Griffiths✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support
GriffinKeith Mclachlan
GriffinMatt Perkins
GriffinPeter Castaldo✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support
GrimshawRick Garotti
GrimshawRory Gee
GrimshawSam Boatwright
HawdonChris Kearney
HawdonMatt WoodNo contactNo contactNo contactNo contactNo contact
HawdonRaj Bhatia
HawdonWill Cardamone
IbbottAlicia Curry
IbbottMarty Hirst
IbbottMelissa Murphy-Webster✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support
IbbottNina Crawley✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support
IbbottPaul Brown
OlympiaAbdirizak Mohamed✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support❌ Won't Support
OlympiaAlex Childs✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support
OlympiaAmina Liban
OlympiaCraig Langdon✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support
OlympiaLucas Moore✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support
OlympiaMary O'Kane✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support
OlympiaPaul Morland✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support
OlympiaWendy Palliser
SherbourneAlison Champion
SherbourneGreta Gillies
SherbourneIan Robertson❔ Don't Know❔ Don't Know❔ Don't Know✅ Will Support✅ Will Support
SherbourneLauren Sandars
SherbourneMichelle Giovas

Candidate Responses – Darebin

Please let us know if you support and will advocate for:

1. Continued coordinated stewardship of the Darebin Creek catchment through the Darebin Creek Management Committee;

2. Continued joint governance of Rockbeare Park and the Darebin Parklands by Banyule City Council and Darebin City Council in partnership with the community through the Darebin Creek Management Committee;

3. Continued stewardship of the Parklands by an onsite full-time ranger team as the best way to deliver on the complex needs and roles it plays;

4. Local government funding for the catchment and Parklands to keep pace with the growing demands on and importance of these community assets;

5. Action and investment by local and state governments to mitigate the negative impacts of urban development on our waterways.

Darebin Ward Map
WardCandidate1. DCMC stewardship2. Joint governance3. Full-time rangers4. Parklands funding5. Waterways action
CentralAlexander Taylor✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support
CentralCameron Rowe
CentralCourtney May✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support
CentralCraig WaltersNo contactNo contactNo contactNo contactNo contact
CentralKristine Olaris✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support
CentralLina Messina
CentralRob Beck
CentralZheng Chin
North CentralCarmel Italiano
North CentralCarmen Lahiff-Jenkins
North CentralHamish Kemp
North CentralJess Lenehan
North CentralJulie Williams
North CentralMohammad HelmyNo contactNo contactNo contactNo contactNo contact
North CentralVasilios Tsalkos✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support
North EastCraig Smith
North EastKim Ly Nguyen
North EastMatt Arturi
North EastNathan Mackie
North EastNina Laitala✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support
North EastTim Singh Laurence✅ Will Support✅ Will Support❌ Won't Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support
North WestAdam Slater
North WestGaetano Greco
North WestGeraldine Wood✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support
North WestPatchouli Paterson
SouthEdward Plowman
SouthJulie O'Brien✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support
SouthMelentie Pandilovski✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support
South CentralCarmel Davies
South CentralLiz Landray✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support
South CentralRuth Jelley
South CentralSimone White
South EastCarolyn M. Lunt
South EastElias TsigarasNo contactNo contactNo contactNo contactNo contact
South EastEmily Dimitriadis✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support
South EastJames Atyeo✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support
South EastMark Johnston
South EastMary Greene
South EastMelanie Thewlis✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support
South EastSusan Rennie✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support
South WestAlexandra Sangster✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support
South WestCat Rose✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support
South WestKate Polglaze✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support
WestAlex Bhathal✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support
WestBrian Sanaghan
WestConnie Boglis✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support
WestLeon Zembekis
WestSteph Price
WestSusanne Newton✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support

Candidate Responses – Whittlesea

Please let us know if you support and will advocate for:

1. Continued coordinated stewardship of the Darebin Creek catchment through the Darebin Creek Management Committee;

2. Local government funding for the catchment to keep pace with the growing demands on and importance of this community asset;

3. Action and investment by local and state governments to mitigate the negative impacts of urban development on our waterways;

4. Full development and activation of the Bunjil Nganga (Quarry Hills) Regional Parkland;

5. Implementation by the Victorian State Government of long-term protection of the proposed Grassy Eucalypt Woodland conservation reserve within the Green Wedge Zone.

Whittlesea Ward Map
WardCandidate1. DCMC stewardship2. Parklands funding3. Waterways action4. Bunjil Nganga (Quarry Hills)5. Grassy Eucalypt Woodland
BundooraAnthony Mancuso
BundooraDaniela Zinni
BundooraDanny Hanna
BundooraHarsh Singh
BundooraJamie Nikolovski
BundooraMarcelle Henderson
BundooraNimesh Shah
BundooraRichard Stockman
EppingDavid LenbergNo contactNo contactNo contactNo contactNo contact
EppingDonny Batten✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support
EppingEdward Sukkar✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support
EppingNessie SayarNo contactNo contactNo contactNo contactNo contact
EppingRachael Hussein✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support
Ganbu GulinjAhmed Farole MohamudNo contactNo contactNo contactNo contactNo contact
Ganbu GulinjBineet Gujral
Ganbu GulinjGulhan YoldasNo contactNo contactNo contactNo contactNo contact
Ganbu GulinjLawrie Cox
Ganbu GulinjPatricia Isaac
Ganbu GulinjSantosh Kaur
Ganbu GulinjUrsula Van Bree✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support❔ Don't Know✅ Will Support
KirripAidan Mclindon
KirripGurinder Kaur
KirripImran Khan
KirripJay UpadhyayNo contactNo contactNo contactNo contactNo contact
LalorEllen McNaughtNo contactNo contactNo contactNo contactNo contact
LalorNicholas HajichristouNo contactNo contactNo contactNo contactNo contact
LalorStevan Kozmevski
MerndaJarrod Lappin
MerndaRohit Taggar
MerndaWilliam SharpNo contactNo contactNo contactNo contactNo contact
Mill ParkBlair Colwell
Mill ParkEva MoranNo contactNo contactNo contactNo contactNo contact
Mill ParkJohn Fry
Mill ParkMaurice Abi Raad
Mill ParkRobert Malivindi
Mill ParkSamantha Mason
NorthChristine Stow
NorthHelen Franks
NorthJames Francis
NorthMary KrassosNo contactNo contactNo contactNo contactNo contact
NorthMunish Kumar BansalNo contactNo contactNo contactNo contactNo contact
NorthPhil HurreyNo contactNo contactNo contactNo contactNo contact
NorthShashi Pal
Painted HillsDeb Gunn
Painted HillsRoss Lee
South MorangAndrew Filippopoulos
South MorangMartin Taylor
South MorangMonique Lobosco
South MorangVesna PepeNo contactNo contactNo contactNo contactNo contact
ThomastownChaman Tiwari
ThomastownGeorge StavrakisNo contactNo contactNo contactNo contactNo contact
ThomastownHalimah McGlashan✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support
ThomastownLea Thornton
ThomastownNicholas James Brooks
ThomastownQuentin Bai✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support
ThomastownSarah Garnham
ThomastownTrung Thanh ThaiNo contactNo contactNo contactNo contactNo contact

Candidate Responses – Yarra

Please let us know if you support and will advocate for:

1. Continued coordinated stewardship of the Darebin Creek catchment through the Darebin Creek Management Committee;

2. Local government funding for the catchment to keep pace with the growing demands on and importance of this community asset;

3. Action and investment by local and state governments to mitigate the negative impacts of urban development on our waterways.

Yarra Ward Map
Ward
Candidate1. DCMC stewardship2. Parklands funding3. Waterways action
Yarra BendAmaya Castro Williams
Yarra BendBridgid O'Brien✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support
Yarra BendJill PostNo contactNo contactNo contact
Yarra BendLeonie Gnieslaw✅ Will Support✅ Will Support✅ Will Support
Yarra BendSarah McKenzie