This week the Mail puts the new and
re-elected Yarra Shire councillors under the spotlight. Journalist Tania Martin caught up with new councillors Graham
Warren, Samantha Dunn and Tim Heenan and returned councillors Len Cox and Noel Cliff about their plans for the next three years.
Graham Warren
NEW Shire of Yarra Ranges Chandler Ward councillor Graham Warren has highlighted the Monbulk Community Centre as one of the many projects that he will be focussing in during his three-year term on the council.
Cr Warren said he was delighted to be elected to represent the Chandler Ward and would do his best to represent the residents in his area to the best of his abilities.
Growing up in Silvan and living in the area until the age of 25, Cr Warren has close contacts with the local community especially with the Silvan football, cricket and tennis clubs.
Cr Warren is married to Carolyn and has four step-daughters and nine grandchildren and currently lives in Lilydale and works as a production manager in Kilsyth.
He said he decided to run for the council after receiving encouragement from former Chandler Ward councillor Alan Fincher.
“I thoroughly enjoyed the election campaign and I had great support from my family and close friends which made the whole process much easier to cope with,” he said.
Cr Warren said one of big projects for his ward would be the redevelopment of the Monbulk Community Centre project and that he would be working closely with the local community to help see the project through.
Cr Warren said the council will face many challenges over the next three years as it tries to balance the needs of the ratepayers with financial responsibilities.
He said by far the biggest number of calls he received during the election campaign was about the condition of the roads, with the shire having more than 870 kilometres of unmade road.
Cr Warren said some of the other issues include improving the maintenance of sporting facilities, keeping the right balance between environment, housing and agriculture, and maintaining and improving the good work the council does with young people and senior citizens.
Samantha Dunn
THE Shire Yarra Ranges has a bright future according to the newly elected councillor.
Lyster Ward councillor Samantha Dunn said there had been a significant change to the make up of the council with five new faces and that it had a very positive outlook.
She said it was almost like a turning point for the council, especially with the sort of people who had been elected.
“A lot of the elected people have done a significant amount of work in their community and there seems to be more an emphasis on environmental issues for this group,” she said.
Cr Dunn, along with her partner, has lived in Selby since 1992.
She said during her election campaign she went out and personally handed out fliers to more than 1000 local people.
“It was a really positive experience and I was astounded by the amount of support I received,” she said.
Cr Dunn said there were a number of issues that she would be working on during her term on the council including applying the Vision 2020 policy to everyday council decision.
She is also looking for a more sustainable planning process for across the shire, and in doing that open up the lines of communication with ratepayers.
Cr Dunn ran as a Greens Party candidate and said it was clearly what the community wanted with the amount support shown for her campaign.
Tim Heenan
NEWLY elected Shire of Yarra Ranges Billanook councillor Tim Heenan has labelled the whole experience of running for council as daunting but at the same time exciting.
Cr Heenan has lived in Mt Evelyn for more than 20 years and is married with two children.
He has been actively involved in the Billanook Ward for many years as the president of the environmental group The Aqueduct for 15 years, along with many other position on community groups and boards.
Known in the local business community as Tim the Tankman Rainwater Tanks, Cr Heenan has a steep involvement in environmental issues.
Cr Heenan has also receive two Australia Day Awards for services to the environment and the community.
He said that he thoroughly enjoyed giving up much of his time to the local community and has found the election process to be both daunting and exciting.
Cr Heenan has stood for council election twice before and knew that it would take a big commitment to run a successful campaign.
He said during his term on the council he would continue to support and develop the Billanook community, working towards upgrading Morrision Reserve to a regional sporting facility.
Cr Heenan said he would also like to see the installation of a safety zone crossing on York Road for Warburton Trail users, help reestablish the bridge over Maroondah Highway on the Warburton Trail and increase signage for local retail precincts to attract more business.
He said he was now looking forward to talking to residents in his ward to discover the issues they wanted resolved.
Len Cox
INCUMBENT Shire of Yarra Ranges Walling Ward councillor Len Cox will lead the way in experience on the newly elected council with five new faces welcomed into the fold.
Cr Cox is heading into his fourth term on the council. He was previously with the Shire of Lilydale for 12 years.
He said his first impression of the new council was that it seemed very promising yet totally different to the previous elected council.
Cr Cox said even though he has been through many campaigns before they are never easy.
He said it was important to tell people what he was about, and that although he has been the incumbent councillor for the Walling Ward for some time there are always new people moving into the area.
“I was absolutely delighted with the results, it was the largest amount of personal votes that I have ever had – I am just tickled pink,” he said.
Cr Cox said his goal over the next three years was to focus on both Montrose and Kilsyth areas to improve the reserves and shopping precincts.
He said a lot of work was needed on the process of amalgamating the two main shopping centres in Kilsyth.
“I also want to continue work on issues of conservation which are very dear to my heart,” he said.
Noel Cliff
SHIRE of Yarra Ranges Streeton Ward councillor Noel Cliff taking on his second term said he is hoping to see some action on some of the long discussed policies.
Cr Cliff said his first impressions of the five newly elected councillors was of a group of people bursting to do good things for their community.
He said the new council was totally different and that it was good to have some fresh faces and ideas on board.
Cr Cliff said his election campaign was quite easy and one of the encouraging aspects was the good wishes and notes of trust from ratepayers in his ward.
“I was bowled over with numerous phone calls from people telling me how much they trusted me and I realised that we as councillors carry the trust of people with us, which is really important,” he said.
Cr Cliff said he would like to see action taken on the shire’s weed management strategy straight away rather than waiting three years down the track.
“We have done enough talking and now is the time to start putting words into action.
“We have the plans and the money in place and the community wants to see more action for a change,” he said.
