West Matters

In this episode of West Matters, we speak with Dr John Stone, Senior Lecturer for Transport Planning at Melbourne University and Graeme Blore 2024 Brimbank Council Candidate for Cherry Creek Ward and Carinlea Advocate. The subject is on the urgent need for better bus services in the Western Suburbs - there is a way!

Reference Links Mentioned during the podcast:

1) Graeme Blore speaking at the Better Buses for the West Community Forum (14th march 2024):https://youtu.be/Rsqn7Kj7nwA?feature=shared

2) Better Buses for Melbourne's West Briefing Paper by Dr John Stone (June 2022): https://msd.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/4224729/Better-Buses-for-Melbournes-West-launch.pdf

3) Video about Successful Auckland Bus Reform: https://at.govt.nz/projects-roadworks/new-public-transport-network#purpose

4) Video of the architect of the Auckland bus reforms, Anthony Cross, speaking at a councils conference on buses in Melbourne last year 2023: https://mtf.org.au/buses/mtf-bus-forum-3-videos/

Meet Mark Jekic, who is running at the next local council elections to be held in October 2024.

You can follow Mark's Facebook Page here: https://www.facebook.com/MarkJekicBrimbank

For more information regarding Council Elections, please visit:

https://www.vec.vic.gov.au/voting/types-of-elections/local-council-elections

Meet Graeme Blore, who is running as an independent at the next local council elections will be held in October 2024.

You can follow Graeme's Facebook Page here:  https://www.facebook.com/graemebloreofficial

For more information regarding Council Elections, please visit:

https://www.vec.vic.gov.au/voting/types-of-elections/local-council-elections

A big thanks to Sam Muscat, (88.9 WYN-FM) Host of 'The Vibe' Program, for allowing us to replay interviews from his program on 14th of November 2023.

Sam speaks to Brimbank Councillor Virginia Tachos, who provides an emotional and touching tribute to St.Albans resident and Brimbank Community Leader Judy Ingram.

Then Sam speaks to Carinlea Resident and Community Advocate Graeme Blore, about the current issues in Brimbank, as well as the upcoming Mayoral Elections.

To listen to 88.9 WYN-FM, head to: https://www.wynfm.org.au/

Our special guest for this episode of West Matters is Maria Kerr, Taylors Ward Councillor for Brimbank City Council. If you wish to speak to Cr Kerr on council matters she can be contacted via email and phone on: crkerr@brimbank.vic.gov.au and 0437 796 630.

Opinions expressed in this episode of West Matters are solely those of Maria Kerr and do not necessarily reflect the views or stance of Brimbank Council.

The following is the Notice of Motion from Cr Maria Kerr on 18th July 2023: "We live in free and democratic country where the citizens elect officials at all levels of government. The closest government to our residents is US. Our residents want to ask various Councillors, Deputy Mayor and Mayor of their choice questions. Residents want to ask their own ward councillors about local ward issues and at present they can’t. The only avenue they have is to submit questions prior to council meetings, which are drafted by officers for the Mayor to read out of a script. Residents are frustrated , they feel disconnected from councillors and just want honest answers.

Residents just want to be heard, they want transparency and respect, scripted answers doesn’t wash with the community any more Mr Mayor. We as elected Councillors need to be more transparent, more accessible and for our community to have the right to ask questions of Councillors Mr Mayor. We should have a public forum once a month for the community to ask these questions, and if you are thinking I DON’T WANT TO BE ASKED QUESTIONS, then you are wrong, I want to be able to answer any questions the community may have of me. And if I don’t have the answer, I will take it on notice and follow up with the resident. That’s the least I can do as an elected Councillor who is paid by the community.

And if you think this will not work, there are many councils that have been doing this for many years, we don’t need to look far, our neighbours in Moonee Valley have for many years been welcoming Community input, questions and even formed advisory groups. This is called TRANSPERANCY, this is called being open and accountable. This is called doing what we-are paid to do by rate payers! We do not want to descend to the dark days at Brimbank, where there was an iron vail of none transparency and in the end that Council got sacked, yes SACKED!

Our community is asking for this forum, our community want to see the white in our eyes when we are answering questions. Our community wants to see if Councillors truly understand their concerns, they want to know which Councillors are willing to be questioned, who is doing their reading, who is authentic and our community just want an opportunity to have their say!

So, I will be supporting the community with this motion. For more access, openness & transparency!

I put it to you Mr Mayor and my fellow Councillors do you support the community and transparency, or are you content to hide behind the walls of Council, happy collecting your ratepayer funded allowances without accountability and avoiding the Community? I hope you can all join me in supporting this motion on behalf of every resident in Brimbank.

Thank you, Mr Mayor."

Australia has a major gambling problem, and if you live in Melbourne's West - unfortunately, you are part of the problem. In this episode of West Matters, we speak to the Reverend Tim Costello, spokesperson from the Alliance for Gambling Reform, with Virginia Tachos and Graeme Blore.

Audio Credit:  The Project, Network 10 and Q+A, ABC

Resources:
Gambling Help Online: https://www.gamblinghelponline.org.au or 1800 858 858
Lifeline Australia: https://www.lifeline.org.au or 13 11 14

Both are free, confidential and available 24/7

In this episode of West Matters we speak to the retired Dr Michael Howson on the noise air pollution from the proposed Melbourne Airport Third Runway, and the impact to children's health and the general community. 

References:

Facebook Groups: "We want just the AIRPORTS we were promised" and Melbourne Airport Community Action Group

Brimbank Council: https://www.brimbank.vic.gov.au/know-facts-third-runway

In this episode of West Matters, we chat to Brimbank residents Nicole Power and Marian Pham on the long running issue regarding the burning fires in the Sunshine Landfill, which are still burning - 3+ years on.
Audio Credit: A Current Affair, Georgia Westgarth, Cr Virginia Tachos (Brimbank City Council)

In this episode we chat to another member of the Western Independent Alliance Graeme Blore about the development projects within Brimbank.

West Matters, a NEW podcast for 2023!

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Introducing Virginia and Jamie from the Western Independent Alliance.