LENNOX WARD
JOHN BRIC
INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE FOR CREMORNE & RICHMOND
I'm John, a journalist, small business owner and Richmond local for the past 15 years. Like many in 3121, I’ve become increasingly frustrated with the way Yarra Council has been run in recent years. During my time living in Cremorne & Richmond, I have witnessed, first hand, the area's gradual decline, which deeply concerns me. I believe the current elected officials are out of touch with residents, and unable to implement the essential changes that Yarra needs. This is precisely why I have decided to run for the Lennox Ward seat. I do not represent any political party, and I believe that is exactly what Yarra needs right now. A voice for the public, not another mouthpiece for the public sector.
POLICIES
01
Revitalise dying business areas like Bridge Road
The once-thriving retail strip has gradually become a ghost town, with empty shops scattered throughout. The council needs to implement incentives for businesses to establish themselves in the area and develop strategies to discourage landlords from leaving shopfronts vacant.
BUSINESS PERMITS: Audit and streamline existing processes for permits and new business applications, as many new businesses struggle with lengthy waits for approvals while incurring costs from landlords & council. Improving this process will help new businesses enter the market and thrive from the start. We must create a comprehensive plan to revitalise this area rather than simply ignoring the situation.
02
Address waste management system & collection days.
We are now paying more money for our waste management. Most households in the Lennox ward now have four bins. As a result, footpaths are rarely clear, some houses barely have any space to keep them, and many of them end up destroyed, creating only more litter. I feel the intention of the council is good on this issue, but their execution has been poor. There is a way to improve waste management while keeping it simplified.
03
Audit council spending
I believe there needs to be an urgent financial and performance audit of council spending. This audit should then make recommendations for reforms to improve the way ratepayers money is spent. In recent years the Yarra council has forked out tens of thousands of dollars on flags and lighting, hundreds of thousands of dollars on defected art work, and over one million dollars on controversial park upgrades. If council was a business there is no way a CFO would allow this kind of mismanagement of finances. Because ratepayers money is a given, I feel councillors have no urgency/care on being cost efficient when putting together budgets, or ways to spend money. This needs to be addressed urgently.
04
INCREASE COMMUNITY EVENTS & ACTIVATIONS
A strong community has been the backbone of Richmond and Cremorne for decades. But in recent times we have seen local community events and activations virtually disappear. Where are all the council grants for activations and events? Council has an obligation to assist local business through tough financial times to maintain local engagement, but it seems to have gone missing. Let's create new opportunities for community groups and businesses to regenerate excitement in the area, and compliment the recent growth of new creative/technology companies in Cremorne/Richmond.
05
Address the growing concerns of footpaths & builds in Cremorne
As Cremorne continues to evolve, there are increasing concerns about the state of our footpaths and the impacts of ongoing construction. These issues affect not only the safety and accessibility of our community but also the overall quality of life for residents and visitors alike. I intend to further investigate the regulation of building permits and timelines, as well as coordinate with council roadworks, to help reduce congestion in Cremorne. By streamlining these processes, we can minimize disruptions and enhance accessibility, ultimately improving the overall flow of traffic in the area.
06
Find a solution for the Lennox St safe injecting room.
I acknowledge this is a tricky issue, but I feel residents have been totally ignored for too long. Despite dozens of petitions and rallies for change, nothing has. School kids are continually exposed to people injecting drugs and the risk of disease from used syringes and homeowners and tenants feel threatened regularly. Working with the state government on immediate ways to improve the area would be a priority. If the injecting room is to remain, there must be some changes made to reduce the exposure to young kids and to improve the safety of residents.
I am not accepting donations to run or campaign for council. Rather than taking from the community, I am focused on giving back.
By maintaining INDEPENDENCE from any POLITICAL PARTY, BUSINESS or UNION affiliations, I ENSURE that MY MISSION and VALUES remain GENUINE.
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