Advertising

By Melissa Meehan
COUNCILLORS targeted in a stinging advertising campaign may now change their tune.
Green issues have infiltrated debate among candidates ahead of next weekend’s election.
Last month the City of Greater Dandenong became the first Victorian council to oppose a motion against logging in water catchments.
Last week environmental group The Melbourne Water Catchment Network (MWCN) targeted councillors who voted against the motion – Roz Blades, Paul Donovan, Pinar Yesil, Jim Memeti and Youhorn Chea – through a hardline advertising campaign.
Following a weekend meeting between MWCN representative Simon Birrell and Councillor Roz Blades, Mr Birrell contacted Star hinting that incumbent councillors had indicated they would support the motion to ban logging in water catchments if it was brought to council and they still held office.
“We are waiting for public confirmation from these councillors that they now oppose logging in Melbourne’s water catchments,” Mr Birrell said.
“The MWCN took strong action and ran an advertising campaign in the local papers because some councillors didn’t support the ‘no catchment logging’ motion.
“We are concerned that some ALP councillors considered the motion had been too controversial in stating that Dandenong would make submissions to Tim Holding, the local member for Lyndhurst.”
Cr Blades said she opposed the motion because of fears it would affect employment in Greater Dandenong.
Mr Birrell said during his meeting with Cr Blades, the two were able to clarify that if logging ended in the Melbourne catchments the chance of job losses in Dandenong was almost “non-existent”.
“Cr Blades insisted that the motion be amended to ensure that there is adequate job protection for people in Greater Dandenong whose jobs are directly associated with native forest logging,” Mr Birrell said.
“MWCN strongly supports this.”
Cr Blades said while the meeting did take place and an agreement was made to include job security in the next motion, she had not changed her stance.
“I explained my concerns to Mr Birrell and it is important for me to know that jobs would be protected,” Cr Blades said.
“This means there will be a win for jobs and a win for the environment.”
Cr Memeti said he would be happy to support the motion if re-elected and the motion was re-addressed.
“We have been told there will be no job losses,” Mr Memeti said.
“If that’s the case, we have no problems.”