The Journal contacted all candidates who nominated for a Greater Dandenong Council seat ahead of the Saturday 22 October local government elections.
We asked them three questions:
- What is your association with Greater Dandenong?
- Are you aligned or involved in any political groups?
- What is the biggest issue facing Greater Dandenong and how would you tackle it?
Here are the responses we received, in ballot paper order.
LIGHTWOOD WARD
(Springvale, Springvale South)
(Three vacancies)
Dang Quach – No response.
Youhorn Chea – No response.
Loi Truong – No response.
Gagandeep Singh
1. No response.
2. I am not member for any political party.
3. Local business is suffering a lot because of paid parking. If I get elected I am going to try my best to remove paid parking and support local businesses.
Nathan Niven
1. I have lived in Springvale South for over 10 years and my two children attend school locally.
2. I am a member of the ALP.
3. The biggest issue is the parking meters in the Springvale central activity district. If elected to council I will fight to have the parking meters removed and will work with other councillors who are committed to achieving the same outcome. Further I will vote against any proposals to install parking meters in other shopping precincts within Greater Dandenong.
Sean O’Reilly
1. I reside in Springvale. I have served as councillor for four years. I served as mayor in 2015. I am president and have served on the Springvale Rise Primary School Council for eight years.
2. I am a member of the ALP but funded independently.
3. More resources to manage traffic and parking. More infrastructure with low rate increases.
Linda Pompeia
1. I am a local resident who has lived in the City of Opportunity, Greater Dandenong, for 30 years and who actively attends the Dandenong Council meetings.
2. No.
3. Unemployment is the biggest issue facing Greater Dandenong. The City of Greater Dandenong is the most disadvantaged municipality in Victoria.
We need additional resourcing to assist with the coordination of local services; increase in support for organisations providing material aid; increase in funding and resources to support volunteer agencies/volunteer engagement; and reinstatement of funding for translation and interpreting services for financial and emergency relief agencies.
PAPERBARK WARD
(Noble Park)
(Three vacancies)
Tim Dark
1. I live in Keysborough and have for many years! I am also a volunteer firefighter with Keysborough Fire Brigade.
2. I am an independent candidate however I am a proud Liberal.
3. There are multiple issues facing my ward, however I would say that crime and hooning have been two of the biggest concerns that I have been informed by residents when I have been out doorknocking and in the community.
Peter Brown
1. I have represented Noble Park, Keysborough and Springvale South as a councillor for 20 years and taught in Springvale South for 14 years.
2. I have been a Labor supporter all my life, but I do plead guilty to liking Malcolm Turnbull.
3. The impact of the Skyrail on Noble Park will be massive. Council must work with the Level Crossing Removal Authority to get the best result possible. I personally and deeply regret the loss of the trees, however.
Ermine Gok – No response.
Alam Bhuiyan
1. I have lived within the Greater Dandenong area for more than 25 years and raised my family here. This is my home.
2. No! I am not a member of any political party and I have not been endorsed by any organisation and have never sought endorsement.
3. The steep increase in serious crime in Greater Dandenong is the biggest serious issue. Crime in Keysborough is up 11 per cent, Springvale South up 19.8 per cent, and Dandenong, up 28.2 per cent. Thefts of, and from, cars are up by 42 per cent. Stalking, harassment and threatening behaviour offences associated with family violence are up by 64.4 per cent. A 53.3 per cent increase in dangerous and negligent acts endangering people, mostly associated with hoon drivers. These issues can, and will, be tackled.
Sajjad Shamsi
1. No response.
2. I am not with any party or any group.
3. I am teacher and trainer for Vocational Education and Training. At the moment our youth and children need attention. Youth need a pathway and the right consultation for their career direction and to get in jobs as soon as possible, and children need encouragement to achievement their goals and provide help for them in this regards. We need to get more active to teach them English (for non-English backgrounds) and Australian culture for immigrant people, so they can understand and mix with the others communities. Local councillors need to visit local schools often if they need any help to uplift their school’s ranking.
Sophie Tan – No response.
Brad Woodford
1. I spend a great deal of my time in Greater Dandenong. I have been a Noble Park resident for about nine years. I also work for the Ventura Bus Company in Dandenong. I do additional work on a part-time basis working in youth services within greater Dandenong and Casey, primarily working with young people living in supported/out of home care. Much of what I do every day involves me being in Greater Dandenong.
2. I have no membership or involvement in any political groups.
3. One of the most immediate issues is to tackle disengagement among some young people, particularly in cultural minority groups. I want to actively engage with local police, community service workers and members of various cultural groups to tackle these issues head-on. It troubles me that young people, often from good families, are still somehow heading down the road towards crime and drugs. I want to work hard to ensure young people in Greater Dandenong remain engaged with the local community, with school and training, and ultimately to know that they can aspire to be anything they want to be regardless of their ethnic background or religious beliefs.
Minh Van Tran
1. I have enjoyed over 10 years of community work including the SICMAA and Hoa Nghiem Buddhist Temple tax help volunteer program, helping many low income earners with their tax issues. I have also worked as a volunteer with SEMVAC to assist disadvantaged people to complete forms or apply for services; contact with ATO or Centrelink. I am also an active member of the Rotary Club. I have been also involved in fundraising program for Royal Children Hospital Research and volunteering for Clean Up Australia Day.
2. I have been a member of ALP.
3. If I was elected I would ask other councillors with me to review the council rates and cut off unnecessary costs to rates. I will work hard to improve how our council is run.
Meng Heang Tak
1. I’m a resident who has lived and work in this multicultural community for over 20 years, with my experiences as a councillor and mayor, a local lawyer for the last eight years and had 10 years working as a broadcaster for a national multilingual station, as well as advisor to many community organisations.
2. I am a proud member of the Australian Labor Party.
3. I am committed to make our city a real place of choice to live, work and raising our kids. Over the next term I will work hard to support economic growth by working closely with small and large businesses to continue investing in our city; improve community safety through more effective partnerships with local police, community group, more street lighting and CCTV cameras; protect our neighbourhood character and residential amenity by continuing to oppose inappropriate development; protect and preserve our local environment and work to increase the amount of public space available to our community; keep council rates as low as possible by continuing to be a strong voice for improving efficiency and cut unnecessary expenses; maintain and improve access to important Council services such as kindergartens, maternal and child health services and home care; and facilitating the establishment of aged care facility in our area for residents from linguistically and culturally diverse backgrounds.
Huy Tran – No response.
Roz Blades
1. I have a long-term association with Greater Dandenong as a resident for over 40 years, councillor and community advocate.
2. I am a member of the ALP and a huge range of varied community groups.
3. There isn’t one major issue will affect us into the future – over-development, lack of public transport, efficient use of resources to name just three.
Ramy El-Sukkari – No response.
RED GUM WARD
(Dandenong, Dandenong South, Bangholme, Keysborough)
(Three vacancies)
Hayatullah Rahimi
1. I am just a proud resident of the Greater Dandenong. I am proud to live in one of the most multicultural places, in which all different faith and cultures are welcomed.
2. I am a member of the Australian Labor Party.
3. Robbery. I would put a proposal to place CCTV in some of the streets, better lighting and more patrols to make our community safer. I would also make sure homelessness, survivors of domestic violence, new arrivals, refugees and asylum seekers have a greater access to a safer, secure and affordable housing. With people’s support I would like to do better for Greater Dandenong to make our community a more friendly and welcoming place for all residents. Because our community deserves a council that does everything better. As a social worker for individuals and families, I feel I am a strong advocate for our local community.
Sharon King Harris
1. I’m a past councillor and mayoress for our city. I have lived in Red Gum Ward all my life, worked and raised my family here. I’m a Life Member of the Dandenong Show. I have worked and still volunteer in Dandenong, Springvale and Keysborough. I attend St Columba’s Uniting Church, Noble Park. I’m your voice on two large hospital community action committees, planning for now and our future in healthcare, working on closing gaps for those diverse in our community. I serve on the council’s disability action group. I volunteer with YRIPP for youth in our justice system, and an ITP for different ages with a cognitive disability, involved with Uniting AgeWell, Committee for Disability SouthEast, and an advocate for families youth business consumers and those from different nationalities.
2. No.
3. I will give residents and businesses a voice on council and get employment opportunities. We need to lobby the State Government for services. We need new schools, public transport, more police, safety/ lighting and bored youth, colleges and accommodation, drugs, not losing our major shops, parking in the main streets, stable rates, rubbish, roads, footpaths maintained and keeping open spaces. We also need to look after our older and disabled residents.
Jim Memeti
1. Councillor since 2005, Mayor 2010-2014. I migrated to Australia in 1975, aged two and have lived in Dandenong for 41 years. I attended primary and high school in Dandenong.
2. ALP.
3. Safety working with Victoria Police.
Matthew Kirwan
1. I have lived in the area all my life. I am currently a member of the Lions Club of Greater Dandenong, Greater Dandenong Neighbourhood Watch and the Greater Dandenong Environment Group. I am also on the Dandenong West Primary School council and a current Councillor for the City of Greater Dandenong, having been elected in 2012.
2. I am endorsed by the Greens.
3. The biggest issue facing Greater Dandenong is rapid population growth without infrastructure like schools, public transport and community facilities keeping up. I have been working hard to make sure it is built as quickly as possible. I was a key driver to start planning for a Dandenong Community Hub and a Keysborough South Community Hub. If re-elected I want to make sure these facilities are built as quickly as possible, and that they cater for the whole community.
Some of the biggest infrastructure needs in our area are not council-controlled but the responsibility of State Government. If re-elected, I plan to continue to lobby to ensure the primary school is urgently built in Keysborough South, to continue to push for a secondary school and for better and more frequent bus services to the area. In Dandenong, the State Government needs to plan a major upgrade of Dandenong Railway Station.
Murugan Nagarajan
1. Living here since 1999.
2. Just member – Labor.
3. Community services, safety and development. Invest ratepayers’ money wisely, promoting efficient council services, strong economic development by working with state and federal governments to get Dandenong a fair share.
Angela Long
1. I am a councillor and have lived within the city for nearly all my life.
2. Member of the Australian Labor Party.
3. I believe that there is more than one issue that we face in Greater Dandenong. I would work with local industries to encourage them to employ local people. I will lobby the State Government to build a P-12 school in the area. On a lack of a community hub in Keysborough South, I will work to make sure that one is built.
Lidia Paul
1. I have lived in Greater Dandenong throughout my entire life and currently reside in Dandenong with my husband and our four children. I have taught mathematics, physics, chemistry and science at various schools including Killester College, Nazareth College, St John’s Regional College, Dandenong High School. I have managed my own migration company since 2009 in Keysborough. I am currently the president of Lions Club of Dandenong City. I have been involved in the packaging and delivery of food hampers to Cornerstone, Hannover, Bob’s Place, Dandenong High School, Tom Houlahan Centre, Anglicare, Springvale Benevolent Society, and ASRC. During the last seven years I have organised free dinner meals for Cornerstone and Hanover for local homeless and disadvantaged people. For the last 10 years I have planted trees at Tatterson Park, Tirhatuan Park, Greaves Reserve and Falkiner Reserve.
2. I am a Labor Party member.
3. Roads, rubbish, public transport, parking spaces and rates are the biggest issues. Parking spaces around stations and shopping centres have always been a big concern for locals this needs to be improved by providing more spaces, longer parking times and better security. Private investment in Dandenong needs to be further encouraged to increase local employment opportunities.
David Daniel Ball
1. I’ve lived in the Red Gum Ward of Greater Dandenong ever since I failed as a whistle-blower over a child’s death from school neglect and lost everything. I’m a math school teacher by trade.
2. I am not a member of any political party, but I am a member of the Institute of Public Affairs (IPA) but not a representative of theirs. I am an economic conservative with Libertarian leanings.
3. Business costs are too high in Greater Dandenong, meaning that youth unemployment is too high. If council can rein in costs and focus on essential services and cut red tape on business, everyone profits.
Minwen Wu
1. I’ve been living in City of Greater Dandenong since shortly after I came to Australia in 2002 from Shanghai, China, including two years in Springvale and the past 10 years in Dandenong. My two daughters were born in Dandenong and they’ve been attending local childcare, kindergarten and primary school all along. I had worked for some years in Dandenong South factories and in recent years I run my own business consultancy from our home in Dandenong West. I have been a school council member for nearly five years, firstly with Dandenong West Primary School and subsequently with Dandenong North Primary School.
2. I joined the Labor Party 15 months ago, but I’m firm that community interest comes first before any politics.
3. I believe it is economy and employment. Greater Dandenong currently has an unemployment rate of 25 per cent or so, which is three times the national average. With such high unemployment, social cohesion, law and order and residents’ mental health are all in jeopardy. The new council must take strong leadership to make Greater Dandenong really prosperous and booming, and then social harmony and safety will all fall into place. This is achievable.
Van Lanh Dang – No response.
Gagandeep Singh
1. Since arriving in Australia in 2009 I have always lived in Dandenong.
2. I am not aligned to any political group. I am standing as an independent candidate. I am 27-years-old and other guys competing are more experienced and older than me. There has always been a misconception that youth never think about social service but I am representing those youths who are ready to lead the change and do something for the community.
3. I think the biggest issue that is facing Dandenong is youths indulging in criminal activities and going in the wrong direction. I will tackle this issue by organising education camps and regular community gatherings where I will organise events such as sports competitions, yoga classes, etcetera. We need to educate the young people and guide them towards productive means to contribute to the community. Young people will definitely come forward. So basically I will come up with new ideas and creative means to guide the youth towards right direction.
SILVERLEAF WARD
(Dandenong North, Noble Park North)
(Two vacancies)
Zaynoun Melhem
1. I was born and raised in the City of Greater Dandenong. My wife and I both went to Nazareth College and we live in the Silverleaf Ward of Outlook Drive. As a person who is starting a family in Dandenong North I believe it is our responsibility as a community to ensure Dandenong is as good for my children while they grow up as it was for me.
2. I come from a long family affiliation with the Labor Party but I myself am not a member as of yet. I believe local council is strictly for local issues and political parties should have little to no involvement in local council.
3. I believe one of Dandenong’s biggest issues at the moment is youth crime. With gangs such as Apex originating in Dandenong North I believe local council has an important role to play in preventing and fighting against this kind of outlaw behaviour. I work with youths between the ages of 11 to 18 to ensure they do not fall into this youth crime trap. Council needs to provide better facilities for teens such as mentoring programs. We need to also ensure our community is well-protected from these gangs.
Suresh Shanmugam – No response.
Rajab Jafari – No response.
Sam Afra – No response.
Geraldine Gonsalvez
1. Greater Dandenong has been our home since 1984. It is where my husband of 35 years and me chose to raise our large family. All our children went to the local playgroups, kindergarten, primary/secondary schools, sporting clubs etcetera. It is also where both my husband and I continue our various voluntary commitments and interests. I have also previously served a term on the Greater Dandenong Council, from 2000 to 2003, as the independently-elected Dandenong Ward councillor.
2. I am an independent candidate. I am not aligned with anyone and I do not have the endorsement or support of any political party or interest group. I believe councillors should be answerable and accountable to the ratepayers and local residents and not to any other power base and I think it is in everyone’s interest to keep local government local.
3. Greater Dandenong needs significant resources and support to create local jobs and skills – apprenticeships, traineeships, business partnerships and opportunities for investment in both small and big business.
Pradeep Hewavitharana
1. I’ve been a resident of Greater Dandenong for 13 years now. I’m part of three disability-related organisations, including being a disability advisory committee member for the Greater Dandenong Council. I’m also treasurer of the Disability Resource Centre and a member of Disability Action South East.
2. I am an independent candidate with past involvement in the Labor Party.
3. Community safety is the biggest issue I observe in Greater Dandenong. It’s a complex issue that I believe requires the participation of many groups to resolve. Forums to engage with different cultural groups in order to have a meaningful conversation about the issues the community sees that incite criminal behaviour is a useful preliminary step. Collaborative efforts between social workers, the force, and the council in conjunction with this is what I believe will be most useful for creating a safer community.
Rhonda Tannous – No response.
Alfred Tyrone Gnanapragasam – No response.
Luz Escobar Munoz – No response.
Saied Rezawi
1. I am a professional social worker who’s been working in the Dandenong area for the last 16 years and worked with different organizations. I’m also founder of the Hussain Society of Victoria, The Beneficent Ltd and Hazara Communities in Victoria.
2. I am not member of any political party.
3. My concerns on my election campaigning will be better support services for senior citizens; improving distribution and allocation of council revenue; increased support and services for victims of domestic violence; introduction of programs and services for youth participation and engagement; encouraging alternative solutions for affordable housing; and greater access and opportunities for youth employment.
Maria Sampey
1. I have lived in Dandenong North for the last 37 years and my children went to the local schools.
2. I am an Independent.
3. Unemployment is one of the biggest issues, as well as Dandenong’s ageing population. Government and council need to work together to address both issues. Also council’s ageing infrastructure needs to be renewed but with rate-capping being introduced by the government it will be renewed on a priority basis.
Naile Cicekdag – No response.
Sue Walton
1. I’m a resident and everything does matter to me.
2. I don’t belong to any party.
3. The biggest issue is no councillors are listening to Greater Dandenong residents. If I get elected I would put our residents’ concerns and any issues forward just as I did in the past, and I’ll act upon any concerns residence may have and share with me. I had always been there for any of our residents and I voiced their rights and concerns. I had never put any issues on the shelf. I’m the voice, I was the voice, I will be the voice of Greater Dandenong residents if I get elected.
