Council Elections 2020

UPDATE:
Congratulations to Cr Tim Heenan for being re-elected in Billanook Ward and Cr David Eastham for being elected in Chandler Ward, and Deputy Mayor.

This year the Council elections will be held on Saturday October 24, and will be a postal vote.

The majority of Mt Evelyn is covered by the Billanook Ward, with a smaller section covered by Chandler Ward. Billanook and Chandler Ward boundaries are changing at this election, please see below standing candidates for the details.

MEET THE CANDIDATES

We have emailed candidates for a bit more information about themselves which we are adding here as we receive it. They are listed below in the order they appear on the ballot. Please read through the information they have provided.

BILLANOOK WARD

Lisa Di Battista

What is your vision for Mt Evelyn, Lilydale, Wandin North, Yarra Ranges Shire Council as a whole?
It is to have:
– Safer and secure neighbourhoods
– A strong and sustainable economic environment
– Quality and Affordable public services/housing for all
– A healthy environment for future generations by encouraging environmentally friendly practices.
What expertise or attributes do you have which would help you in undertaking the role of Councillor?
I can analyse and problem solve, work as part of a team, understand legislation and communicate effectively. I am inclusive, responsive, effective and responsible.
If you have any questions on what matters most to you, please do not hesitate to contact me on facebook.com/LisaDiBattistaBillanook or Lisadib.mcrim@gmail.com. I look forward to representing you.
Who is Lisa Di Battista?
Lisa is an Australian criminologist and consultant. Lisa graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Master in Criminology. In recognition of her high academic achievements, became a scholar and was selected to take part in studies at Ritsumeikan University, Kyoto, Japan and the University of Gadjah Mada (UGM) in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Lisa became a criminologist as she is interested in people and their wellbeing.
Lisa was born in regional Victoria and attended Red Cliffs Secondary College before moving to Melbourne where she later married. Lisa has lived for over the past 20 years in Lilydale raising a family. Where possible she has been involved in community groups and recently served on a school council for four years where she worked as part of a team to create successful budgets and a future strategic plan to promote the wellbeing of children/families, the community.

Liz Maranik

My passion is helping people. This is so critical at this COVID time with many people unable to keep their jobs and pay their bills. I want to work with the Council to establish more affordable housing options – an issue close to my heart.
While I don’t necessarily always post about it on Facebook, I volunteer with local organisations including Discovery Community Care and Stable One. These organisations are so effective because they genuinely help people by feeding those on the street and housing the homeless. I also support those with mental health issues and I run self-help groups. From this experience, I am aware of the issues people face are multifaceted and complex. I have a keen desire to consult and work with people who are marginalised to bring about practical workable solutions and I want to be their advocate in Council.
In addition to such important issues, I love my area, having lived in Mt Evelyn for 17 years. The beauty of this landscape here definitely needs to be preserved and protected. I love having the space to go green with veggie patches, composts and worm farms. We need a Council that understands and values these things and promotes environmental projects which will constantly improve our beautiful area.
As a teacher in special schools and local training authorities I have developed good listening, and advocacy skills and have the ability to connect with people. If elected I would continue to hear people and work towards addressing the expressed needs of the community.
Vote 1 for Liz Maranik, Vote 2 for Peter Killin and Vote 3 Tim Janczuk and number all other candidates in the order of your choice.

Tim Heenan

I’m Tim Heenan, your current Councillor with a proven track record of completing my promises. Together we have accomplished many positive outcomes. I have achieved fabulous improvements for Yarra Ranges Athletics and commitments for Mount Evelyn Football Netball Club facilities. We have upgraded and built well utilised Skate Parks and BMX Tracks in both Lilydale and Mount Evelyn, installed security lighting and hydration stations at Lillydale Lake, as well as new public toilets in Melba Park.
Community has spoken and so we have upgraded footpaths with more planned as well as sealing unmade roads. Drainage issues plus other infrastructure projects need prioritising, and I will be a champion for community interests around the Lilydale Level Crossing upgrade.
As a long-term Mount Evelyn resident I have been involved in many community groups including MEEPPA, METIC and Aqueduct Friends, and activities such as the Mount Evelyn Street Party. I am passionate about making sure Lilydale has a strong voice and am honoured to have started the Lilydale Township Action Group. I am most supportive of the Lilydale Historical Society, Rotary Market and Lilydale Show Society.
I will continue my protection of Billanook’s strong environmental values and continue to advocate for essential community services.
Understanding the current challenges faced, it is imperative that we have an effective Covid-19 recovery plan for our community and local businesses. I am determined to make sure our Council is focused on supporting you and your family, to invest in projects and services that benefit you. Much more to be done, which requires an experienced Councillor who can cut through the red tape, who values your rate dollar, who is accountable to you.
Please contact me on 0459470890 to discuss any issues.
Vote 1 Tim Heenan, the community man.
Always for the community. Your Council voice.
www.facebook.com/Vote1TimHeenan

Tim Janczuk
No reply

Jason Callanan

As a Paramedic of 25 years, I understand and commit to the values of trust, honesty and compassion in our community representatives. Equally important is being independent of any ideological baggage, as I am. This means I am not tied to representing 1 set of values but I can equally represent all segments of our diverse community. I want my family to live and enjoy an environment that is safe and have easy access to the things they need. I am chairman of a not-for-profit organisation that promotes driver safety and education. During the 2012/16 term, I served as a Councillor, Deputy Mayor for 2 years and Mayor. Experience matters and will this enable me to provide you with effective representation from day 1. I understand council and how to get things done in partnership with the community. I am pragmatic, passionate, determined, and ready to serve the communities, businesses and industries of Wandin North, Mt Evelyn and Lilydale.  My priorities are to form relationships with the community, their clubs, and volunteer organisations as well as working side by side with business owners to provide “real” assistance during this time. I bring a new focus, a new energy and I am determined to give my community a Councillor who is readily available to meet with them, not be aligned to any political party and advocate for ALL members of our community. Council requires strong, experienced leaders knowledgeable in crisis management, community engagement and strategic thinking and given the current climate, a background in health is a great advantage as well. I have all of these and that’s why I am asking for your vote this October. VOTE 1 Jason CALLANAN – BILLANOOK. Change is required!

Mobile – 0416 284615
Email- callanan4billanook@gmail.com
Face book contact – https://www.facebook.com/Callanan4Billanook

Matthew Musilli

As a lifelong Lilydale local, I’m passionate about making our Council more responsive to the needs of our community. Growing up wasn’t always easy, as an only child to a single mum there were times where we struggled. I remember one year where we couldn’t afford food and went to the local Anglicare for a food hamper, and later that year mum was able to get me a Christmas present donated from a local church, at the time I was too young to understand the gravity of the situation and when I look back on this I am reminded as to how amazing our community is. We leant on the community and they held us up, and I want to give back to our community by offering a fresh, young and progressive voice for our community in Billanook Ward.
From a young age I have always loved Mt Evelyn. I have fond memories of visiting the Mt Evelyn Community house as a young child and learning to read and socialise with other kids. Mt Evelyn is also home to my favourite restaurant in the area, Romo Thai!
If elected, I will be dedicated to constantly improving our area to make it an even better place to live. Another amazing aspect to Mt Evelyn is the beautiful natural environment, I will seek to protect our environment and endangered animals from all inappropriate overdevelopment. Mt Evelyn has a fantastic country feel and I know residents want to keep it that way.
My other top priorities include new footpaths across the ward, having more SunSmart and safe playgrounds, campaigning for York Rd to be duplicated on one side, upgrades for Mt Evelyn Football & Netball Club, protecting our unique local environment and coordinating with business for a COVID recovery plan. There won’t be a “one shoe fits all” plan for business across the Ranges so we need a Councillor who has the energy and passion to coordinate with business and community groups in Mt Evelyn for a plan that works for you.
Now more than ever, it is vital we have a transparent council. I will always be available and answerable to you and will fight for measures such as continuing to record Council meetings even after the pandemic ends and advocate for roaming council meetings, so everyone can be involved in the decision making process.
I will always fight for fair rates, particularly during these difficult times. You can read more about me on my Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/mattforbillanook/) or reach out to me to find out more on 0433 827 907.
If you vote [1] for me, you can do so with the confidence that you will have a strong young voice on Council who will always listen to you, fight for you and deliver for you.

Peter Killin

WE MUST CUT RATES!   Rates are expected to jump by 4% next financial year, but I am running because they should be cut by 10% over this Council term.   Rates must be cut, because we all know how tough this period of Coronavirus has been and will continue to be on us all – our families, our businesses and our community.
The best way to support families and ratepayers in the recovery is to ensure that Council is looking out for our community.   This requires reducing the costs of living!   Costs can be reduced by ensuring we improve processes in Council.   Let’s stop the excessive delays and expensive drawn out processes.
I pledge to:   
– FIGHT for planning application waiting times to be reduced from the current average of 109.5 days to the required 60 day wait time limit.   
– STRIVE to improve native vegetation regulations, making sure we support good environmental outcomes, while not allowing trees to inhibit good projects for the community.   
– SUPPORT small businesses in every possible way to help in the recovery. 
I have lived in the Yarra Ranges for 30 years.   I am a family man, have an MBA and have worked for many years as a small business owner – as an auto mechanical engineer and automotive industry trainer.   I have real life experience and a practical hands-on approach.   
We all want to see better environmental outcomes, housing, care for the elderly, community programs, small business support and community engagement.   
I will fight every day to ensure that you; the ratepayer, will get the best value and the best outcomes.   When Council is functioning efficiently, we can deliver better outcomes for all!   
Please contact me on 0430 290 769 to discuss how I can better represent you.  
Please Vote 1 for Peter Killin.  Thank you.
e:    peterforbillanook@outlook.com
fb:   peterforbillanookward

_____________

CHANDLER WARD

David Eastham

Hi, I’m Dave Eastham. As a true local to the area – grandad built the first family home on Inverness Rd back when it was a goat track and family still live there – it would be an honour to represent you.
As a candidate, there are several issues the Mt Evelyn community have raised with me so far, the most common being unsealed roads, protecting the environment, supporting small business, planning issues, and keeping rates down.
As a skilled professional, I have the experience, and energy to respond to your concerns, to ensure robust community consultation, and to keep our council accountable. My career has covered four main areas: environment and agriculture. relief and recovery (bushfires, floods, and COVID-19), business improvement and community engagement. This background ensures I will deliver real outcomes for our community over the next four years and beyond. I am in a fortunate position where I can dedicate the time required of a Councillor. Let me work for you, to make sure future generations have a place that they can love as much as we do.
If elected I will work hard to support our community recovery from COVID-19 and any future community disasters. I will keep downward pressure on our rates and keep council accountable for how ratepayer dollars are spent. I will ensure Mt Evelyn and the wider community gets more footpaths and trails where they are needed most. I will see that council seal more dirt roads, address community safety concerns, and ensure our local area gets a fair go.
I am approachable, responsive, and accountable to you. I ask for your support to enable me to represent you on council.
For further information please call me on 0457 947 223 or head across to my facebook page facebook.com/davidforchandler or my website at www.davideastham.com.au

Damian Arthur

Dear Neighbours, I am running primarily because I am deeply concerned about the unquantifiable negative impact on our community (throughout the Yarra Ranges/Yarra Valley), as a result of the unfortunate circumstances surrounding the COVID situation. And we are seemingly, not out of the woods just yet!
This impact is something which cannot simply be glossed over as another ‘consideration’ that requires some attention. Rather, this is the key issue which must be addressed without hesitation. When I see members of our community struggling to pay their bills, closing their businesses, trying to make sense of a continuous feeling of uncertainty (and the list goes on), all of which tears at the very fabric of our society, it inspires me to assist.
Sealed roads are important, taking good care of our environment is important, essential services which are easy to access and functionally relevant, are also very important but none of these matter if the very heart of our community is struggling to beat and the heart of our community is you, the people.
It would be naïve to believe that the State and Federal Governments will wave a magic wand and suddenly our community (which was thriving 12 months ago) will again function as if nothing ever happened.
There is no magic wand!
No one will nurse our community back to health unless we do it. We as a community need to pull together as we have never done before. But not in nice pamphlets and feel-good projects! We need to undertake meaningful action which must be based on a comprehensive and accurate understanding of what needs to be done to mend the damage and secure a significant, achievable and exciting future for the residents of, and visitors to, our exceedingly fantastic community.
To that end, I am running because I care for our people and I am confident that I can contribute by leveraging my training, experience and overall skillset.
Basic information:
Age: 51
Status: Married with 10 children
Time in Chandler: 17 years
Work history: ex Army Officer (Duntroon graduate – 1993), senior executive for a number of corporate business and now a local business owner.
Competencies: Leadership, business management, commercial finance, corporate governance, continuous improvement, quality management, Defense and strategic planning.
I only ask for your vote if you are in alignment with the principles upon which I am running.
I note that the other three candidates for Chandler are very high quality and will no doubt do a great job if elected. I wish each of them all the very best.
Thanks for reading!

Laetitia Jones

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/Laetitia4chandler
email laetitia4chandler@gmail.com
web www.laetitia4chandler.com
phone 0419 566 535
This 2020 Council Election is certainly one of a kind. Living most of this year with Covid dominating the political, economic and social scenes day in and day out and managing it into the future means local Government needs a candidate that has a different outlook to the current political narrative.
This is where I come in. A Kalorama local for many years, I have sadly seen the devastation that Covid 19 has had on the Yarra Ranges Shire. Yarra Ranges businesses have suffered immeasurable damage by lockdowns and restricted trading. People are rightly concerned about the future and their financial security. I know I am, because my husband and I have a building business in the shire that has been dramatically impacted.
Future council actions must reflect a Libertarian approach to assist recovery of the Shire. As a candidate proudly endorsed by the Liberal Democrats, it’s my belief that by creating an environment of limited but effective Government, reduced spending, reduction of bureaucracy and red tape, our beautiful Yarra Ranges can return to its former glory and more.
Recovery starts now.
Small business is the lifeline of our communities, employer of our young, social point for community interaction, donors to local sporting clubs, drawcards for the tourists and much, much more.
It is my intention, to ensure that every dollar that is spent, is spent wisely and with full transparency. I promise to never support rate increases and would welcome a freeze or rate reduction. I will support programs that encourage new business, expansion or Covid recovery initiatives without delays in applications and costly permits. I will also actively promote proposals that assist business to forge forward after a devastating 2020.
Thank you for considering me to represent you.
Yours in freedom and hope, Laetitia

Roxanne Horn

As a mum, proud volunteer, small business owner and Chandler Ward local, I am excited by the opportunity to represent our whole community. I have the skills, experience and passion to be a strong voice for Chandler Ward. 
An advocate for all things local, including agriculture, business, arts and culture I will be supporting our community to make the changes we need to thrive, not just survive. 
I will bring a balanced, forward-thinking approach to Council. I will encourage better communication between Council and our community. I will fight for more mental health resources, safe and accessible community spaces for all residents and post-COVID support for individuals and businesses. 
As a mum and regular user of council services, I understand what it’s like raising a family in the Yarra Ranges and the struggles families face. Maternal and Child Health Nurse appointments, mothers group, libraries, parks and playgrounds; I’ve experienced it all. It’s this experience and perspective that will prove invaluable when it comes to advocating for families. 
Running a business requires strong organisation and time management skills. I can bring my experience as a small business owner to Council to make sure the right supports are in place to help businesses thrive. 
With qualifications in criminal justice and criminology, I bring with me a profound understanding of what we can do as a community to help reduce crime in our area. We all deserve to feel safe within our homes and out in our community. 
I will serve you – your needs, your aspirations and your concerns in this changing challenging world. 
Let me fight for you. Vote 1 Roxanne Horn for a safer, inclusive, thriving, community-focused Chandler Ward. 
www.facebook.com/roxanne4chandlerward
www.roxannehorn.com
contact@roxannehorn.com


This election boundaries of these two Wards are changing slightly, with more of Mt Evelyn moving into Billanook. Current and future boundary maps below:
Dark black lines are Ward boundaries.
Orange line is the Mt Evelyn border.

CURRENT WARD BOUNDARIES

WARD BOUNDARIES AFTER OCTOBER 2020 ELECTION

UPCOMING KEY DATES

Between Tuesday 6th October and Thursday 8th October 2020 – Ballot packs will be posted to voters.

Friday 23rd October, 2020 – Your completed vote has to be in the mail or hand-delivered to your election office before 6pm.

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