Monash Bulletin - 25 July 2006

Focus on Mulgrave Ward

The annual budgetary process is always a difficult time for Councillors. We have to weigh up the competing claims of projects within the municipality, all of them with merit but not all that we can afford at once. At the same time we understandably want to push the claims of our ward constituents but still have to balance that against what is most urgently needed in a City as diverse as Monash.

I am on record as saying I think we have done a good job this year. We have a certain level of service we have to provide despite increasing costs and growing competition for limited funds. Importantly, Council has sought to deliver those services to the best possible standard, investing its income into services rather than accumulating funds as a buffer for the future.

Despite those priorities, there is still something available for capital works and I am personally thrilled to be Chair of the Steering Committee that has delivered the Mulgrave Community Action Plan final report with the next step being the redevelopment of the Mulgrave Community Centre. Council has let the contract for consultancy services for the construction of the Centre which will be an invaluable asset for residents of the Mulgrave Ward and, indeed, the whole municipality. Mulgrave is a growing and developing area for families and is also continuing to attract business investment.

The new local law proposed by myself and supported by the other Mulgrave Ward Councillors to ban smoking in and around playgrounds and sporting fields is now being drafted and I look forward to putting it before the residents of Monash for their input during the public consultation process.

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Published: 24 July 2006

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