The following candidates have nominated. Existing Councillors seeking re-election are marked with an asterisk before their name, ordered alphabetically based on Last name. Political affiliation is in brackets.

• *Helen Davidson (Independent) Instagram
• Smitha George (Independent)
• Wickrama Koddippuli Arachchige (Victorian Socialists)
• Praveen Kumar (ALP) Facebook
• Michelle Pitt (Independent)
• Abdi Sheikh (Independent)

Candidates Forum | Climate Survey | Stop Burning Plastic | Streets People Love | Waterways

Climate and Sustainability surveys and Pledges

Climate Action Merribek conducted a local tailored survey sent to all 55 candidates in all wards. Vote Climate also issued a survey on the Climate Emergency to all candidates across all Councils in Victoria. Stop Burning Plastic issued a pledge survey to all candidates across all Councils in Victoria. We undertook to compile results for Merri-bek of all 3 surveys. We followed our initial email up with a reminder to complete all 3 surveys.

One key assessment point is whether candidates respond, which provides one indicator how they may engage with constituents. If a candidate doesn’t respond, whether positive or negative, maybe you should not put them high on your preferences.

Name	Local Climate Survey	Climate Emergency Survey	Stop Burning Plastics Pledge
Helen Davidson (IND)	No response	No Response	No response
Smitha George (IND)	No response	No response	No response
Wickrama Koddippuli Arachchige (Victorian Socialists)	No response	No response	No response
Praveen Kumar (ALP)	See Full Response	No response	No response
Michelle Pitt (IND)	No response	No response	No response
Abdi Sheikh (IND)	No response	No response	No response

Merri-bek Climate Survey

Q4. Connections to Merri-bek Wards. Outline your connection to Merri-bek, do you live in the ward you are contesting, do you work in that ward? What are your other connections to the Merri-bek community?

Praveen Kumar : I have lived in Merri-Bek for the past 20 years and this is the area where kids were born, raised and went to school.Locally I have worked with multicultural groups, volunteered for the Red Cross and supported the Glenroy Neighbourhood house

Q5. Climate Emergency. Merri-bek Council declared a Climate Emergency in September 2018. Do you accept the research evidence from climate scientists and the UN Secretary General that:
(a) the earth is already too hot and we are outside the safe climate zone?
(b) we face a climate emergency?
(c) local cooling is required to prevent runaway warming?

Praveen Kumar : Yes, Yes, Yes.

Q6. Governance and Triple bottom line accounting brings to account three domains that we need for a good life. They are economic, social and environmental sustainability. In the past projects have been delivered based on organisational silos often not considering other aspects outside the silo. Will you endeavour as a Councillor for Council to use triple bottom line accounting on all Council infrastructure decisions to ensure that climate emergency priorities are embedded in Council decisions? Note that triple bottom line is already encapsulated in the Local Government Act 2020 Section 9, 2b and 2c for good Council governance.

Praveen Kumar : Yes

Q7: Transport: Upfield Rail Upgrade – Problems with parking and traffic congestion, capacity issues of public transport need solutions for upgrading the Upfield Line. According to Infrastructure Australia, the northern region Transport Corridor will reach and exceed capacity in the next decade. Do you support the Northern Councils Alliance campaign to Connect Melbourne’s North for duplication and extension of the Upfield rail line to Craigieburn and Wallan for provision of a more reliable and frequent rail service catering for the growing population in Merri-bek and residents in new growth suburbs further north?

Praveen Kumar : Strongly Agree

Q8: Transport: Mode shift – What actions will you be pushing for to facilitate a mode shift to more sustainable modes of transport in Merri-bek as part of, or beyond, Moving Around Merri-bek Strategy (PDF), including increasing safety for walking and cycling and increasing public transport advocacy?

Praveen Kumar : I fully support the Moving Around Merri-bek Strategy and its focus on promoting sustainable transport. My priority will be to advocate for practical and immediate actions that build on this strategy, ensuring safer and more accessible walking and cycling routes through better infrastructure, such as protected bike lanes and well-lit pedestrian crossings.
I would not be reinventing the wheel again where a lot of time and money have already been invested into the Merri-Bek Strategy. I would be advocating for its implementation and expansion, including enhanced safety measures and increased public transport advocacy, such as improved frequency and connectivity of buses and trains, but I also understand that the needs of the residents vary depending on where they live e.g. Brunswick to Glenroy to Gowanbrae

Q9. Heat Vulnerability: Large sections of Merri-bek’s north are at the extreme end of the Heat Vulnerability Index, meaning residents are very susceptible to global warming extreme heat events. What will you do to address this beyond exisiting policies, including Merri-bek Urban Heat Island Effect Action Plan (PDF), Merri-bek Urban Forest Strategy 2017-2017 (PDF), Cooling the Upfield Corridor Action Plan 2018-2028 (PDF)?

Praveen Kumar : To address the heat vulnerability in Merri-bek’s north, I will advocate for increasing green spaces and accelerating tree planting programs to create more shade and cooling areas. Sustainable development is crucial, and I will push for stricter guidelines that prioritize green building designs, permeable surfaces, and energy-efficient infrastructure to reduce the urban heat island effect.
I will also work towards enhancing community awareness and engagement, ensuring that all new developments contribute positively to our environment without compromising existing green spaces. By building on the existing action plans and implementing these targeted strategies, we can make Merri-bek more resilient to extreme heat events

Q10. Waste Management. Merri-bek aims to be a leading council in sustainable waste management. What will you do to help Merri-bek in educating citizens on waste streams , to achieve Merri-bek’s 2030 zero waste to landfill target as part of Zero Carbon in the Planning Scheme – ESD Policy v2.0?

Praveen Kumar : I recognize the importance of sustainable waste management and Merri-bek’s goal of zero waste to landfill by 2030. I support ongoing efforts to educate the community on proper waste streams and encourage participation in recycling and composting initiatives. I will advocate for the promotion of existing programs and resources, ensuring they are accessible and easy for residents to engage with, while also supporting partnerships that enhance community awareness and participation in sustainable waste practices.

Q11. Energy Efficiency and Renewables. Merri-bek has a goal of “Efficient and 100% renewably powered energy”. How can Merri-bek “walk the talk” on renewable energy and meet the community goals set in the Zero Carbon Merri-bek – Climate Emergency Action Plan 2020/21 – 2024/25 (PDF)?

Praveen Kumar : I believe Merri-bek’s commitment to energy efficiency and renewable energy is essential in leading by example. To support these goals, I encourage continued focus on expanding the use of renewable energy in council operations, promoting energy-efficient practices, and supporting community programs that make renewables more accessible. I also support exploring opportunities to enhance existing initiatives, ensuring Merri-bek stays on track with its climate action goals while engaging and educating residents about the benefits of renewable energy.

Q12. Supporting business and the environment. What actions will you take to help the Council promote environmentally sustainable jobs in the municipality and for businesses to reduce emissions in their operations?

Praveen Kumar : I believe supporting businesses to adopt environmentally sustainable practices is key to both economic growth and emission reduction in our municipality. I will advocate for the promotion of existing council programs that provide resources, training, and incentives to help businesses transition to more sustainable operations. Encouraging collaboration between the council and local businesses can foster green job opportunities and help develop innovative solutions that benefit both the environment and our local economy. My focus will be on creating an enabling environment that supports businesses in their sustainability journey

Q13. Food Security. How would you build community resilience and address food security in Merri-bek beyond the existing Merri-bek Food System Strategy 2024 – 2027 (PDF)? How do you think Council could further support culturally relevant and nutritionally rich food to diverse and vulnerable communities?

Praveen Kumar : I support enhancing community gardens, local food initiatives, and partnerships with community groups to increase access to culturally relevant and nutritious food. I believe in building on the existing Food System Strategy by strengthening support for food education programs and creating opportunities for diverse communities to engage in sustainable food practices

Q14. Buildings, Biodiversity and Urban cooling: What would you do as a Councillor to ensure that with new building developments, Merri-bek residents have protection from overshadowing existing solar PV systems, and that Merri-bek has sufficient vegetation cover to contribute to biodiversity outcomes, urban cooling, and water sensitive urban design beyond existing policies in the Urban Forest Strategy (PDF), Merri-bek Nature Plan, and the Achieving Zero Carbon in the Planning Scheme – ESD Policy v2.0?

Praveen Kumar : I would advocate for strengthening planning guidelines to minimize overshadowing of solar PV systems and ensure new developments contribute positively to green cover. I support enhancing vegetation requirements and promoting water-sensitive urban design to protect biodiversity and improve urban cooling, building on the existing policies to create a greener and more sustainable Merri-bek

Q15. What are your top four priorities for the Council Plan, to be formulated for 2025-2029.

Praveen Kumar :
1. Invest more into providing better health care services
2. Create more open and green spaces for families and elderly
3. Encourage sustainable development
4. Support small businesses, Community Group and Sporing clubs

Q16. Democracy and representation: advocacy to State Government on multi-member wards versus single member wards. The state government has imposed single-member wards on Merri-bek against the recommendation of the council, the Local Government Association of Victoria, and even the Victorian Electoral Commission. This shift in electoral structure is an imposition by the parliament, not a choice of experts.

Do you support or oppose single-member wards?

If (re)-elected will you initiate and/or support measures to pressure the state government to return to multi-member wards?

Praveen Kumar : Was undecided on single member wards and multi-member wards.

Q17. Do you have any other comments on Climate Leadership and Advocacy by Council? Do you have any supplementary comments relating to the questions above, comments on other issues related to climate resilience and climate adaptation, or comments on making decisions for the whole municipality?

Praveen Kumar : Skipped

Stop Burning Plastic Pledge

The Stop Burning Plastic pledge not to burn waste. Merri-bek already has a Council policy not to use Waste to Energy Incinerators and to progress to zero waste to landfill by 2030. (see section 4.6.3 of Council Waste and Litter Strategy 2018) . Cleanaway is presently proceeding with an EPA Victoria development licence for a Waste to Energy Incinerator at Wollert. Signing this pledge commits to continuing present Council policy direction regarding sustainable circular economy waste management. Note: A week ago Minister for Climate Action and Energy Lily D’Ambrosio (Mill Park), Thomastown MP Bronwyn Halfpenny and Yan Yean MP Lauren Kathage supported the community in opposing Cleanaway’s Waste to Energy Incinerator. (Facebook Post) This is a statewide pledge:

No candidates in Djirri-Djirri Ward completed the Stop Burning Plastic Pledge.

Streets People Love Candidate Scorecard

The Streets People Love campaign has created scorecards for candidates in the 2024 council elections in Victoria. Scorecards have been generated based on a candidate’s engagement with the Streets People Love campaign, their commitment to our pledge, their responses to a survey and input from campaign members located in the local government area in which they are running. The local community groups running this scorecard in the City of Merri-bek are Walk on Merri-bek and Merri-bek Bicycle Users Group Inc.

Streets People Love Djirri-Djirri ward candidate Scorecard .

Waterways – Vote for Merri Creek

Friends of Merri Creek have surveyed candidates in all wards. The Merri Creek corridor is iconic and questions of sustainability, pollution and biodiversity should be a municipal wide concern to all candidates. The survey is focussed on Merri Creek, Edgars Creek and Coburg Lake, and neglects Merlynston Creek and Campbellfield Creek tributaries. It also ignores the importance of Moonee Ponds Creek and tributaries such as Westbreen Creek on the western side of the municipality, which may provide a reason why candidates from western wards like Djirri-Djirri and Pascoe Vale South did not respond to the survey.

See Friends of Merri Creek 2024 election guide for six Councils in the Merri Creek Catchment.

View the Candidate responses for Merri-bek wards (PDF) for candidate comments.

Q1: Are you concerned about the protection and restoration of the Merri Creek, Edgars Creek and Coburg Lake? If so, what concerns you the most? (100 word limit)

Q2: What action do you plan to take in your role as Councillor – if any – to increase waterway protection and restoration activities along the Merri Creek, Edgars Creek and Coburg Lake? (100 word limit)

Q3: Briefly outline how as a Councillor, you will respond to three of the following threats to the health of the Merri Creek, Edgars Creek and Coburg Lake: (75 word limit per threat)

• Development encroachment
• Pollution, litter and sediments carried by stormwater drains
• Illegal dumping and littering
• Spread of problematic weeds
• Loss, degradation and reduced connectivity of habitat
• Irresponsible pet ownership

References

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