Elli Petersen-Pik
South Ward
Q1. Waste Management
What do you see as the main challenges to managing and reducing waste in the City of Bayswater and what specific actions will you take to improve the City's waste management outcomes:
- in council operations?
- in commercial operations?
- at the residential level?
One of the biggest challenges is the increasing costs of managing waste and dealing with recyclables, including contamination. I will support:
- not selling the Bayswater Transfer Station (on Collier Road), as I am of the view that it is a strategic site for managing waste in our City.
- initiatives that will assist in decreasing the amount of waste that goes to landfill, such as FOGO, composting, promoting cloth nappies etc.
- more education for residents on recycling and other waste-related matters.
Q2. Transport
Places that are less car-dominated than the City of Bayswater currently is enjoy a range of benefits including:
- Safer streets
- Cleaner air
- Less traffic congestion
- Healthier, more active population, and
- Greater independence for children, seniors and people with disabilities.
Are you supportive of reducing car use and increasing active transport (eg walking, cycling) in the City of Bayswater? If so, what specific measures will you take to enable people to walk, bike (and scoot and skate) more?
If you are not supportive of reducing car use and increasing active transport, tell us why.
During my term as a South Ward Councillor and beforehand, I championed improving pedestrian safety and encouraging active transport around the City in many different ways:
Chaired the Community Access and Inclusion Advisory Committee and pushed for various improvements to make walking and bike riding safer, with a particular focus on helping people with disabilities, seniors and parents with prams. For example:
- Was successful in adding a new action into the current City's Disability and Inclusion Plan, to improve safety of crossovers in our town centres.
- I put the issue of cars blocking footpaths on the agenda and moved that more enforcement be undertaken by the City.
- Initiated a Safe Routes to School long-term program, aiming to improve the pedestrian facilities around schools, to encourage parents and children to walk, cycle and scoot. We are currently focusing on the Maylands Peninsula Primary School as the first school to be looked at.
- Highlighted in various Council debates the need for shade along our footpaths, to encourage people to walk. I voted against removal of most verge trees, especially if they provide shade for pedestrians.
Advocated for more money to be spent on implementing the City's Bike Plan.- For several years, I've been raising the need for an underpass/overpass as part of the closure of the Caledonian Avenue level crossing.
- Initiated a requirement for new footpaths to be built across driveways ("Footpath Continuity").
Successful in getting protected bike lanes (along Russell St) to be included in the Morley Streetscape plan.- Engaged with the Public Transport Authority regarding the need to improve our public transport network in Maylands. I will continue to promote this important issue in the next term.
Q3. Urban Greenery
Are you supportive of increasing greenery and tree canopy in the City of Bayswater? If so, what tangible ways will you work to increase the urban forest:
- on public land?
- on private land?
If you are not supportive of increasing urban greenery, tell us why.
I have been a strong supporter of increasing the tree canopy in the City, as well as retaining as many trees as possible:
- I supported significant funding allocations for tree planting and various strategies aiming to increase our tree canopy.
- I voted against applications proposing unnecessary removal of verge trees.
- In 2021, I successfully proposed the redrafting of a new policy to provide incentives for retaining trees on properties, especially when subdivisions occur.
- Was able to get Main Roads to support the planting of trees on the footpaths of Guildford Road through our town centre.
I will continue to support and push for measures to increase tree canopy.
Q4. Priorities
What are your top priorities if elected to the City of Bayswater council?
- I will continue to be consultative, transparent, honest and an apolitical Councillor.
- I will continue to advocate for financial sustainability, and fewer ad-hoc proposals which require unplanned expenditure.
- I will continue to do my best to maintain good working relationships with my fellow Councillors, to achieve joint goals, for the betterment of our communities, in many many different areas.
- Related to the questions above, I am particularly keen to see the successful delivery of the first Safe Routes to School plan and the development of a new policy to incentivise the retention of trees on private property.
