Benjamin (Ben) Peter BULLOCK

Candidate for South Ward

Q1. What are your top priorities if elected to the City of Bayswater council?

Safely minimising barriers to entry to make the City of Bayswater a district of choice for new food business owners.
Promoting use and investment in parklands and open spaces for greater uptake in sports, family and community purposes.

Addressing some safety concerns (public drug use, dangerous driving in suburban streets) in connection with the Community Safety and Crime Prevention Plan.

Q2. How will you improve the management and reduction of waste in the City of Bayswater?

Encourage better domestic and commercial waste sorting (for example, look to Germany for a model on waste management and recycling).

Q3. What will you do to enable more walking and cycling in the City of Bayswater?

I cycle to work regularly and my partner and I walk our child to the cafe strip on weekends.
The City of Bayswater is doing a good job in this regard. There is the City of Bayswater Local Bike Plan.
However, Perth is heavily car-reliant. Plans for more developed public bus integration in the City of Bayswater are a long way off, unfortunately.

Promoting uptake of the current infrastructure will establish an evidence base for increased (and more immediate) State government expenditure to assist in a move away from reliance on personal cars in our City.
With proper precautions I support use of personal electric vehicles.

Q4. What will you do to increase the City of Bayswater tree canopy from its current 14.55%, to its target of 20% by 2030?

I support the City's Urban Forest policy which follows the academically-based Green Dreams strategy.
Focusing planting at schools and in town centers as well as encouraging residents to plant water wise verge gardens is sensible.

The edible pocket garden policy should be encouraged and promoted.

Q5. How will you help our community reduce emissions and support us in a move to renewable energy?

I will support the City's Environment and Liveability Framework.

My house has 3 large rain water tanks and solar power. We compost our waste and use it in our vegetable garden which has a number of edible native plants.

Increase workshops for residents and business owners to better understand and assess their options in reducing emissions and utilising renewable energy.

Lead from the front by setting a model example at the City of Bayswater Civic Centre and other municpal buildings.