Georgina KER
West Ward
Q1. What are your top priorities if elected to the City of Bayswater council?
I'm running on three priority areas: safer streets, greener neighbourhoods and transparency on council.
Safer streets is about making our local streets safer for residents of all ages to get around, whether it's to work, school, local community facilities or for leisure. This could involve championing initiatives such as lower speed limits, modifying the road environment and more footpaths.
Greener neighbourhoods is pretty self-explanatory - we know climate change is real and the urban heat island effect is serious. We need the state government, City of Bayswater, private landowners and even developers to work together to meet our tree canopy targets and improve liveability, particularly for future generations.
Q2. What will you do to enable more walking and cycling in the City of Bayswater?
Continue doing what I have been doing! Walking and cycling isn't an "optional extra" for me, it's my life - my electric bike is my main mode of transport to work, school, and shopping/leisure.
The City established the Active Transport Advisory Committee following a motion I moved at the AGM of Electors, and I was selected as an inaugural community representative.
I have also asked many questions of council and made many deputations about issues relating to walking and cycling (including provision of bike racks, safe road crossings, lower speed limits and traffic calming). Having a seat at the decision-making table will help ensure these issues can be kept on the agenda and we can see real progress.
If elected, I also intend to seek regular updates on the progress of the City's Bike Plan. Plans are great, but without accountability for progress (or lack of it), not much changes.
Q3. What will you do to increase the City of Bayswater's tree canopy?
The City has done a great job with increasing new tree plantings on City land over the past few winters. I'll work to ensure this work is continued, and advocate for increased funding for additional watering to help improve the survival rate of these trees. We must stop approving requests to remove healthy mature trees on City land.
It's clear that to increase our tree canopy we also need to bring private landowners and even developers along for the ride - the recently-approved Tree Retention Policy was a small step in the right direction. To get broader community buy-in for further changes we need to really get people to see the amazing health, economic and social benefits of trees. As my community activism history shows, I will be a strong voice in favour of trees, but I'm flexible on how we achieve this - maybe it's time to look at incentives and support for people and developers to retain trees, to shift the narrative.
I was disappointed to see interim targets removed from the City's tree canopy goals earlier this year and would like to see those reinstated. Removal of interim targets means current councillors are unlikely to be held accountable for their decisions that affect tree canopy, as it's seen as a future problem.
If elected, I will also use any avenues I can to advocate to the State Government to improve State-wide protections for trees.
Q4. What will you do to help our community reduce emissions and support a move to renewable energy?
In April this year, Council voted down a motion related to promotion/support of electrification initiatives (ie to help support residents to move away from residential gas supply). This was a well-considered motion which did not commit the City to any funding, and it was really disappointing to me to see this lack of support. After discussion with various parties, I would look to reintroduce this or a similar motion.
Supporting walking and cycling, and greener neighbourhoods, as I've outlined above, will also reduce emissions from cars and household power usage.
If elected, I will request for the City to investigate bulk purchase schemes for solar panels and battery systems, such as is done in Victoria through the Solar Savers program.
