Stephen Mayne.
STEPHEN MAYNE, INDEPENDENT
What are the top three issues facing Melbourne residents and how would you address them?
1. Congestion and mobility, which requires a substantial investment in public transport, most notably the Doncaster Rail proposal.
2. Transparently planning for population growth through an approvals system that is open, accountable and understood by all stakeholders. The power of Planning Minister Matthew Guy should be reduced.
3. The scourge of high-intensity poker machines in Melbourne needs to be wound back through $1 maximum bets, and new problem gambling programs funded by differential rates, including on the hugely profitable Crown Casino.
What is your vision to help the homeless, mentally ill and dispossessed?
Grow the pie to ensure there is funding for support services, including a pick-up in funding for social housing and public housing, which has fallen away since the GFC stimulus payments.
What will you do about Melbourne’s population growth and high-rise development?
Population policy is controlled by the federal government, so we need to better explain the challenges of 75,000 additional residents in Melbourne each year. I prefer in-fill development to even more urban sprawl into Green Wedge areas. I support an increase in Australia’s refugee intake and maintaining overall immigration levels accommodated primarily along transport corridors and near existing activity centres, provided there is adequate funding for transport and other infrastructure.
Is heritage being protected adequately in the Melbourne electorate? Will you fix what is broken in heritage protection?
Heritage protection for Melbourne’s Federation suburbs is vital. Heritage assessment and advice need to be conducted independently from DPCD (Department of Planning and Community Development), although the ultimate decision-making powers should rest with councils and the state government.
If elected, which party would you vote with in state parliament? Would you cross the floor if you believed your chosen party’s position was not in Melbourne’s interests? Conversely, would you vote against the interests of the Melbourne electorate for the greater benefit of Victoria?
I am conservative on financial matters and progressive on social issues but would be genuinely independent when assessing issues, policies, individuals and parties on their merits. Priority would always be given to the broader interest of the Melbourne electorate, as opposed to other seats or particular pockets and vested interests.
What shape should the East-West road link project take? Should it be built at all?
With average peak-hour speeds down to 20kmh on the Eastern Freeway, something needs to be done. Doncaster Rail should be the priority but the East-West tunnel will need to eventually be built with the focus on a seamless connection to Transurban’s tollroad. It should be funded by tolling the Eastern Freeway and future users.
Will you support Moonee Valley Council’s plans for a bike lane on Mt Alexander Road, at the expense of a car lane, even if it results in increased traffic congestion?
Bike infrastructure should be strongly supported but any individual proposal to reduce road capacity should be assessed by professional traffic engineers. I would need more information from VicRoads before adopting a firm position.
How would you fix traffic congestion at Flemington Showgrounds and racecourse during major events?
Encourage greater use of public transport and pooling of car and bus usage.
If elected would you lobby for the reunification of Carlton (returning Princes Hill/Carlton North to Melbourne City Council)?
I support re-unification of Carlton and North Carlton within MCC for greater consistency on planning and heritage issues.
What steps if any will you take to restore public confidence and ensure that Melbourne City Council is open and transparent?
I’ve helped transform Manningham City Council into the most open and transparent council in Victoria and would push for similar reforms (ie accessible audio archives of council meetings, disclosure of executive pay, all VCAT decisions online etc) at Melbourne City Council.