Jane Touzeau: Councillor for Point Ormond Ward
We need to return to genuinely inclusive processes and community values"
Local Issues Matter
As your Councillor, my first responsibility will be to act and speak on your behalf, and to challenge, every time, recommendations from officers that may undermine your liveability and amenity.
On Council, I will act to:
- Ensure community participation in decisions that affect your amenity and quality of life;
- Resolve frustrating issues at the micro level (street parking, hard rubbish, footpath repair etc);
- Protect open space;
- Improve communication between the City and Melbourne Water to keep the canal clean;
- Involve the community in development of adaptation strategies in regard to anticipated impacts of climate change. Flooding and stormwater from intense rainfall events will be of particular concern in Elwood; and
- Support services which contribute to quality of community life
Telephone: 9531 3714
Email: jane4point.ormond@gmail.com
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I have lived happily in Cyril Street, Elwood for 25 years and appreciate the community belonging and acceptance my kids and I have always experienced. It would be a privilege to help steer our wonderful community in a new direction on your behalf.
I decided to run for Council because I am concerned that the bureaucracy at the Town Hall is getting increasingly out of touch with community aspirations and sensibilities, unwisely bringing upon itself major distractions such as the proposed Triangle site development, which
- gives away public land to commercial interests,
- relies on alcohol sales to more than 6,000 people at a time,
- involves a secret contract with the Sydney-based developer.
It’s part of a planning culture that favours outside interests ahead of residents, profit ahead of amenity, and ‘commercial development’ ahead of community.
Sadly, most of our present Councillors align themselves with what has become the City of Port Phillip juggernaut. They speak and act as a board of directors in its support, rather than as elected champions of their communities. As a result, our local government, in many cases, has acted without due diligence or accountability, and ignored community sentiment and values on many issues.
I want to turn that around. As your Councillor, my first responsibility will be to act and speak on your behalf, and to challenge, every time, recommendations from officers that may undermine your liveability and amenity. Responsible managers should be ensuring that recommendations that reach Council for decision making are actually in the community’s interest, and that the large staff at the Council is working within the directions set by Council to avoid waste of time and resources.
One of the biggest issues to face Elwood in the coming years is the impact of climate change. We will need to lead in implementing practices and actions, not just in developing policies. To achieve this – and other reforms and projects - quickly and effectively, we will need a Council that can take charge of the bureaucracy, steer it in the right direction, and hold it accountable to its citizens.
I have qualifications in Community Development and adult education. My work with many varied groups in areas including community arts, democracy, and environment has instilled in me the value of listening and of embracing (rather than fearing) different views - values that have been sadly missing from our Council.
I was very involved in my children’s education and activities. I started a pre-school music group at the Elwood Neighbourhood House and worked with others to organise various pre-school community music events, including the first Children’s Festival in St Kilda Town Hall. I was a member of the Elwood Primary School Council, Out of School Hours Care committee, Elwood College Parents’ Parents Association, State committees of Parents for Music, and Victorian Council of Schools’ Organisations.
One of my greatest pleasures is my involvement with students from East Timor. Over the years, I’ve had the honour to understand the strength they gain from their deeply held family and community values, and their determination and hope in the face of great difficulty.
I have been an active member of Save Albert Park, a wonderful group that inspired many to take a responsible stand for public parkland and exercise their democratic rights. The Triangle proposal raises many of the same issues – usurping of public land, a secret contract, abuse of power.
Our local government should be listening, not generating spin; serving our community better, working intelligently with us on the main game of community cohesion not division. We have had good progressive councils in the past, and now is the time to elect another one.
But change can only happen if we vote in a new Council.
In the elections on 29 November, I seek your vote to ensure that we achieve a Council that directs our local government to serve the genuine concerns of our community.
I would be pleased to hear from you.
Telephone: 9531 3714
Email: jane4point.ormond@gmail.com
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