Bayside has joined forces with a coalition of Melbourne’s metropolitan councils to advocate for meaningful policy reforms ahead of the November state election.
The Inner South Metropolitan Mayors Forum (ISMMF) – which includes Bayside, Boroondara, Glen Eira and Kingston City Councils – has called on the major parties to work with them to address the common challenges faced by the region’s 600,000+ residents.
Representing one in eight Melburnians and spanning 13 state electorates, the councils are calling for planning reforms, a pipeline of new open space opportunities, more social and affordable housing, and sustainable maternal and child health services.
Glen Eira Mayor, Jim Magee said the ISMMF was a partnership established to advocate for change on the issues affecting Melbourne’s inner south.
“Through strong community engagement with our communities, we’ve listened closely to understand what the inner south wants the next Victorian Government to help councils deliver,” Mayor Magee said.
“In the lead up to the election, we will put forward — with a shared voice — tangible solutions that the next Victorian Government can implement immediately to deliver on these priorities.”
Mayor of Boroondara, Jane Addis said ISMMF will lobby election candidates, and the State Government to allow Victorian communities to have a genuine say about their neighbourhoods.
“This State Government has dramatically changed our planning system to reduce the opportunity for councils and their communities to genuinely participate in decision making affecting their lives,” Mayor Addis said.
Kingston Mayor, Steve Staikos said there were immediate opportunities to deliver new green open spaces, but that it couldn’t happen without the State Government’s support.
Find out more about Bayside’s advocacy priorities for the 2022 Victorian election.
