Tara Murray
Two new faces will represent the Meadow Valley ward on Hume council.
Three-time former mayor Geoff Porter and councillor Jana Taylor have decided not to stand for re-election.
Current councillors Karen Sherry and Kurt Naim are among 20 candidates overall seeking election in the ward.
Two-time former mayor Adem Atmaca is looking to return to council.
Mr Atmaca served on council between 2003 and 2016, but failed to be elected at the 2016 election.
He said many sporting clubs and community groups had contacted him recently encouraging him to run again.
“Over the last four years it seems Meadow Valley ward hasn’t received its fair share of rates spending.
“All the major new projects and infrastructure has been built in Sunbury and Craigieburn.
“The community has seen a deterioration in services and maintenance of infrastructure due to the different priorities of the current councillors.
“People have had enough and want value for their rates and councillors to focus on core council services. Increasing rates during the pandemic was the last straw.”
Graeme Marr, who was on Hume council between 1997 and 2000, has again thrown his name into the hat.
Sheriden Tate, who has long advocated on several community issues, has put her hand up for the first time, feeling the need for independents to reflect the community voice.
“I don’t feel community needs are currently adequately met,” she said.
“As a member of several community groups, I hear common topics raised by fellow residents – overdevelopment, parking, need for neighbourhood character overlays to protect local areas, improved council governance policy so community input into council decision making processes are actually taken onboard, waste fires and recycling management, declaring climate emergency, improved employment opportunities and more funding for arts, parks and bike paths.
“I want to address these and other areas to drive outcomes that make Hume the best it can be.”
Phillip Di Biase, who stood in Jacksons Creek ward at the last election, is this time standing in Meadow Valley ward.
He has a united platform with Aitken ward candidate Yasemin Yigit and Jacksons Creek ward candidate Stephanie Casey.
They are aiming to change the way local government deals with domestic violence and bullying during the pandemic and beyond.
Mr Di Biase has a background in criminal justice, having studied family violence prevention and undergraduate law.
He has worked with Good People Act Now, a group which aims to educate students about how to spot bullying and family violence.
The three are pushing for some of Hume council’s budget to be spent on helping the most vulnerable in their community and advocating for a family violence recovery centre in Hume. They will also advocate for all councils to increase funding to their local family violence groups and put a submission to the state government to subsidise course fees for a graduate certificate in domestic violence which is $12,000.
Among other candidates is Chris Hollow, brother in-law to current councillor Carly Moore and former mayor Casey Nunn.
