Darebin Council Election 2008

Darebin BUG has asked all candidates a specific question about how they will work to improve cycling, if elected. [Candidates' responses have been edited to show only material directly relevant to our question.]

Our question to all candidates:

Bicycle Victoria recommends that each council spend at least $5 per resident on cycling. Their latest review of expenditure showed that Darebin has failed to meet this target, spending only $3 per resident, less than neighbouring Banyule and Yarra councils.

If elected, what will you do to ensure that Darebin raises its level of expenditure to meet the $5 target and maintains expenditure at that level?

Answers received so far:

Tim Laurence

"yes.....$5 would be good as long as we have meaningful projects to do...I am
sure there are more links to complete in bike network...."

Alison Donohue

"I will ensure that at LEAST $5 per resident is spent and continue to push for more improvements to make bike riding in our city safer and more pleasurable for bycycle users."

Steven Tsitas

Did not answer the question. Seems to think that asking candidates questions is "campaigning against them":

"I ask you and your organisation to then not repeat the campaign against me of 4 years ago, when DBUG tried to slight my candidacy. Your organisation's handiwork is still on the internet for all to see: www.bv.com.au/inform.php?a=7&b=145&c=819 ..."

"I know that come election time it is the stock standard process for every group to send their Questionnaire so that their members can run the rule over who to vote for (or against!).

My stock standard process as the candidate in past elections has been to decline, politely, their invitation, and I make no exception with this election."

Darren Lewin-Hill

"To increase Darebin expenditure to the five dollars per resident recommended by Bicycle Victoria, I would advocate among my fellow Councillors for increased funding, serve as a focal point on Council for community concerns about cycling safety and convenience, lobby to include cyclists in decision-making about cycling, and work collaboratively with community cycling organisations such as Darebin Bicycle Users Group and Bicycle Victoria to campaign for action...."

Shi D'Amour

"...Until I am on Council, looking at the multiple issues which need to be addressed, and the actual figures of available resources in all their forms, I am not prepared to merely respond in monetary terms..."

Liz Leveridge

Did not answer the question.

Carmelina Di Guglielmo

Did not answer the question.

Nick Katsis

Did not answer the question.

Ben Morgan

"Rather than a dollar figure, I would prefer to fund outcomes. If projects then cost six dollars or seven dollars or more per head rather than five, so be it. I don't think one should base budgets on a fixed dollar amount for a budget area without reference to what needs to be done."

Helen Brown, Mohammed El-leissy, Sara Scally and Trent McCarthy

"Greens elected to Council will use the budgetary planning process (Dec 08 - Feb 09) to ensure that cycling in Darebin is funded at $5 per resident, on par with neighbouring Councils such as Yarra and Banyule. We'll lobby other Councillors to join us in bringing Darebin up to scratch, drawing upon the increase in cyclist numbers, comparisons with neighbouring Councils and other available evidence. If successful in our arguments, we'll seek to promote this new funding regime in local media, creating a clear benchmark for future budgets...we'll look to have a principle of best practice funding for cycling and other forms of sustainable transport enshrined in relevant Council strategies and funding formulas. We'll also look to strengthen the position of cycling in the next Municipal Strategic Statement developed and adopted by Council."