Cr Mayne weighs up move for Albert Park

Melbourne City councillor Stephen Mayne has revealed his intentions to possibly run for the seat of Albert Park, as a direct response to Labor’s support of the controversial Crown Casino compensation deal.

While Cr Mayne told Southbank Local News that a final decision wouldn’t be formally announced until early November, he confirmed that a move for the marginal seat was on his radar.

“My move has been prompted by Labor’s support of the dreadful casino license extension deal plus the fact that it is a fascinating marginal seat partially in the City of Melbourne, which may determine the election outcome,” he said.

As a long-time anti-pokies campaigner, Cr Mayne announced his intentions in his latest newsletter, as he looks to put “casino cronyism” on the state election agenda.

Cr Mayne slammed Albert Park MP Martin Foley for playing an “invisible” role in local issues.  

“A good chunk of Albert Park is within the City of Melbourne yet the local member has been largely invisible on City of Melbourne issues over the past few years,” he said.

He also pointed the finger at both major parties for what he described as decades of playing off community interests against the Grand Prix.

“The people of Albert Park have been let down by both major parties for 20 years now as colourful Formula One supremo Bernie Eccleston has pocketed close to $500 million from taxpayers and locals have suffered major disruption and amenity impacts from the Grand Prix.”

However, Southbank Local News understands that Cr Mayne will only contest Albert Park if Planning Minister Matthew Guy fails to grant at least one of three requests before him from the City of Melbourne.

Cr Mayne outlined the three requests at the council’s Future Melbourne Committee meeting on October 7.

The council wants:

The scrapping or increasing of the 25,000sqm building size threshold at which planning applications are currently directed to the Minister;

Access to the departmental advice which help Mr Guy in his planning decision making; and

The introduction of a $900 per apartment development levy to fund community infrastructure.

Should Mr Guy ignore these requests, Southbank Local News understands that Cr Mayne will directly oppose Mr Guy in the seat of Bulleen and direct preferences away from the Minister.

Cr Mayne lives within the Bulleen electorate.