Your candidates for the Montague Ward of Port Phillip

Words by David Allen & Sean Car

The ever-evolving Montague Precinct is now at the centre of its very own City of Port Phillip council ward following reforms to the Local Government Act 2020, and Southbank News brings you the five candidates contesting the new seat.  

Local governments across the state, with the exception of the City of Melbourne, are grappling with the structural changes introduced since the 2020 elections, with the City of Port Phillip’s wards increasing in number from three up to nine. 

The changes have been widely labelled a win for more representative local government, with all candidates required to demonstrate a tangible connection with the wards they nominate to contest in. 

The newly established Montague Ward, which was previously incorporated into the former Gateway Ward, provides plenty of demographic and geographic intrigue in this election. 

Not only is it the largest ward of the nine, it encompasses patches of several different areas, including Fishermans Bend, Port Melbourne, South Melbourne, Southbank and even a section of Albert Park. 

Its spread into various established residential areas is largely down to the fact that it incorporates Fishermans Bend, which despite being the subject of Australia’s biggest urban renewal project, is still largely home to industry. 

But as the growth of Fishermans Bend’s Montague Precinct demonstrates, this is due to evolve over the coming years and decades, making the ward a fascinating proposition for future elections. 

As it stands now, however, Montague Ward includes several key areas stretching into the municipality away from Fishermans Bend, including the majority of the Bay St retail strip. 

At the closure of nominations in September, five candidates had registered to contest the vacant Montague councillor position, led by frontrunner, Gateway Ward incumbent and endorsed Labor Party candidate Peter Martin. 

Serving his first term as a councillor since 2020, Cr Martin is no stranger to the community having worked as principal for Port Melbourne Primary School for many years. He’s also the current secretary of the Port Melbourne Colts Junior Football Club. 

Despite many expecting him to run in the neighbouring Port Melbourne Ward, current Mayor Heather Cunsolo is largely tipped as the favourite there meaning Montague presents a more favourable chance. 

However, with The Greens candidate for Montague Ahmed Elsayed forced to withdraw from the election race for personal reasons, Cr Martin is now considered somewhat of a “preference orphan” with Labor traditionally banking on Greens preferences. 

The other four candidates are all preferencing Cr Martin last, meaning that he’ll need to record a seismic primary vote well in excess of 20 per cent to firm up his chances. 

Cr Martin’s biggest challengers are likely going to be independent candidates Judy Sahayanathan and Alex Makin, both of whom are competing in their first City of Port Phillip election. 

Ms Sahayanathan is the only female candidate running in the Montague Ward and has been working hard doorknocking the entire electorate and using every available opportunity to get her message out there. 

With her business based in Montague, she’s very familiar with the area and its issues. Should she continue bringing the same energy throughout the remainder of the campaign, she presents as a real frontrunner with favourable preferences on her side. 

Cr Martin’s other main challenger is Alex Makin, who is the only candidate running in Montague who lives in the ward. He’s also no stranger to local government, having previously served as Maroondah City Council’s youngest Mayor. 

Locally, he’s become a well-known figure for his successful petition to keep dog parks open in the municipality, which garnered around 2000 signatures. Should he use such strengths to his advantage to build a higher primary vote count, it will undoubtedly make the contest for Montague a genuine three-way race.  

Finally, there are the two further independent candidates in Chris Schwarze, who is running on former councillor Serge Thomann’s People Empowering Port Phillip team, and latecomer David Knoff, both of whom are tipped to poll around five to 10 per cent. 

Among some of the key issues affecting the Montague Ward are safety and crime (particularly car theft and theft from vehicles), retail activation along Bay St and planning for Fishermans Bend. 

Who’s who in the race for the Montague Ward? 

David Knoff (Independent)

Major policies: Help ease housing shortages, provision of more community, pedestrian and transport infrastructure, including trams for Fishermans Bend, community safety through council co-operation with law enforcement, better provision of social services. 

David says: “I bring a different more international background to council. I think it’s important council maintains its focus on essential services and works with other levels of government to solve local issues practically.”

Southbank News says: A South Melbourne resident who was a last-minute entrant to the election race. A renowned lover of penguins running a strong sustainability campaign. Should poll at five per cent on primaries, but hard to see him challenging. 

Alex Makin (Independent)

Major policies: More community services and transport infrastructure for Fishermans Bend, as well as improved council advocacy to the state government to hasten its urban renewal of the precinct, better planning and zoning for Montague to avoid issues like the sex-on-premises venue Pineapple Lifestyle Bar, more green and community spaces, improved governance and a renewed council focus on community safety. 

Alex says: “I am the only candidate who lives in Montague Ward. A local level of engagement is necessary so you can understand the issues because you’re seeing them unfolding along with the rest of the neighbourhood.”

Southbank News says: Extensive past local government experience and holds a trump card of being the only candidate living in the ward. If he plays to his strengths, he could very well emerge as the councillor for Montague. 

Peter Martin (Labor)

Major policies: Improved planning for Fishermans Bend to include green spaces and pedestrian and bike thoroughfares, boost housing supply without sacrificing heritage overlays or the character of individual neighbourhoods, fiscal responsibility and more effective spending by council on services, enhanced connection and consultation with the community to better assess their needs, addressing climate change and environmental sustainability at a local level, and more community services catering to young people.

Peter says: “The Montague community is like my extended family. It may sound corny, but you keep in touch with your family, and you help out wherever you can.”

Southbank News says: Still his to lose as the incumbent Gateway Ward councillor with the strongest local profile, but his chances are badly affected by those preferences from all four of his fellow candidates. 

Judy Sahayanathan (Independent)

Major policies: More fiscal responsibility by council and greater accountability to locals, improved waste management and community education so locals understand changes to services, better precinct planning for Fishermans Bend and better public transport options for the redevelopment including trams, buses and bike lanes, and cleaner and greener public spaces. 

Judy says: “My business operates out of Montague, and I am very aware of the issues at a community level. I decided to run out of frustration at the lack of council action.”

Southbank News says: Somewhat of a wild card in this contest boasting a strong work ethic and some favourable preferences. Don’t be surprised if she emerges the victor when results are announced. 

Chris Schwarze (Indpendent – People Empowering Port Phillip) 

Major policies: More open spaces and community centres to encourage local connections in Fishermans Bend, improved community safety measures, targeting waste and dysfunction in council operations, improving waste management services, cleaning and greening public spaces, stopping the planned sex-on-premises venue on City Rd and better mitigating the impact of the multiple brothels within the neighbourhood.

Chris says: “I’ve been a business owner in Montague for more than 40 years and have a strong history of local advocacy.”

Southbank News says: While a worthy, passionate candidate with strong local connections and history within the community, his challenge will be registering a strong enough primary vote. •