Your voice for Montgaue

One year ago, I was the newly elected councillor for Montague Ward, representing Fishermans Bend, alongside parts of Southbank, South Melbourne, Albert Park and most of Port Melbourne.

I now enter my second year on council, as the Mayor for the City of Port Phillip for the next 12 months. Unlike the City of Melbourne, Mayors for other Victorian councils, including Port Phillip, are chosen by the elected councillors.

Over the previous 12 months, I sought to strengthen public confidence in the council, through a focus on improving community dialogue and good governance.

The return of deputations (which Port Phillip had available until 2022) provides a formal method for community members to raise issues with the council beyond the transactional nature of simply asking a question and receiving a response at a council meeting. Deputations will lead to deeper discussions between the council and the community resulting in more informed decision making.

Alongside good governance, I also strengthened the council’s focus on the future of our community through the Community Infrastructure Plan. This plan documents the needs of our growing community in Montague and Fishermans Bend, identifying the art, cultural and community spaces we require for successful urban renewal. The Community Infrastructure Plan will be integral for the future of Fishermans Bend and Port Phillip as a whole.

Immediate needs are also being addressed, including additional off-leash dog spaces to cater to our growing dog population in Montague. Fennell Reserve in Port Melbourne (near Ingles St in Montague) is our latest off-leash dog park and will become the first fenced dog space in Fishermans Bend over the financial year.

After strengthening the council’s internal processes and governance, it is now time to shift our focus externally. This is why I am excited to be Mayor during the year ahead, as we place Fishermans Bend at the forefront of the council.

As Mayor I returned the Mayoral car, so I will continue using the same public transport services that our community use, ensuring I have the credibility to advocate to the state government for our public transport needs.

I have joined community calls for upgraded bus services on route 606, a service I use frequently, and the only bus that directly connects Fishermans Bend with recreational, educational, employment and community across Port Phillip. The fact that we still only have hourly frequencies on weekends and half hourly weekday services is not sufficient for a route that connects Fishermans Bend with Port Melbourne, Albert Park, Middle Park, St Kilda and onto Elsternwick.

Upgrades to bus route 606, alongside a new bus route connecting Fishermans Bend to Anzac Station are critical to connecting our communities and must be delivered by the state government throughout 2026.

We also need a commitment for the two tram routes required to catalyse urban renewal and development within Fishermans Bend. It is little surprise that the Montague precinct, with ready access to light rail, is outpacing development in areas lacking access to trams.

While it is encouraging that the tram routes are included in the state government’s recently released Integrated Transport Plan, it is concerning that there are no definitive timeframes for their delivery.

As Mayor I will help amplify the voices of our community, which are calling for a commitment towards these tram lines.

Fishermans Bend is not only Australia’s urban renewal precinct but also means Port Phillip is one of Victoria’s fastest growing councils. It is imperative we meet the opportunities and challenges of this growth.

I look forward to working alongside you and our community in the year ahead. Please reach out on [email protected] if I can assist you. •