Advocacy is a key role of local government. Council representatives including the Mayor, Councillors and senior staff regularly liaise with the Victorian and Australian Governments to achieve positive funding, policy and service outcomes for Bayside that we cannot deliver alone.
Our advocacy priorities are based on long term aspirations articulated in the Bayside 2050 Community Vision and Council Plan 2021-25. These strategic plans are based on strong community engagement and feedback on what kind of Bayside we want in the future.
We recognise the following funding pledges and call on all candidates to commit to supporting Bayside with these priorities if elected to form or influence the next Australian Government:
- Elsternwick Park Nature Reserve – the Australian Labour Party $11.7 million pledge towards the implementation of the masterplan for this unique natural space and Elster Creek.
- Warm Water Pool – the Liberal/National Party $5 million pledge towards the proposed pool
- Emissions reduction – we have set an ambitious target to reduce Bayside’s community greenhouse gas emissions by 75% below 2005 levels by 2030; and achieve net zero emissions by 2035, or earlier. We are calling for similarly ambitious targets from the next Australian Government.
- Coastal erosion – support for long term solutions to address coastal erosion including at the iconic Dendy Street Beach and along our 17kms of coastline.
- More support for the roll out of electric vehicle charging stations in Bayside, waste reduction and packaging minimisation and more affordable housing across our region.
/Public Release. View in full here.
