Council hopefuls pitch to public

By Melissa Grant
Eleven of the 17 candidates standing for Cardinia did their best to convince residents to vote one for them during a public meeting at the Pakenham Hall last Thursday.
This included five of the nine candidates running for Central Ward – George Blenkhorn, Kate Hands, Tracy Montgomery, Collin Ross and incumbent Brett Owen.
Youth, parking and council debt dominated the discussion before about 30 residents.
Candidates all but ruled out parking meters in Pakenham’s Central Business District. They also vowed to reduce rate increases and to improve services for young people in the growth corridor.
Kate Hands said cost neutral solutions had to be considered before parking meters were even discussed.
“There are strategies you can look at first before parking meters,” she said on Thursday night.
Tracy Montgomery, a local youth worker, said she would advocate for more youth services in Pakenham. She said the shire’s resources for young people were stretched to the limit, with many of Cardinia Shire Council’s services shared between Casey and Greater Dandenong.
Incumbent Brett Owen said the council had achieved two of three of its youth policy objectives – getting a youth bus and increasing youth workers – and would now focus on establishing a designated youth facility in Pakenham.
Collin Ross said debt was crippling the council, with millions being spent on paying off interest each year.
Mr Ross said he would seek to lower rate increases by trying to increase the amount of council income, through grants, if elected.
George Blenkhorn said also said rate increases were of concern and that he would seek for the council to control spending if successful at the polls.