Geoff has always focused on the things that matter most to local residents – ensuring that Monash Council is not distracted by the mission creep some other councils get carried away with. He has the priorities we share.
Priorities we share…
- Low rates
- Focusing on core council functions, not mission creep
- Protecting our neighbourhoods from inappropriate development
- Transforming Kingsway
- Fighting for rate reform to stop ‘bill shock’ caused by skyrocketing property prices
- A new 800 to 1,200 space FREE car park on Montclair Avenue in the heart of Kingsway
- Backing residents over unfair Council red tape
- A Council working efficiently for us
Posted by Geoff Lake on 10:49 am in News | 1 comment
In its proposed new electoral boundaries for Victoria, the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) has recommended that the federal seat of McMillan in Gippsland be renamed Monash in recognition of Sir John Monash. The AEC is right to recognise that Monash was a great Australian who is deserving of a federal electorate named in his honour. However, the place to do that is in the heart of the City of Monash and not in some other place hundreds of kilometres away. Renaming a Gippsland based seat as Monash is a recipe for confusion. Monash is a...
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Posted by Geoff Lake on 7:00 am in News | 0 comments
Votes are now being counted for the Monash Council elections for 2016. I will progressively update this post over the next 24 hours as votes are counted and results become clear. Latest updates are up the top. 3.00 pm, Sun 30 Oct – All set for the button press Ok, well that’s it for all the counting in Monash for another four years. The only thing that remains is the button press which is scheduled to be at 4.00 pm today. Here are my final predictions along with the order I think candidates will be elected in: Glen...
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Posted by Geoff Lake on 4:18 pm in Councillor performance, Effective meetings, Financial management, Improving efficiency, Improving services, News, Record | 0 comments
The following is my end of term address which I delivered to the last Monash Council meeting of the 2012-16 term on Wednesday, 19 October 2016. Given this is the last Council meeting for this term of Council, I would like to make a few comments looking back over the past four years. Reflecting on these four years this afternoon, it occurred to me that I don’t think there has ever been a period of such rapid change and new initiatives in the 22 year history of Monash Council. The election of most us in October 2012 now seems much...
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Posted by Geoff Lake on 12:28 pm in Priorities, Transforming Kingsway | 2 comments
Council is currently in the middle of a Request for Proposal process with five shortlisted bidders to create a town square/public plaza in the heart of Glen Waverley on the Central Car Park site. This is a project Council has been working on for more than five years and aims to deliver upon the vision set in the Glen Waverley Activity Centre Master Plan. A public plaza the size of the city square in Melbourne’s CBD together with a new library are key elements of this project. These new public spaces in the heart of Kingsway opposite the...
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Posted by Geoff Lake on 12:01 pm in News, Priorities, Transforming Kingsway | 0 comments
Council is currently in the middle of a Request for Proposal process with five shortlisted bidders to create a new state of the art library in the heart of Glen Waverley on the Central Car Park site. This is a project Council has been working on for more than five years and aims to deliver upon the vision set in the Glen Waverley Activity Centre Master Plan. A new library about six times bigger than the current one and community meeting spaces are a key part of this project, together with a public plaza the size of the city square in...
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Posted by Geoff Lake on 8:23 am in Planning | 0 comments
The Planning Permit application process and relevant legislation prescribe the minimum amount of community and applicant participation in the application process. Whilst a Council can follow these minimum requirements, it does not ensure that the best and most informed decisions are made. Often, permit applicants can be surprised by a recommendation or decision of Council and residents or objectors can often be left with little to no information on an application until after a decision is made. Monash Council currently does little more than...
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Posted by Geoff Lake on 4:04 am in News, Priorities, Seniors | 0 comments
Monash Council has one of the largest community grant programs in Victoria and is proud of its commitment to support and value the dedicated community groups and organisations within our area. The Monash Community Grants Program provides significant financial and in-kind support to Monash community groups and community organisations with the aim of: developing partnerships between Council and community groups to achieve Council’s strategic directions; directing resources to both the emerging and specific needs of disadvantaged groups;...
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Posted by Geoff Lake on 9:18 pm in Low rates, News, Pensioners, Priorities, Rate reform, Rates, Record, Seniors | 0 comments
Rate notices in Monash have recently been sent out. Monash will collect 2.5% more in rates in 2016/17 compared to the previous year 2015/16. However, unfortunately this does not mean a uniform increase of 2.5% every property. The amount of rates paid by each property is determined by the biannual valuation of all properties. The most recent revaluation was completed on 1 January 2016. It is the most recent valuation of all properties in the municipality which determines the amount of rates paid by each property. If a property has increased...
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Posted by Geoff Lake on 12:06 pm in Priorities, Transforming Kingsway | 0 comments
I regularly receive complaints from residents about the tacky and grotty presentation of some parts of Kingsway. Council has been working to address this by partnering with traders to expand waste collection services in Kingsway such as by implementing a free cardboard recycling program for traders. We have also pioneered the successful ‘Monash Pride Crew’ concept which is a dedicated team of Council workers who work across Council departments everyday IN the Kingsway precinct to improve its look and feel. However, I recognise...
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Posted by Geoff Lake on 11:50 am in Priorities, Transforming Kingsway | 0 comments
As part of Council’s endorsement of my plan to transform Kingsway, Council is currently preparing a suite of design guidelines for the redevelopment and rejuvenation of Kingsway. This will provide a major facelift for Kingsway to transform it into an iconic destination for outdoor dining, cafes and vibrant activity. Kingsway is a great place to visit but it has the potential to be even better. The street furniture is old, the footpath paving is unremarkable and in places around the activity centre the lighting is poor. The...
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