Meet the Lennox Candidates 2024

1. Please introduce yourself. Who are you? What is your connection to Lennox?

As far back as I can remember, I’ve been looking after the environment, understanding the consequences on future generations if we don’t.

I think I was about 11 when I decided to turn an old recycling bin into an open rainwater tank to water the front garden of our family home in Mitcham. Then in high school it was the solar car competition which solidified my decision to study engineering. I currently work as an electrical engineer, helping lead a team of developers to create software that avoids bushfires being started by power lines.

My ambition for making positive changes to the environment and to people’s lives spills out of my work life, and in 2021 my housemate Jarman and I launched nemy, a free app that helps you use electricity at the most environmentally friendly time, thus accelerating the transition to 100% renewable energy, and saving people money if your plan allows for it.

I’m an active member of the queer community, having been involved in Surge, Melbourne’s gay water polo club, where I met my partner Sean. We were together for several years, but at the end of 2022, Sean passed away after a 2 and a half year battle with a rare form of liver cancer. I’d been his carer during his illness, and that profound experience of caring for someone else, along with the wake up call that life is short, made me consider how I could care for the community more broadly. 

I’ve lived in various parts of Richmond since 2015, and I’ve been fortunate enough to buy a place to call home just down the road from the beloved Rowena Corner Store. It’s this personal, long term investment in the area that also drives me to make our community and local area as good as it can be. 

2. How would you resolve traffic and movement issues in Lennox ward, including congestion, pedestrian access, safety, and competition for parking?

• Provide safe and desirable alternatives to driving, like better public transport and cycling infrastructure (which can also reduce a household’s car-related expenses). 
• Increase footpath widths and improve pedestrian safety by making crossings compliant with regulations, especially outside the Cherry Tree on Balmain Street and and the intersection of Balmain and Cremorne Streets.
• Build more separated bike lanes so families feel safe cycling.
• Charge workers commuting to Cremorne a fair price for parking, in line with private parking operators or the cost of public transport, to promote the use of other transportation means.

3. What opportunities do you see for creating additional public spaces in Lennox ward?

• Pursue opportunities to acquire or lease land for parks, particularly along the underutilised rail corridors.
• Push for the opening of new public spaces through strategically closing streets, like Charlotte Street outside Richmond Library.
• Support more community-initiated parks and public spaces, ensuring the community’s voice is heard in planning decisions.

4. Lennox ward contains a varied mix of residential and commercial properties with a growing number of multi-storey developments. What tensions or opportunities do you see, and how would you address them?

• Tackle construction issues by enforcing curfews for large trucks and noise limits during reasonable hours.
• Advocate for mixed-use developments that combine residential and commercial spaces to foster liveable neighbourhoods.
• Use developer contributions from Lennox ward to create more open spaces in Lennox ward.

5. There is currently a draft Urban Design Framework for Cremorne. What would you prioritise, and how would you apply this to other parts of Lennox ward?

• Urgently advocate to the State Government for approval of the Urban Design Framework (UDF) so we can move forward.
• Prioritise ground-level setbacks to widen footpaths in busy areas.
• Retain character buildings like The Cherry Tree while emphasising greener, people-oriented streets.
• Support parking maximums, reducing the need for deep excavation works and creating more pedestrian-friendly spaces.

6. Could waste collection be done better, particularly in the context of the tight, narrow streets and varied zones in Lennox?

• Build on recent improvements like green waste recycling and glass separation to reduce contamination.
• Explore shared bin options seen in European cities, and designated collection spots that could be used as parking spaces on non-bin days.
• Consider adjusting bin collection frequency or sizes based on household needs.
• Address issues like rubbish and broken glass on weekends, possibly by increasing staffing for timely clean-ups in busy areas like Swan and Church streets.