Winter 2008 Newsletter from Councillor Stephen Jolly (Socialist Party)



Langridge Ward covers Fitzroy, Collingwood, Abbotsford, Clifton Hill, South Fairfield and Alphington



No Tunnel!

The State government is considering a recommendation of the Eddington Report to build a tunnel to the western suburbs starting at the Clifton Hill end of the Eastern Freeway.

The tunnel would cost over $10 billion and be used by the mere 15% of traffic that heads West from the Eastern Freeway. Homes in North Collingwood could be at risk from a tunnel and possibly also the proposed indoor sports centre at the Gas and Fuel site.

The tunnel project is a colossal waste of money to appease the road lobby.

We should this $10 billion to massively expand public transport. This would be much better for the environment and create more jobs.

SP has worked with residents and local groups to establish Yarra Campaign Against the Tunnel. To get involved or for more information, go to www.ycat.org.au



Budget blow

I voted against this year’s Council budget. 55% of residents will face a rate rise of over 6%. Child care fees have also been increased by over inflation.

Appeals for budget support from many struggling community groups have been ignored, yet $4 million was found for computers for Council and $6000 for a web site for Smith St traders. A progressive budget would include investment in sports and childcare facilities and campaign against cost shifting by federal and state governments.



Condell Park saved by community mobilisation

Community mobilisation recently saved Condell Park, Fitzroy’s only park.

In January, State government officals told Council they wanted to end the lease arangements and sell it off. A resulting campaign forced the government to back off. Congratulations to residents for saving this much needed park!



Clifton Hill keeps its Kindergarden!

VCAT has ruled in favour of the move of St. Andrews Kindergarden to Walker St, Clifton Hill!

This much needed Kindy is being forced to move from its current Gold St site - now it can relocate, rather than close.

This will be a great relief to local families.

As part of the plan to save the Kindy, the neighbouring Walker St Scout hall (which is also used by Spensley St Primary School and the Guides) will get a much needed refurbishment.

I am proud to have been part of the campaign to save St. Andrews Kindy and get it relocated to Walker St.

Well done to all involved!



Hard Rubbish

Council introduced Green Waste collections for the first time earlier this year, a change pushed for by residents and myself.

However at the same time the six-monthly Hard Rubbish collection was replaced with a personalised service where you have to ring Council for a pickup.

It is now clear that this change has been a mistake and residents want the street collection maintained.

Its loss has led to a rise in dumping. It is also environmentally crazy to have trucks picking up daily from individual homes instead of one big collection twice a year.

I haven’t yet got support on Council for a return of the regular collection, however there will be a review of the new system this October.

I ask all of you who want the Hard Rubbish collection reintroduced to contact me for a copy of the petition on the issue and also to email the Councillors at info@yarracity.vic.gov.au to let them know your views.

With such high rates in Yarra, there is no excuse for the scrapping of the six-monthly collection.



AMCOR site development

The massive AMCOR site on the corner of Heidelberg Road and Chandler Highway is about to relocate to Sydney.

In its place will be a massive development which will include homes for 6000 residents and probably a supermarket complex.

This development is in reality a new suburb for Melbourne.

We cannot expect Alphington Primary School and Yarralea Children’s Centre to cope.

I have been working closely with locals to ensure that new residents will have schools, childcare, open space and sports facilities on the site.

Contact me for more information on this issue.



Smith St and surrounding area issues

Before January, the Banco group will begin construction of their long

awaited development, approved by the State government who ignored local

demands a lower height.



On Stanley St, other developers are proposing an over-the-top,

nine-storey residential block. No wonder locals are up in arms, worried

about the parking, traffic, overshadowing and many other impacts.

These new developments do not include any social services or open space.

This will cause problems for the rapidly increasing number of residents

in the area.

I am working with local people to get Council to support their just

demands for appropriate heights and for environmentally-friendly, low

scale development instead of dense matchboxes...



In this years budget, Council decided to begin the process of

establishing an Aboriginal community centre on or near Smith St. Local

Aboriginal elders believe such a centre will go a long way to elevate

the issues surrounding public drinking on the street. Contact SP if you

want to be part of the campaign to push for this centre.





Re-elect Stephen Jolly on 27th November and support our other SP candidates

This November, Yarra residents will go to the polls.

I have worked hard to be a responsive and active Councillor in my first

term.

I ask you to consider voting for me in November and to actively support

my campaign.

With the Socialist Party and the local community working together we

have been able to win some very important victories.

We have saved the St. Vinnies food depot and St Andrews Kindergarten.

Green Waste and the Zero Emissions Policy were also won by the joint

work of residents and myself as a SP Councillor.

I have also been able to put the interests of public housing tenants

back on the political agenda.

Please consider voting for me to be re-elected in November so that this

work can be stepped up. If I am defeated the forces of conservatism in

our area will have a field day.

The Socialist Party will also be standing candidates in the other wards.

The SP team for the election includes Denise Dudley in the Melba ward,

Anthony Main in the Nichols ward and myself, Stephen Jolly, in the

Langridge ward.

If this team is elected in November you can be assured that we will be

in a much better position to fight for better services for Yarra residents.



If you can help our campaign on election day, or by letterboxing or

making a donation, contact the SP Office on 96399111.



Contact details

For Stephen Jolly

Phone: 0433113421 Email: stephenjolly99@hotmail.com

Web site:www.socialistpartyaustralia.org/council

Postal address: PO Box 1015, Collingwood 3066



For Socialist Party

SP in Melbourne meets every Wednesday at 7pm at Trades Hall, cnr Lygon

and Victoria Sts, Carlton South. All welcome. SP Phone: 96399111

Email: info@socialistpartyaustralia.org Web site:

www.socialistpartyaustralia.org. Postal address: PO Box 1015, Collingwood

Street address: 1st Floor, Trades Hall, cnr Lygon and Victoria Sts,

Carlton South