the campaign trail - 29 sep

I'm running in the upcoming state election in the upper house seat of Eastern Metropolitan. It's been another busy week on the campaign trail. This week includes updates on:
 
- Greens support Doncaster Rail
- Greens support Knox call for action on Rowville Rail
- Yes to Doncaster Rail badges prove popular at the Park & Ride
- Greens support a Great Forest National Park
- We support Doncaster Rail meeting coming up
- Greens say legal aid surplus should be directed back into services
- Animals Matter rally, coming up Saturday 4 Oct in Melbourne

Greens Leader, Greg Barber MLC along with myself,
Ben Cronly - Bulleen and Richard Cranston - Warrandyte
hand out Yes to Doncaster Rail badges

You can keep up to date with campaign news on:

facebook - Samantha Dunn EasternMetropolitan
  or
twitter - @greens4eastmet 

to volunteer or donate

web - Samantha Dunn, Candidate for Eastern Metropolitan

samantha in the press

Future looks bleak for rail line
Knox Leader
by Anthony Galloway
23 Sep 2014

Councillors chase seats
Lilydale Leader
by Kimberley Seedy
25 Sep 2014

(Note: Should either of us be successfully elected it is highly unlikely it will be a hit to council's budget due to the amount of people who choose not to vote and end up with fines, it's more likely that it will be income positive)

Visitors sharing spirit

Mail Newspapers

25 Sep 2014

Good food news

Foothills News

Sep - Oct edition

the campaign trail - 22 sep

I'm running in the upcoming state election in the upper house seat of Eastern Metropolitan. It's been another busy week on the campaign trail. This week includes updates on:

- Greens doorknock Doncaster Sat 27 AM details here (plenty of time to help the Greens and watch the Grand Final)
- Greens introduce bill to ban battery cages and sow stalls
- Greens - Global Climate Mobilisation
- Greens - Make family violence a top election issue
- Greens plan for a 10c refund scheme
- Greens candidate Jill Wild campaigns at Croydon train station, Ben Cronly for Bulleen doorknocks Templestowe and Richard Cranston for Warrandyte at Park Orchards Market
- Greens call for action for firefighters
- Greens initiative - End duck shooting

Climate change poses the greatest threat to our world in human
history and requires urgent local, national and global action.
Read the Greens climate policy here.

You can keep up to date with campaign news on:

facebook - Samantha Dunn EasternMetropolitan
  or
twitter - @greens4eastmet 

to volunteer or donate

web - Samantha Dunn, Candidate for Eastern Metropolitan

the campaign trail - 15 sep

I'm running in the upcoming state election in the upper house seat of Eastern Metropolitan. It's been another busy week on the campaign trail. This week includes updates on:

- Greens kickstart Doncaster Rail
- Greens announce election commitment: Victorian Family Violence Action Plan
- Tour of the Toolangi forests with Bob Brown and Ellen Sandell
- Phonebanking with the Maroondah Knox Greens
- Greens want a Fair go for Solar Savers

A logging coupe is a devastating sight,
only the Greens will stand up for
our forests, biodiversity and Victoria's
very own Leadbeater's Possum.

You can keep up to date with campaign news on:

facebook - Samantha Dunn EasternMetropolitan
  or
twitter - @greens4eastmet 

to volunteer or donate

web - Samantha Dunn, Candidate for Eastern Metropolitan

five big public transport questions for the east

Five big public transport questions for the east

Thursday, 11 September 2014

Voters in Melbourne’s east have rated improved public transport as a key election issue and candidates need to clearly detail how they will address the big questions, the Eastern Transport Coalition said today.

According to the Victorian Auditor General's report, Coordinating Public Transport, public transport services in Melbourne are poorly coordinated and many deficiencies in the network remain despite being identified by successive governments over the years.

ETC chairperson, Cr Peter Lockwood said public transport funding has been inadequate to meet current commuter demand in parts of the eastern suburbs, and at current levels, will not keep up with the needs of a growing city.

The ETC has been running campaigns, Commuters Count and Better Buses, to support increased funding and better services.

After talking to and listening to the views of voters in the east for the last year we know that the five most important questions are:

1. Do you or your party support the construction of a rail line to Rowville and will you support a budget allocation in the next four years to advance planning for a rail line to Rowville?

2. Do you or your party support the construction of a rail line to Doncaster and will you support a budget allocation in the next four years to advance planning for a rail line to Doncaster?

3. How will your party's plans for increased inner city rail capacity allow Rowville

and Doncaster Rail to be built and when?

4. Do you, or your political party support increased funding for buses to allow more kilometres and a greater span of hours than currently exist?

5. Will you, or your political party support the renewal and improvement in public transport interchanges such as Box Hill and Huntingdale in the next four years?

“The Eastern Suburbs Transport Poll, which the ETC conducted in February found that 64 per cent of residents rated improving and expanding public transport as a top or very high priority,” Cr Lockwood said.

“We have also been hearing about the needs of commuters through our Better Buses Survey and Commuters Count video challenge and are keen to hear more before the competition closes on September 24.”

Cr Lockwood said the parties needed to answer these five critical questions regarding the future planning for public transport in the east to give voters a clear idea of what they stand for prior to the November State Election.

samantha in the press

Celebrity chef Shannon Bennett won’t back down from the Burnham Beeches plan he’s served up
Free Press Leader
by Therese Allaoui
12 Sep 2014         

Input on café still off the table
Free Press Leader
by Therese Allaoui
10 Sep 2014

celebrating birdsland

Birdsland then and now, a fascinating local history event.

 

Belgrave’s Birdsland Reserve and surrounds are prized by local walkers and nature lovers. Almost everyone has their own Birdsland story.  

The area serves as wildlife corridor, flood retarding basin, wetland, indigenous plant nursery and environment education centre, as well as providing a large network of walking and cycling trails.

Yet Birdsland’s calmness belies a dramatic and, at times tragic, history of pioneers and politics.

In this local history event hear a panel of speakers with first-hand connections relate the historic milestones of this much loved land, and share your own knowledge with others.

Speakers include:

Marion Preston, of Nixon Rd speaking on the early pioneers tragedies & hardships focusing on Dargon, Nixon and Brandt.
Betty Marsden, on the Shire's purchase of the property
Kelly O'Brien, on the present varied uses and significance of the reserve

Where: Belgrave Library, Reynolds Lane, Belgrave

When:  Thursday 9 Oct at 1:30pm
Cost: Free, but bookings required 9754 7266 or online

 

samantha in the media

Roundabout - chatting about all things environment
3MDR
hosted by Graham 'Bealy' Beal
4 Sep 2014

Awesome way to save platypus
Mail Newspapers
by Caitlin McArthur
9 Sep 2014

the campaign trail - 8 sep

I'm running in the upcoming state election in the upper house seat of Eastern Metropolitan. It's been another busy week on the campaign trail. This week includes updates on:

- Threatened Species Day - a visit to Toolangi with Greens Leader, Senator Christine Milne, and Victorian Senator Janet Rice
- Greens call for inquiry into Crown license extension
- Greens support Knox Council's call for action on Rowville Rail
- Greens will phase out gambling, alcohol and junk food advertising on public transport and billboards
- I sign the TAFE4ALL pledge
- Old parties block misconduct reform
- Filling the missing tram links  
- Greens say school autonomy going too far - schools need more support
- Be part of the phonebank action in Maroondah Knox
- Campaigning at the Warrandyte Market
- Manningham Greens campaign at the DART 

You can keep up to date with campaign news on:

facebook - Samantha Dunn EasternMetropolitan

  or
twitter - @greens4eastmet 

to volunteer or donate

web - Samantha Dunn, Candidate for Eastern Metropolitan

sherbrooke plants more seeds

A program educating young children about sustainable living as been named a finalist in the Premier’s Sustainability Awards

Seedlings: Sustainability in the Early Years has been developed and piloted by five Councils, including the Yarra Ranges.

Preschool Development Officer Claire Rock said the program integrated sustainability into everyday activities that children and their families were engaged with.

“It helps them see sustainability as a way of life,” she said.

The Seedlings framework helps educators meet the national learning frameworks that govern early years.

It has involved 60 services including maternal and child health centres, playgroups, Family Day Care, long day care, preschools and integrated services across Yarra Ranges, Knox City Council, City of Port Philip, City of Melbourne and Alpine Shire Government.

Earlier days at Sherbrooke Children's Centre, I've
long been a strong supporter of children and
children's services, such great news that SCC
has made the finalists list.

Sherbrooke Family and Children’s Centre was one of Yarra Ranges 12 services who participated in the Seedlings Pilot.  Through the program Sherbrooke implemented a range of sustainable practices such as a permaculture make over with 70 fruit trees planted in the children’s playspace, implementation of a compostable nappy system and introduction of a worm farm and clothing swap initiatives.

Yarra Ranges councillor Samantha Dunn said the program aimed to broaden participant understanding that sustainability was more than just the “green stuff”. 

“It’s a wholistic approach focusing on all aspects of sustainability including social, environmental, political, economic and cultural,” Cr Dunn said.

“It helps children develop skills for the future including systems thinking, resilience, problem solving, critical thinking, risk assessment, participation, advocacy and leadership.

“We are proud this innovative program has been nominated.”

The winners of the Premier’s Sustainability Awards will be named on Thursday 2 October.

The full list of nominees is available online here.

what's your big idea

The Belgrave Traders are running a survey called What's your big idea? They are really keen to hear from the community about what you'd like to see for Belgrave no matter how big or how small.

This is your opportunity to share your great ideas for your community.

Tell  the traders your Big Ideas for what Belgrave needs to look like, be like and feel like in the future and the best actions to make it a reality.

Your Big Ideas are about creating an exciting vision for the future.

You can find What's your big idea? postcards at various venues in Belgrave, alternatively you can fill in this online survey.

samantha in the press

Yarra Ranges Council needs $3m to get services into building “fit for purpose”
Free Press Leader
by Therese Allaoui
3 Sep 2014

Council calls the shots
Mail Newspapers
by Marc McGowan
2 Sep 2014

 

Lifeline for hub

Mail Newspapers

by Jesse Graham

2 Sep 2014



 

the campaign trail - 1 sep

I'm running in the upcoming state election in the upper house seat of Eastern Metropolitan. It's been another busy week on the campaign trail. This week includes updates on:

 

• Time for a corruption regulator with some teeth?
• Jumps Racing petition
• Tree Planting with Steve Raymond, Candidate for Ferntree Gully
• Manningham Greens launch Warrandyte and Bulleen campaigns
• Restoring Victoria's Renewable Energy Target
• Forest Hill Candidates under spotlight at Transport Forum - news here
• The Maroondah Knox Green team meets, including candidates for Croydon, FTG, Ringwood, Bayswater and Eastern Met support.

 

You can keep up to date with campaign news on:

 facebook - Samantha Dunn EasternMetropolitanortwitter - @greens4eastmet 

to volunteer or donate

web - Samantha Dunn, Candidate for Eastern Metropolitan

better buses - what would you like to see?

For the majority of residents in the eastern suburbs buses are the only form of public transport.
With limited access to fixed rail services, buses provide a critical connection for people and allow access to the places they want to go for work, school or entertainment.

Unfortunately the bus network has not received the funding needed to allow the increased services needed by people in the east.

Even the Auditor General has noted that the network suffers from a lack of co-ordination, poor span of hours, poor reliability and insufficient days of operation.

With a State election set for November this year, the ETC is concerned that neither the Napthine Government or the Opposition have a plan to improve bus services.

That’s why we are campaigning for Better Buses and we need your help.

Fill in this short Better Buses survey and tell us about the improvements you would like to see.