a new era coming

Yesterday marked the end of one chapter and the start of another.

Regular readers will know that I've been running in the Victorian State Election and I'm delighted to announce that I was declared successfully elected as a Member of the Legislative Council for Eastern Metropolitan on Tuesday afternoon.

I'm elated to be the first Greens to be elected to Eastern Metropolitan Region, as I was when I was the first Greens councillor elected in Yarra Ranges. But there is a small tinge of sadness too as I move on from representing the wonderful community that makes up the Lyster Ward and further afield those communities across the 55 townships in Yarra Ranges.

This community has put their faith in me by electing me for three terms in local government, the most recent in 2012 with a primary vote of 58.93%, making me the longest serving woman councillor in Yarra Ranges.

I thank the community for that and I look forward to continuing to participate in the myriad of community activities in the Dandenong Ranges and beyond.

 

My earliest councillor pic on my blog,
World Environment Day 2006,
people turned out in their thousands to say no to
the logging of old growth forests,
I was there as the Lyster Ward councillor. 

I first decided to run for council in 2005 as part of a community campaign to save Long Day Care at Sherbrooke Children's Centre in Upwey, I never expected to get elected , but have enjoyed the experience immensely. In a full circle moment, it is a curious coincidence that my last meeting as the Lyster Ward Councillor was in the newly developed Sherbrooke Family and Children's Centre on Monday night.

My time in local government has seen me take on the roles of Chairperson of the Eastern Transport Coalition from 2009 to 2014, Board member of the Victorian Local Governance Association from 2009 to 2014, including two terms as President and Board member and Chairperson of the Eastern Regional Libraries Corporation.  It's been a great experience and I've loved being an advocate across these sectors.

This is my last blog entry on "Cr Samantha Dunn, the official blog of Greens Councillor Samantha Dunn, Shire of Yarra Ranges".

I thank everybody who's helped me along the way, there's been much laughter, some great community outcomes and I've made friendships that will endure through time.

 

My most recent councillor pic on my blog,
October 2014 - the launch of the Enough Pokies campaign,a Municipal Association of Victoria and Salvation Army
campaign to better protect vulnerable communities from
inappropriate placement of pokies machines,
I was there representing Yarra Ranges Council.

I assure you I will continue to be passionate about the Dandenong Ranges and protecting what's special about this unique part of Melbourne, but it's also time to look forward and be a strong voice for Eastern Metropolitan.

My victory is for all those people who want to see action on climate change and the environment and improvements to our public transport system.

Yesterday's result reaffirms the need for a rail line to Doncaster, improvements to the rail and tram network and better bus services. People want to see a transition to renewables, a reduction in emissions and the establishment of a Great Forest National Park.

As I look forward I will always remember, very fondly, my time as the Lyster Ward councillor.

Cheers

the campaign trail - 3 nov

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:

- Don't miss the Eastern Metro Campaign Launch, book now - Friday 7 Nov

- The Eastern Metro team meets with EDVOS - read more about the Greens plan to end family violence

- Doncaster and Rowville Rail lack of progress continues to make the news, Greens support the development of a business case and detailed engineering study for Doncaster
    = Study finds Doncaster Rail off track for 15 years - The Age
    = Knox residents too conservative for their own good when it comes to Rowville Rail extension - Knox Leader
    = Doncaster Rail link in 2031, according to study - Manningham Leader

- Greens candidates across Eastern Metro pledge to Put Education 1st, check the gallery

- Greens candidate signs going up across Eastern Metro, can you help? If so PM me.
- Events across Eastern Metro to help the Greens - check out your local event here
- Greens support the Great Forest National Park
- Rally for Public Transport coming up, Melbourne 15 Nov 1pm, State Library
- Greens Candidates across Victoria preselected
- Greens want to Close the Gap in Mental Health

- Greens want to abolish Puppy Farms

- Manningham Greens Day of Action, volunteers hit Bulleen and Warrandyte with Ben Cronly, Richard Cranston and Greg Barber.
- Greens want to End Duck Shooting

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 - 27 oct

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:

- Don't miss the Eastern Metro Campaign Launch, book now - Friday 7 Nov
- introducing Greens candidate Bill Pemberton
- Greens #wewontstandforit, taking to the trams, just how long before a seat is free on a tram

- Greens candidates across Maroondah Knox - Brendan Powell - Ringwood, Steve Raymond - Ferntree Gully, Jill Wild - Croydon, James Tennant - Bayswater (and Molly, one of our Eastern Met canine team)

- Introducing Perky Raj Khangure, Greens Candidate for Mount Waverley
- Women's Health East AGM - Greens Women's Policy
- Greens support the call for Doncaster Rail
- Greens want improved bus services in the East
- Greens say No Sale for Healesville Freeway Reserve
- Hear acclaimed wildlife artist Stephen Powell - Thursday 30 Oct

- Green machine hits Eastern Metro
- Doorknocking across Eastern Metro, be part of the success story, find your local event 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 - 20 oct

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:

- Doncaster Rail petition presented to state parliament

Greens Leader, Greg Barber MLC joined with
the We Support Doncaster Rail group and Greens
candidates Samantha Dunn - Eastern Metro,
Richard Cranston - Warrandyte and Ben Cronly - Bulleen.

- Greens commit to business case and detailed engineering for Doncaster Rail  
- Greens candidates Liezl Shnookal - Eltham, Ben Cronly - Bulleen and Richard Cranston - Warrandyte take the TAFE4all pledge
- Public Transport Rally, Greens support the call for Doncaster Rail
- Daniel Andrews refuses the Greens invitation to catch the bus from the Doncaster Park and Ride to the city
- Huge turn out in for the Greens Statewide Day of Action

- Greens support the Reclaim the Night march

- Doorknocking across Eastern Metro, be part of the success story, find your local event here

- Greens head to the Whitehorse Spring Festival
- Greens take the pledge to put Education 1st

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

Ride in our shoes, Andrews
Greens push to make rail a priority
Manningham Leader
by Shannon Nagyivan
6 Oct 2014

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

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.

build it now, we've waited long enough

Public transport priorities will be a major factor influencing votes at the upcoming State Election according to new research results released by the Eastern Transport Coalition as part of its Commuters Count election campaign.

Conducted by Essential Research, the Eastern Suburbs Transport Poll of more than 1000 residents in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, found that 64 per cent of residents rated improving and expanding public transport as a top or very high priority, and the majority of respondents surveyed said they were more likely to vote for a party that committed to building key rail projects.

Significantly, the research also found that three out of four people believe that the delivery of rail projects needs to be accelerated and delivered sooner than the 2025-50 schedule the State Government has currently set for Melbourne Metro, Doncaster Rail and Rowville Rail.

We've been waiting long enough for public transport projects in the east, residents aren't prepared to wait another couple of generations.

The survey revealed that people believe the current timing for major rail infrastructure projects is unacceptable, with 75 per cent saying Melbourne Metro, Doncaster and Rowville Rail should be built sooner.

How many more studies can we be subjected to, time to get on with the building, not the stalling.

Residents in Melbourne’s east have had enough of public transport plans and studies that don’t produce results because they are unfunded or pushed so far into the future that they are continually relegated to the bottom of the list.

Don't forget you can tell the ETC what you think on the Commuters Count facebook page or tweet us using #commuterscount.

 

Some selected highlights of the poll include:

• 64% think improving and expanding public transport is the top priority or very important ranking with education and above water, new roads and the environment
• Three-quarters of respondents believed that the rail projects should be built sooner - only 10% thought the timing was acceptable and a further 7% thought they did not need to be built at all.
• 69% agree that if all the projects are not built there will be serious impacts on traffic and quality of life in Melbourne while only 17% think that the transport system will cope until the Government can afford to build them.
• 55% believe it is similarly important for the State Government to invest in major road and rail projects. 
• 28% think the rail projects are more important and 14% think the East-West link is more important.
• There was strong support for Government investment in infrastructure. Only 18% think that it is more important for the Government to reduce their spending to return the budget to surplus.

public transport commitment needed in budget

Public transport commitment needed in Budget

 
The priority and funding allocated to public transport projects in the next state Budget will be the true indicator of the State Government’s commitment in this area, Eastern Transport Coalition chairperson, Cr Samantha Dunn said today.

Cr Dunn said there was a backlog of public transport projects across the eastern region, identified through studies, plans and audits over decades.

She said the ETC supported the Victorian Government’s plan for expanding and improving the rail network but wanted it delivered quicker.

“The million residents of the eastern suburbs can’t wait until 2028 for the generational improvements needed for rail. By that time it will be a generation since they were promised and that’s too long,” Cr Dunn said.

“The current debate about road versus rail ignores the real need of commuters and businesses alike – we need better transport infrastructure, not choices between modes.

“Residents in Melbourne’s east have had enough of public transport plans and studies that don’t produce results because they are unfunded or pushed so far into the future that they are continually relegated the bottom of the list by other plans and projects.”

As the next State Budget is prepared, the ETC has asked the government to include in its short term priorities: funding the Melbourne Metro project, funding for stage two of the Doncaster Rail Feasibility Study, an upgrade of bus services, an increased program of grade separations, a move towards high capacity signalling along the rail network and improved cycling opportunities.

The key medium-term public transport priority for the region is improved rail services, specifically building the Doncaster and Rowville Rail lines.

Cr Dunn said the government had identified the Monash and Dandenong South National Employment Clusters as critical drivers of economic growth in the eastern region.

However this potential will only be realised with the delivery of key transport projects, namely the Melbourne Metro and subsequent Rowville and Dandenong rail projects.

"Political parties on both sides have agreed that Melbourne Metro is critical to the delivery of future development around Melbourne. Now is the time to put those words into action and provide funding to start this project in the short term,’’ Cr Dunn said.

  Cr Dunn said the ETC acknowledged that the rail projects would take time to complete and for that reason, bus services in the region must be improved and expanded in the short term.

“Melbourne’s bus services have been the subject of numerous review and recommendations, including a Metropolitan Bus Service Review, completed in 2010. Unfortunately, less than 10 per cent of the recommendations from that review have been funded and realised,” she said.

“Funding needs to be provided to ensure that there are enough buses to meet demand and that travel times are improved to make it a viable option to car travel.”

Cr Dunn encouraged commuters to share their views and hopes for the coming State Budget via the ETC’s Commuters Count Facebook page or the hash tag #commuterscount on Twitter.

“As the State election draws closer, the ETC will be campaigning for better outcomes across all modes of public transport and for all commuters in the outer east,’’ Cr Dunn said.

“Now is the time for residents in Melbourne’s east to speak up and tell the government that they deserve more than they have been given in the past 40 years.”

alp transport plan doesn’t go far enough

 

                                            Tuesday, 19 November 2013

The Eastern Transport Coalition has welcomed the State ALP’s pledge to significantly invest in public transport as outlined in its Project 10,000 document, but disappointed that the plan gives no actual commitment to build Doncaster or Rowville Rail.

ETC chairperson, Cr Samantha Dunn said Melbourne commuters were now faced with two imperfect and incomplete transport plans, despite years of studies and plans, including State 1 of the Rowville Rail Study and Doncaster Rail study completed only this year.

“While the Napthine Government has a clear policy with commitments and timeframes around Metro, Rowville and Doncaster, they don’t intend to deliver these projects until sometime in 2025-2050,’’ Cr Dunn said.

“The ALP says it will speed up the delivery of Melbourne Metro because it will allow for more network expansions, but will only commit ‘in principle’ to Rowville and Doncaster, stating that they will review the priority of these projects.

“Doncaster and Rowville risk being the most well considered and unbuilt rail lines in the city’s history.”

Cr Dunn said the ETC applauded the commitment to urgently remove more level crossings in the outer east and was pleased that this action now had largely bi-partisan support.

“What is concerning is the silence on bus services, which have similarly been the subject of numerous review and recommendations and still not enough action over the decades,’’ she said.

“For many residents in Melbourne east buses are the only public transport available within a reasonable distance of their homes, yet they are forced to deal with overcrowded buses and excessively long journey times, with no commitment for improvement in sight.”

“Both sides of politics need to do better and the ETC will be campaigning for better outcomes across all modes of public transport and for all commuters in the outer east over the next year.”

Cr Dunn encouraged commuters to share their thoughts about the plan via the ETC’s Commuters Count Facebook page or the hash tag #commuterscount on Twitter.

“If residents in Melbourne’s east want to receive more than they have in the past 40 years, now is the time to make your opinions known.’’

 

samantha in the press

Councils get together to fight for more public transport in Melbourne's eastern suburbs
ABC News
20 Aug 2013

Eastern Transport Coalition wants commuters to share woes on social media
Leader News
by Emily Webb
14 Aug 2013

Make a point of it
Leader News
by Emily Webb
13 Aug 2013

Open doors for fitness
Mail Newspapers
13 Aug 2013

 
 



samantha in the media

Feeding ban voted down, ruffling a few feathers
by David Schout
Yarra Ranges Weekly
4 Jun 2013

Yarra Shire's memo to Abbott
Yarra Ranges Weekly
4 Jun 2013

3MDR Judy Ann and Company
Interview with Judy-Ann

Panel to referee fast food slow burn
by Emily Webb
Leader Newspaper
3 Jun 2013

Planning future under scrutiny
by Kath Gannaway
Mail Newpapers
4 Jun 2013

Hills controversy spills over
Mail Newspaper
4 Jun 2013

No cocky ban
by Emma Sun
Mail Newspaper
4 Jun 2013

Feathers fly as bid fails to fine cockatoo feeders
by Emily Webb
Leader Newspapers
3 Jun 2013

Panel to chew over fast food proposal
by Emily Webb
Free Press Leader
5 Jun 2013

Waging war on weeds
Free Press Leader
5 Jun 2013

Free to feed cockies
by Emily Webb
Free Press Leader
5 Jun 2013