Cade Lucas
Faultlines have emerged on the new Hobsons Bay council, just four months into its four year term.
Votes on all three notices of motion presented at Tuesday night’s meeting were split 3-3, with the same three councillors voting for and against each time.
With mayor Daria Kellander abstaining, the deadlock meant each motion was lost, the first sign of any division since last October’s election, where five of Hobsons Bay’s seven councillors were elected for the first time.
Motions on council’s response to Infrastructure Victoria’s recent 30 year transport plan and the completion of the Kororoit Creek Shared Trail, were moved by deputy mayor, Rayane Hawli, while a motion on the state government’s recently announced housing targets for Hobsons Bay, was moved by councillor Paddy Keys-Macpherson.
Councillor Diana Grima joined councillors Hawli and Keys-Machpherson in supporting each motion, while councillors Michael Disbury, Kristen Bishop and Lisa Bently all voted against.
In each case, the three in support wanted council to take a proactive approach to the issue contained in the motion, while the three against argued the issue was beyond council’s remit or the proposed action was unnecessary.
While both councillors Hawli and Keys-Macpherson are Labor aligned, neither of the other councillor’s share any party affiliation.
In moving her motion on transport infrastructure, Cr Hawli said council should use Infrastructure Victoria’s recent recommendation that a new station be built at Altona North, as an opportunity lobby the state government.
“We should seize on that report,” she said, arguing council be more forceful in demanding transport infrastructure for the inner-west.
“We will not be mere bystanders to major changes making place.”
Speaking against, Cr Disbury said while he supported a new station at Altona North, it was a state government issue and that the the controversial Newport level crossing removal project had left him with no faith in the current government.
On the completion of the Kororoit Creek Trail, Cr Hawli moved that if possible, the trail should be completed earlier than the current three year timeline, while Cr Bishop argued it shouldn’t be prioritised over other projects.
On state government housing targets, Cr Keys -Macpherson moved that council commission a report to find out where the proposed 22,000 homes in Hobsons Bay will go, while Cr Bishop said feedback on the state government’s plan closed before council’s next meeting.
