More parks and tackling a “shameful” attitude towards littering will be key issues at elections, a Brimbank council candidate says.
Five potential candidates turned up for a councillor information session at Taylors Lakes on Thursday, with Liberal Party supporter Bryan Punchard telling Star Weekly he’d be throwing his hat in the ring.
Mr Punchard, a workplace trainer-cum-businessman, who moved to Sydenham from Mornington about four years ago to be closer to family, said it had been a “culture shock” moving to Brimbank.
“I’m interested in seeing some things [getting] done … the things that aren’t getting done anymore,” he said. “My father was the son of a Yorkshire coal miner; he was a fitter. I should be a Labor supporter but I’m not.”
With the area’s lack of green spaces, Mr Punchard said he supports the council’s plan to plant 700,000 trees over the next 30 years.
“I started noticing, every time I go to McDonald’s, the place is full of young mums and kids, and that’s a disgrace to me, an absolute, utter disgrace,” he said.
“If we could get a few more trees and green areas. Look at the parks, there’s a couple of benches out in the full sun – where is a young mum going to take their kids for a play?
“It’s a crime that McDonald’s has to pick up local government’s slack. It’s one of my pet peeves, one of the key things I’ll be raising.”
He also said rubbish was a huge issue that needed further action.
“I don’t know if it’s the shift from Mornington to a heavily built-up area like Brimbank, but I notice around here [rubbish] is somewhat shameful,” he said.
“The other day, walking home, there was a bag of dirty nappies on the side of the road.”
Other nominees
Keilor Downs businesswoman Aine Anderson; Brimbank community advocate and Crown Casino worker Medde Bandar; and business analyst Jenny Isa, of St Albans Community Resource Action Group, were also at last week’s session.
Labor Party member and Ardeer mental health worker Simon Vallone recently announced his intention to run for the new council. Elections will be held in October.
