By Alesha Capone
A candidate standing in the Wyndham council election says he hopes to help make the municipality the healthiest in the state, or even the nation.
Voters will receive a ballot pack from the Victorian Electoral Commission early this month, with voting to close on October 23.
One of the 86 candidates standing in Wyndham, Dr Firas Hasan – a chiropractor of 11 years – has nominated in the Chaffey ward.
Dr Hasan said that despite Medicare, a lot of health services remain out of reach for many residents.
He said that if elected, his plan was to set up a council website to connect residents with health professionals, and also connect patients with an affordable lending source, to help them pay for treatments.
Dr Hasan said that he would also invest funds in outdoor exercise equipment, additional walking tracks and exercise spaces.
Another Chaffey ward candidate, Preet Singh, has announced he will not be providing preferences to other candidates in the election race.
Although Mr Singh is a Liberal Party member, he said that he wanted voters “to choose the other candidates they feel will best serve our community.”
“I actually find it distasteful the way in which some candidates are ‘horse trading’ mythical blocks of votes they claim to have control over,“ Mr Singh said.
“To be honest it’s rank to think some of the candidates view sections of our community as just being a pathway to becoming a councillor.”
Harrison ward candidate Tully Smith said he has launched a campaign to “save” the Elements estate school site in Truganina, after the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal gave the developer permission to build 227 residences there.
“If elected, I will work with the state government and the developers to save this site,” Mr Smith said.
Mr Smith said his other plans included calling for a Point Cook aquatic centre on vacant land opposite Phoenix Hotel and to advocate for full funding for the Truganina Community Centre.
Sahana Ramesh, who is also standing in Harrison ward, is running on a platform of improved local transportation; better options for outdoor activities; more support for local businesses; and carbon neutral and green spaces.
Ms Ramesh said she was also paying for her election campaign out of her own pocket, and was not accepting any donations, to keep her political position “transparent, clean and simple”.
“With October being Mental Health Awareness Month, an issue that is important to me, I have decided to use my donation rights (as a candidate) to raise money for the Werribee Hospital instead,” she said.
Ms Ramesh has encouraged supporters to make a donation to the Werribee Hospital Foundation via: www.mycause.com.au/page/237272/werribee-hospital-foundation.
