The campaigning is over, the election was held, and Wyndham residents held their breath as a recount was ordered. And finally, the Wyndham council elections are done and dusted. Of the 11, there are five new faces, two former councillors back after a hiatus, and four incumbents. Charlene Macaulay and Adem Saban meet your new Wyndham council.
CHAFFEY WARD
Henry Barlow
Age: 61
Suburb: Wyndham Vale
Newly elected; former two-time mayor who served on council from 1997-2008
Why did you put your hand up for the job?
I felt that, the next four years, we would be facing some of the biggest challenges in our history. I wanted to be part of the solutions.
What do you think you bring to the role?
Political expertise in dealing with state and federal governments, and successful advocacy skills.
What do you consider to be the top three issues in Wyndham?
• Find additional funds to duplicate important arterial roads to allow freer flow of traffic.
• Additional sporting facilities and improving existing ones.
• Gain additional funds from state and federal governments.
John Gibbons
Age: 68
Suburb: Hoppers Crossing
Incumbent councillor, seventh term (1979-94; 2012-onwards)
Why did you run for another term?
My job here is not finished. We’ve got a lot more to do.
What do you hope to achieve this term?
Keep ploughing away on the Werribee central business district – we have a bit of work to do there. We achieved a lot in the last term, such as Eagle Stadium and AquaPulse, but we need more money.
What do you consider to be the top three issues in Wyndham?
Growth, roads and infrastructure.
Josh Gilligan
Age: 23
Suburb: Tarneit
Newly elected
Why did you put your hand up for the job?
I came from a background of disadvantage, and I believe the greatest way to make the greatest amount of impact is to enter public life, because that is where you get the ability to make a difference.
What do you think you bring to the role?
I have a double degree in politics and public policy, and management. As someone who has a fresh, new, energetic perspective, I think I’m also going to be in line with community needs on the basis of Census data. If you look at the fastest growing age demographic, it’s certainly younger.
What are the top three issues in Wyndham?
Infrastructure is clearly an issue … the $860 million infrastructure gap that currently exists. For me, it’s the duplication of Sayers and Leakes roads. In addition to that, I think we’ve got some broader social issues – how we reduce disadvantage in the community, and looking at whether or not we have too many poker machines here. Developers paying their fair share for infrastructure needs.
Walter Villagonzalo
Age: 63
Suburb: Hoppers Crossing
Newly elected
Why did you put your hand up for the job?
I want to encourage and support local and small businesses, as well as social enterprises to create local jobs. I want to see business incubators and accelerators … I want to encourage innovation and contribute to making Wyndham smarter and greener. These have been my focus for many years … I am positive about Wyndham – its economy and community. I believe I can achieve more for Wyndham by being a councillor.
What do you think you can bring to the role?
I am an active citizen, an experienced systems analyst, an out-of-the-box thinker, a former honorary trade consul, a social entrepreneur, a networker and collaborator. I am more a reformer than an activist.
I am persistent and keen to learn from others.
What are the top three issues in Wyndham?
• Lack of local jobs
• Infrastructure not keeping up with growth
• Lots of under-utilised resources and missed opportunities.
HARRISON WARD
Aaron An
Age: 34
Suburb: Williams Landing
Newly elected
Why did you put your hand up for the job?
In the past several years, I saw a lot of community issues in this fast growing municipality. After speaking to many of our local residents and attending many council and community events, I myself had the experience that there was a lack of true local voice from Harrison ward.
I felt the next four years is just critical for this fast growing region.
What do you think you can bring to the role?
As a community-minded person … I will bring true local community voice to the council – I will bring integrity and honesty. I will help the council to make important decisions based on facts, not bias.
My professional knowledge in modern technology, rich experience in different levels of governments and commercial industries, will help to make great contributions to the community.
More importantly, I believe I can bring strategic vision.
What do you consider to be the top three issues in Wyndham?
The challenges in each ward are also quite different. Issues like safety, local quality education, local jobs and economic development, public services and facilities to meet growing community’s needs, transport and car parking around train stations, and more.
Intaj Khan
Age: 43
Suburb: Truganina
Incumbent councillor, second term (2012 onwards)
Why did you run for another term?
I personally believe that there’s heavy migration in the community, and a lot of business migration. With my skills in business, I’d love to change Werribee into a progressive business council.
In the previous council [term], there weren’t many councillors with business experience, and I believe the business community needs to be more progressive in Wyndham. Jobs need to be created, and the only way we can tackle that is by creating tourism, such as a theme park, more schools and better roads.
What do you hope to achieve this council term?
Start-up grants for the business community, and growth in the small business sector.
What do you consider to be the top three issues in Wyndham?
The roads are shocking, unemployment, and schools are not up to scratch.
There’s not enough schools to keep up with the population.
Kim McAliney
Age: 51
Suburb: Hoppers Crossing
Newly elected; former two-time mayor who served on council between 2005 and 2012
Why did you put your hand up for the job?
I’m extremely passionate about Wyndham. While I haven’t been on council for the past four years, I’ve continued to serve the Wyndham community.
What do you think you bring to the role?
I think the past four years’ experience as a board director [has given me experience with] governance and transparency, risk and audit, finance and budget perspectives.
A fresh perspective and ideas – that’s not criticising the past, it’s about being innovative.
What do you consider to be the top three issues in Wyndham?
Obviously growth.
Security – I think we need more police, not a new police station, police numbers.
We’ve got to look at ways to get more for our dollar.
We’ve got to look at ways to be more efficient, and at ways to extend the dollar.
Tony Hooper
Age: 41
Suburb: Point Cook
Newly elected
Why did you put your hand up for the job?
I was worried about the direction the previous council was heading in. Over the last four years, I feel it had lost its way. That’s not to say some good work wasn’t being done.
I saw running for council as an opportunity to set a legacy for our kids and really do something good to remember us by.
What do you hope to achieve this term?
I don’t think anyone’s more connected to Point Cook than I am. I’m concerned about the economic development of the area. Having a young family, with kids going to the local schools, I have the same concerns as many residents.
The people of Truganina feel they are forgotten and that’s something I want to change.
What do you consider to be the top three issues in Wyndham?
Can I have four?
Local jobs, lack of schools, lack of government investment, and a lack of police.
IRAMOO WARD
Mia Shaw
Age: 43
Suburb: Werribee
Newly elected
Why did you put your hand up for the job?
In late 2015, I participated in a community consultation on rate-capping. I appreciated the opportunity to participate, but the experience left me underwhelmed.
I didn’t believe council were asking the right questions of residents, and it felt like a tick-a-box exercise.
I knew that if I really wanted to make a difference and genuinely bring the voice of the community to the table, it was time for a change on council – so I put my hand up for the job.
What do you think you can bring to the role?
I am a lifelong local resident who has seen and experienced the immense change that has taken place over the years.
I’m a passionate advocate and I plan to bring that passion and experience to council.
What do you consider to be the top three issues in Wyndham?
Challenges like infrastructure, parking, traffic and transport are key issues for this community.
I will also be taking a lead to ensure we have more regular and genuine community consultation and engagement.
Peter Maynard
Age: 60
Suburb: Werribee
Incumbent councillor, second term (2012-onwards)
Why did you run for another term?
Because I love doing things in the community, doing stuff for residents.
This job gives you the chance to do that. There’s nothing better than seeing the face of somebody when you’ve helped them.
What do you hope to achieve this council term?
Continue to build on the work we did last term … continue to put residents first and foremost.
What do you consider to be the top three issues in Wyndham?
Growth, infrastructure, and securing adequate funding from state and federal governments for that infrastructure.
Heather Marcus
Incumbent
Refused to take part in this Star Weekly feature.
