Parramatta Council election: Meet the candidates
The newly-amalgamated council of Parramatta goes to the polls for the first time on Saturday. Here’s a full list of candidates and their pitch for your vote.
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VOTERS will go to the polls on Saturday, September 9 to elect a new Parramatta Council.
After more than a year under the control of the state-appointed administrator, voters will get to have their say and shape the look of the new council.
There are 73 candidates vying for 15 seats.
The Advertiser asked candidates to submit statements on why residents and ratepayers should vote for them. Their answers appear below.
A full list of candidates in each ward follows.
AUSTRALIA FIRST
The Australia First team in Dundas ward is committed to housing for Australians not super-development for overseas students and investors. We believe that Australian heritage and identity are challenged by plans to make Parramatta part of a “global growth corridor”. The massive highrise and the CBD changes, the freeway tolls and electricity price hikes for ordinary folk are part of creating this privileged enclave.
Our team is pledged to a clean politics that serves residents only, improves housing affordability and living standards.
CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATS
Craig Hall
I have lived in the Parramatta area for 25 years, have an economics degree and worked on the city council in a senior finance role so I understand council finance.
I was a foundation member of the parking fines appeal committee in Parramatta (six years) and will protect your right to appeal fines – a fair go.
I will also advocate for:
● Safe parks – renovate local parks to be safe for kids and families
● ‘Parramatta Rocks’ — my concept protecting North Parramatta heritage precinct. No highrise.
● Preserve “Place of Worship” zoning allowing churches to be built
● Cycleways from Hills to Parramatta
● Reduced rates for small business
● Better parking for Carlingford.
THE GREENS
The Parramatta Greens believe this council election presents a great opportunity to reject politically conservative candidates and former Liberals running as so-called Independents.
The Greens will work with local communities against excessive development, for environmental sustainability, and protection of green spaces and heritage.
The Greens do not accept donations from corporations. We believe in fully accountable, ethical governance. The Greens will strongly promote Parramatta as an iconic centre of heritage, arts, multicultural significance and clean solar energy usage. If elected, we will also act to make rents and housing more affordable.
The Greens support community need not corporate greed.
INDEPENDENT
Sreeni Pillamarri
It’s important for Parramatta ward to have an independent councillor so that there’s less, or no, party politics and more focus on community issues, like improving facilities for residents and rate payers, building infrastructure that protects heritage and also serves the younger generation in the years to come.
Financial sustainability is another vital step for prospective councillors, so that the residents understand the work of council to maintain parks, recreation, parking facilities and more.
Parramatta ward definitely needs someone with a fresh approach and I believe I have all the qualities to serve the people here, as I am a proud Paramatta local for over a decade, and always took a keen interest in community issues.
I am glad residents are getting in touch with me to know my views on the local community. I am ready to be a hands-on councillor and represent the community.
LABOR
This election is on because the Liberals merged councils. It’s time to send a clear message that Parramatta and surrounding areas deserve a council that will put people and the community first – not political games.
In year one, Labor will invest more in essential services such as libraries, roads, parks, playgrounds and affordable council-run childcare. We will tackle congestion and improve parking.
We will stand strong against overdevelopment. This means fighting the State Liberals’ plans to knock down heritage icons and swamp existing residents with thousands more apartments – including 3000 in North Parramatta alone.
Labor believes in fully consulting the community on any development. Developers who profit heavily from growth must contribute more.
Only Labor will ensure that essential public services and infrastructure are built – not cut or privatised.
Today, the federal Liberals are in chaos. The state Liberals have shut Parramatta pool; privatised electricity (sending bills soaring); and imposed a $4.50 M4 toll. Now they want to shut the Carlingford rail line.
LIBERALS
As Parramatta experiences increased momentum and extraordinary change, you need a council with proven experience and capability.
Only the Liberal team brings candidates from three councils and over three decades of combined council experience. The Liberals have put together a strong and diverse team which also brings new finance and legal skills that will ensure our communities benefit.
Only the united Liberal team will be able to bring business acumen and good transparent governance that will help to cut red tape, support the growth of local small businesses and importantly provide for local families.
The Liberals believe in, and will fight for a safe, clean, smart, and inclusive Parramatta.
The Liberal team will have a more balanced focus that shifts towards the suburbs as well as the CBD.
They will ensure planning and infrastructure delivery is sensible to secure our future, whilst protecting heritage and public space.
Local Independent Party
The Local Independent Party is based in the Parramatta-Merrylands region. Its members are a grassroots party disenchanted by the large institutionalised parties.
For too long, our elected politicians’ voices are drowned out by vested interests and lobbyists. Political correctness has disenfranchised those seeking an open and fair debate. The Local Independent Party is a strong voice, focusing on local issues involving appropriate unit development, well kept parks and playgrounds, CCTV, keeping council assets, and enhancing parking facilities in the CBD.
Vote 1 Dr Alan Sexton (Parramatta ward), Lee Malkoun (Dundas), John Hugh (Rosehill), Ronghui (Donna) Wang (Epping).
Our Local Community
Our Local Community (OLC) is running candidates in the city of Parramatta: Wayne Butcher (Parramatta ward), a local resident and former small business owner; Andrew Wilson (Rosehill ward), local resident and former councillor; and Michelle Garrard (Dundas ward), a local resident.
OLC has a strong independent team to represent the community in Parramatta. We will have a strong community focus with genuine consultation being a priority, we will introduce quarterly forums for residents to provide input.
We do not support party politics or inappropriate residential development.
A vote for OLC makes the community the boss and not the major political parties.
PARRAMATTA COUNCIL CANDIDATES
Dundas Ward
Liberal — Benjamin Barrak, Aparna Vats, Katie Mullens
The Local Independent Party — Lee Malkoun, Linna Zeng, Joseph Frome
Labor — Pierre Esber, Anthony Ellard, Ange Humpries
Our Local Community — Michelle Garrard, Hayden John, Henry Green
Australia First Party — Victor Waterson, Tania Rollinson, Adele Waterson
Epping Ward
The Local Independent Party — Ronghui (Donna) Wang, Vanessa Elias, Amelia George
Labor — Donna Davis, Joanne Paul, Tony Lee
Liberal — Bill Tyrrell, Felicity Findlay, Wei (Sellina) Si
The Greens — Lindsay Peters, Angela Lindstad, Simon Margan
Lorraine Wearne Independents — Lorraine Wearne, Alain Brix-Nielsen, Shirley Tsang
North Rocks Ward
Labor — Paul Han, Andrew Punch, Carol Chan
Liberal — Andrew Jefferies, Bob Dwyer, Darryn Capes-Davis
Christian Democratic Party — Craig Hall, Keith Piper, Geoff Facey
Kwok Ho
Parramatta Ward
Independent — Sreeni Pillamarri, Alpesh Prajapati, Akata Patel
Labor — Sameer Pandey, James Shaw, Hairon Xu
The Local Independent Party — Alan Sexton, Maninder Kaur, Hong (Maria) Wang
Liberal — Martin Zaiter, Jugandeep Singh, Simon Chhoeu
The Greens — Phil Bradley, Annie Nielsen, Mona Burns
Our Local Community — Wayne Butcher, Eric Xu, Don Crockett
Rosehill Ward
The Greens — Chris James, Astrid O’Neill, Kevin Taylor
Liberal — Steven Issa, Devi Shetty, Peter Tanswell
Our Local Community — Andrew Wilson, Christine Rigby, Greg Mckay
Labor — Patricia Prociv, Michael Ng, Ajoy Ghosh
The Local Independent Party — John Hugh, Nimishaben Patel, George Raffoul
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