Candidates talk public transport for Malvern

LABOR candidate for Malvern Les Tarczon doesn’t have a clue who his opposition is and says quite frankly “he is irrelevant”.

Chadstone Shopping Centre

LABOR candidate for Malvern Les Tarczon doesn’t have a clue who his opposition is and says quite frankly “he is irrelevant”.

Malvern’s three candidates were asked a series of questions without notice to gauge their opinions on a range of key issues before the November 29 poll.

The 62-year-old Deer Park resident, who is running for the blue ribbon seat of Malvern, said that while talking to people in the electorate he had discovered that “65 per cent” of people didn’t know who the Victorian Treasurer (Michael O’Brien) was, nor did they know who their local member was.

But it appears Mr Tarczon was in the same boat.

When asked who the treasurer of Victoria was, he said “the incumbent of the Malvern electorate”.

“I can’t even remember his name, that’s how important he is in my life,” Mr Tarczon said.

“He is irrelevant in my life.”

Mr Tarczon was also unsure which suburbs were covered in the Malvern electorate, saying “truthfully, I don’t know where the boundaries are”.

Candidates were asked about improving public transport links to Chadstone, but there was a lack of enthusiasm from both Labor and the Liberals.

Mr Tarczon said he would improve train lines and increase the number of trains, while incumbent Mr O’Brien said the Melbourne Rail Link project would increase the capacity of the train network by 30 per cent.

He said this would open up opportunities to increase the train capacity to service Malvern East station, which was “nearby” to Chadstone.

Greens candidate James Bennett said his first priority would be to extend the number 3 tram route along Waverley Rd then along Malvern Rd, Warrigal Rd and into Chadstone Shopping Centre.

“Currently there are no tram or train routes,” Mr Bennett said.

“Extending that line would make it easier for people who don’t drive.”

Malvern candidates were also asked about what they thought the maximum residential building height should be across the electorate and why.

Mr O’Brien said it was difficult to differentiate between suburban side streets and main roads, but he was happy with the recently introduced planning zones.

“The planning zones Stonnington Council proposed, which the Liberal Government endorsed, give the best protection this area has seen in decades for local amenity,” Mr O’Brien said.

Mr Bennett settled on between seven to 10 stories as a maximum.

“I don’t think major high-rise developments are really appropriate for an area like Malvern,” Mr Bennett said.

“Having said that, the Greens are not anti-development, it just needs to take into account the environment and local considerations.”