Glen Eira Ratepayers group to endorse council election candidates

Disgruntled residents left fuming over a decision to push ahead with a controversial bike path in Caulfield North — which is tipped to cost ratepayers millions of dollars — have banded together to select candidates for the upcoming elections.

A new ratepayers group has been formed in Glen Eira to hold council to account.

Ratepayers are banding together to demand an end to Glen Eira councillors’ lavish spending on projects that are out-of-step with community wishes.

It follows the council’s controversial decision to push ahead with plans to create a mega bike highway on a busy residential street in Caulfield North.

Spokeswoman for the new Ratepayers Glen Eira group, Rochelle Butt, told the Leader it was “ludicrous” councillors had voted to forge ahead with the Inkerman Rd Safe Cycling Corridor when residents were “overwhelmingly against it”.

The council has spent about $500,000 in the initial planning stages — including sending out community engagement surveys — but the hefty sum doesn’t include detailed designs of the proposed route.

“That’s just a gross waste of ratepayers’ money,” Ms Butt said.

“It’s an awful lot of money to spend, especially when they ignore the results of the consultation process.”

Survey results revealed the majority of respondents chose Dandenong Rd as their preferred option for the safe cycling pilot project, away from the hundreds of driveways dotted along Inkerman Rd.

“To completely ignore that consultation, which they paid for, means they do not listen to the residents,” Ms Butt said.

“And the reality is, it’s not a “safe route” — there are 331 driveways people will still be going in and out of daily, so how is that safe for cyclists?.”

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Ms Butt said while the fiery Inkerman Rd bike lanes had been the final straw for many, there were other decisions which also led residents to form an official ratepayers’ group.

“This is a big issue but it’s not the only issue and ultimately, we just want to be able to hold the council and councillors to account,” she said.

“People have lost faith in the council — they keep asking for your opinion, asking you to fill out surveys but then they don’t listen.”

The ratepayers’ group plans to endorse candidates for the council elections, to be held in October, Ms Butt said.

“We want to find people who want to listen to the ratepayers on our council,” she said.

“They’re supposed to be working for us after all.”

A meeting will be held at 7pm on February 13 at Caulfield Park Pavilion.

Dean Hurlston from Ratepayers Victoria will be speaking at the event.

Anyone is welcome to attend but RSVP is essential to [e-mail]