Wednesday 29 October 2008

My nomination for Cotham ward

I have nominated for Cotham ward for the upcoming postal election for Boroondara. As a long-term resident, I greatly value our tree-lined streets, parks and gardens, recreational facilities, cultural activities and diversity.



My community activities include park revegetation and taking local action on our journey towards sustainability and addressing climate change.

I believe we should preserve the character of our distinctive suburbs, which are recognised for their many examples of fine period housing.

I am passionate about our open spaces, heritage, clean air, conservation of energy and water and provision of vital services to our community.

This is part of my vision to help build a better, more sustainable city and foster a vibrant and cohesive community

If elected, I will work to:
  • Provide more childcare and kindergarten facilities to meet our growing demand
  • Ensure vital services that allow older people to remain at home in comfort are properly provided and resourced
  • Get better value from our rates
  • Improve our public parks and recreation facilities
  • Promote our small businesses and suburban precincts
  • Make our delightful strip shopping centres more pedestrian-friendly
  • Ensure that urban development is appropriate and sensitive to the character of our suburbs
  • Provide more bicycle paths and on-road lanes throughout the city
  • Advocate for improved public transport
  • Protect our open spaces
  • Make our city more sustainable by increasing recycling, saving water, promoting energy efficiency and reducing our carbon emissions.
I will also hold regular ward meetings to get your input on local issues that I will take to Council.

Tuesday 28 October 2008

History of Cotham Ward

Cotham was a settlement from the early 1850s, near Wellington Street east of Denmark Street where the two roads from the river crossings met. The roads then diverged and travelled to settlers along the river or along the Main Gippsland Road due east.

It was soon overshadowed by the larger Village of Kew, also established in the 1850s just north along the road to Bulleen, later called High Street.

The Main Gippsland Road was generally known as the White Horse Road after the hotel in the Box Hill district, but on the Kew side of Burke Road it retained its name as the Cotham-road, the road to Cotham.

Cotham Ward contains parts of the suburbs of Kew, Balwyn, Balwyn North