Author: Stuart James
Elected Mayor – 2019/2020
At it’s special meeting on November 11, 2019, my colleagues elected me as the Mayor of Monash for the 2019/2020 term of office. I am incredibly excited and humbled to have been given this opportunity to serve our community at a higher level. It’s been a very busy first few […]
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Radio Interview with Raf Epstein
In the lead-up to the 2019 Federal Election, I was invited by Raf Epstein in my capacity as chair of the Eastern Transport Coalition (ETC) to discuss Transport issues in the seat of Deakin (covering Ringwood and the surrounding suburbs). As you would expect, our discussion branched out in to […]
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Rowville Rail – Followup
A lot has happened since my article on Rowville Rail appeared in The Age in late May, which followed the announcement by the Andrews State Government to build a Tram line to Monash University. • Monash Council, Knox Council and the Eastern Transport Coalition have all passed motions in support […]
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Oakleigh Central Paid Parking
Paid parking has been introduced by Oakleigh Central in an effort to tackle rail commuters parking at the centre and using spots that could otherwise be used by customers. Last week I wrote to management acknowledging that this was fundamentally a good idea but requesting that they revert back to […]
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Rowville Tram? Rowville Train? Think bigger!
As printed in The Age, 27th May, 2018 https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/rowville-rail-fits-the-bigger-transport-picture-20180522-p4zgrn.html Melbourne used to plan for the future. We built train lines to the country side and invited people to build around that train line. Now we wait for people to build houses and spend decades trying to find a transport solution […]
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Cabena Childrens Playgroup (FREE)
During my election campaign, one of my key committments was increasing support services for parents. Previously, parents groups were only available for first time parents. Last year I moved a motion in the Chamber to fund playgrounds for parents having their second, third or tenth child (read more here). As […]
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On Tuesday night at Council, I spoke out against the State Government’s plan to cut funding for the delivery of Home and Community Care services to young people in our Municipality. The entire purpose of Government’s existence is to look after the people most vulnerable in our Community. Funding services […]
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Melbourne’s Public Transport Woes
The City Loop was opened in 1981. Since that time, there has been only one train line extension, from Epping to South Morang. Over this time period, we have shutdown train lines to Clyde and Mornington, where population growth has seen a need emerge for them to be recommissioned. The […]
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Vicroads; traffic lights on freeways
I am not a fan of Vicroads. In fact, I am often very critical of them. The main reason for this criticism is not what they do, but the way they interact with residents and the community. Rather than acknowledge that there is an issue that needs to be looked […]
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New Parent Groups to start next term
One of my core election commitments was to work towards better services for parents of young children. Last night, with the support of Council, I was elated to move (and have supported) a motion to introduce new parenting support groups to Monash. The groups will be available to all parents […]
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