Many residents have contacted me about the proposed development at 55–61 Atherton Road, and I know there has been significant community interest in this application.
As I’ve explained, this is not a Monash Council planning application. The Minister for Planning is the Responsible Authority, and Council does not have the power to approve or refuse the application.
Council’s role has been to review the proposal and make a submission to the Department of Transport and Planning.
To clarify, Council’s submission is considered in the same way as other submissions and does not carry any special weight. The difference is that ours has been prepared by Council’s professional planning officers.
That submission is now public.
Rather than trying to summarise an 18-page planning response in a social media post, I’ve put a link to the submission in the comments so residents can read Council’s assessment directly.
The submission sets out Council’s concerns with the proposal and the issues our planning officers identified through their assessment. ... See MoreSee Less
Back when April went to 3 Bees Early Learning Centre on Ferntree Gully Road, the centre approached me about the need for a pedestrian crossing so they could safely take children on short excursions to Brickmakers Park.
At the time, there was no safe crossing point between Atkinson Street and Huntingdale Road. I raised it with Steve Dimopoulos MP and he agreed that something needed to be done.
It’s taken a while, with COVID interrupting progress along the way, but it’s terrific to finally see the new crossing delivered.
It will make a real difference for families with young children, people with prams and people with accessibility needs. Importantly, it also provides safer access to the bus stops on either side of Ferntree Gully Road.
When I was first elected to Council, I remember hearing about an elderly woman who didn’t feel safe crossing eight lanes of traffic on North Road to get to the bus stop for Huntingdale Station.
Instead, she would catch a bus in the opposite direction to Monash University, then another bus back towards Huntingdale, simply so she didn’t have to cross the road.
Stories like that are a good reminder that something as simple as a safe pedestrian crossing can make a huge difference to how people get around their local community. ... See MoreSee Less
Two brilliant productions in one day at MUST, (Monash Uni Student Theatre), one with April and one with Donna.
“Prickly Love” and “The World Approaches” were both fantastic. I studied theatre at Monash, and coming back always reminds me how much talent we have right here on our doorstep.
My daughter April, pictured here with me, came home raving about “The World Approaches”. Funnily enough, there’s a character named April in “Prickly Love”! I was hoping to take her along later in the week, but it’s sold out. Great to see local theatre that popular 😍
If you enjoy live theatre, sign up for the MUST mailing list and get along to the next production. Well worth it.
Congratulations to everyone involved in both shows. A great way to spend a Sunday! ... See MoreSee Less
It was a pleasure to join the Australian-Filipino Community Services team to celebrate their 35th anniversary.
For 35 years, AFCS has been supporting Filipino Australians through aged care, dementia support, community programs, advocacy and cultural events, while also helping strengthen the broader community.
What started as a small volunteer-led organisation has grown into an important statewide service, but the spirit behind it remains the same: people giving their time, energy and care to support others.
It was also great to celebrate the milestone alongside Greater Dandenong Mayor Cr Sophie Tan, Cardinia Shire Mayor Cr Brett Owen, Casey Mayor Cr Michelle Crowther and State MP Lee Tarlamis.
Congratulations to CEO Corina Dutlow, the current team, and all of the volunteers and committee members, past and present, who have helped build AFCS over the past 35 years.
A terrific milestone and well worth celebrating. ... See MoreSee Less
Under Victoria’s road rules, if a parking sign says it applies on particular days of the week, those restrictions generally do not apply on a declared public holiday.
So, for example, if a sign says:
2P Monday to Friday, 8am–6pm, the 2-hour restriction does not apply today.
There are a couple of important exceptions:
• If the sign specifically says the restriction applies on public holidays, it still applies.
• If the sign doesn’t list particular days at all, the restriction continues to apply, including on public holidays. ... See MoreSee Less
A different kind of speaking engagement in Canberra this week.
On Tuesday, I was invited to speak at CISO Canberra 2026, a national conference for cyber security leaders.
Before focusing full-time on my role as Mayor, I spent more than 25 years working in technology and cyber security.
The conference was a great opportunity to bring those two parts of my working life together and speak about what cyber security and public leadership have in common: protecting people, maintaining essential services and preserving community trust.
A very different audience from my usual Council meetings, but an important conversation. ... See MoreSee Less
One of the best parts of being Mayor is welcoming our newest Australian citizens.
Citizenship ceremonies are always special. For the people making the pledge, it marks the end of one journey and the beginning of another.
On Monday night we welcomed people from across the world who have chosen to make Australia their home and become part of our Monash community.
Every person has a different story about what brought them here, but from today they all share something new in common. They are Australian citizens.
Congratulations to everyone who took the pledge. It was a privilege to be part of such an important moment for you and your families.
Welcome, and congratulations. 🇦🇺 ... See MoreSee Less
2 CommentsComment on Facebook
Many residents have contacted me about the proposed development at 55–61 Atherton Road, and I know there has been significant community interest in this application.
As I’ve explained, this is not a Monash Council planning application. The Minister for Planning is the Responsible Authority, and Council does not have the power to approve or refuse the application.
Council’s role has been to review the proposal and make a submission to the Department of Transport and Planning.
To clarify, Council’s submission is considered in the same way as other submissions and does not carry any special weight. The difference is that ours has been prepared by Council’s professional planning officers.
That submission is now public.
Rather than trying to summarise an 18-page planning response in a social media post, I’ve put a link to the submission in the comments so residents can read Council’s assessment directly.
The submission sets out Council’s concerns with the proposal and the issues our planning officers identified through their assessment. ... See MoreSee Less
6 CommentsComment on Facebook
Back when April went to 3 Bees Early Learning Centre on Ferntree Gully Road, the centre approached me about the need for a pedestrian crossing so they could safely take children on short excursions to Brickmakers Park.
At the time, there was no safe crossing point between Atkinson Street and Huntingdale Road. I raised it with Steve Dimopoulos MP and he agreed that something needed to be done.
It’s taken a while, with COVID interrupting progress along the way, but it’s terrific to finally see the new crossing delivered.
It will make a real difference for families with young children, people with prams and people with accessibility needs. Importantly, it also provides safer access to the bus stops on either side of Ferntree Gully Road.
When I was first elected to Council, I remember hearing about an elderly woman who didn’t feel safe crossing eight lanes of traffic on North Road to get to the bus stop for Huntingdale Station.
Instead, she would catch a bus in the opposite direction to Monash University, then another bus back towards Huntingdale, simply so she didn’t have to cross the road.
Stories like that are a good reminder that something as simple as a safe pedestrian crossing can make a huge difference to how people get around their local community. ... See MoreSee Less
4 CommentsComment on Facebook
Two brilliant productions in one day at MUST, (Monash Uni Student Theatre), one with April and one with Donna.
“Prickly Love” and “The World Approaches” were both fantastic. I studied theatre at Monash, and coming back always reminds me how much talent we have right here on our doorstep.
My daughter April, pictured here with me, came home raving about “The World Approaches”. Funnily enough, there’s a character named April in “Prickly Love”! I was hoping to take her along later in the week, but it’s sold out. Great to see local theatre that popular 😍
If you enjoy live theatre, sign up for the MUST mailing list and get along to the next production. Well worth it.
Congratulations to everyone involved in both shows. A great way to spend a Sunday! ... See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
It was a pleasure to join the Australian-Filipino Community Services team to celebrate their 35th anniversary.
For 35 years, AFCS has been supporting Filipino Australians through aged care, dementia support, community programs, advocacy and cultural events, while also helping strengthen the broader community.
What started as a small volunteer-led organisation has grown into an important statewide service, but the spirit behind it remains the same: people giving their time, energy and care to support others.
It was also great to celebrate the milestone alongside Greater Dandenong Mayor Cr Sophie Tan, Cardinia Shire Mayor Cr Brett Owen, Casey Mayor Cr Michelle Crowther and State MP Lee Tarlamis.
Congratulations to CEO Corina Dutlow, the current team, and all of the volunteers and committee members, past and present, who have helped build AFCS over the past 35 years.
A terrific milestone and well worth celebrating. ... See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
A handy reminder if you’re out and about today.
Under Victoria’s road rules, if a parking sign says it applies on particular days of the week, those restrictions generally do not apply on a declared public holiday.
So, for example, if a sign says:
2P Monday to Friday, 8am–6pm, the 2-hour restriction does not apply today.
There are a couple of important exceptions:
• If the sign specifically says the restriction applies on public holidays, it still applies.
• If the sign doesn’t list particular days at all, the restriction continues to apply, including on public holidays. ... See MoreSee Less
3 CommentsComment on Facebook
A different kind of speaking engagement in Canberra this week.
On Tuesday, I was invited to speak at CISO Canberra 2026, a national conference for cyber security leaders.
Before focusing full-time on my role as Mayor, I spent more than 25 years working in technology and cyber security.
The conference was a great opportunity to bring those two parts of my working life together and speak about what cyber security and public leadership have in common: protecting people, maintaining essential services and preserving community trust.
A very different audience from my usual Council meetings, but an important conversation. ... See MoreSee Less
1 CommentsComment on Facebook