A great result for the climate!
The Boroondara election results are in and it looks very good for the climate!
Congratulations to all the successful candidates:
- Bellvue: Michael Nolan (new, independent, former Lighter Footprints co-convenor)
- Cotham: Felicity Sinfield (returning, Liberal)
- Gardiner: Victor Franco (returning, independent)
- Glenferrie: Wes Gault (returning, Greens)
- Junction: Mal Osborne-Smith (new, independent)
- Lynden: Lisa Hollingsworth (returning independent)
- Maling: Shima Ibuki (new, independent)
- Maranoa: Chris Pattas (new, independent)
- Riversdale: Rob Baillieu (new, independent)
- Solway: John Friend-Pereira (new, Greens)
- Studley: Sophie Torney (new, independent)
The new Council promises to be a significant improvement on its predecessor. We are confident that a clear majority of Councillors are committed to strong climate action. In the new political climate we can look forward to things like:
- Enhanced community consultation and engagement
- More action on public EV charging
- Greater protection of tree canopy and more tree planting
- Better bike infrastructure
- Council assisting low income households to access solar
- Significantly more budget for the Climate Action Plan
- A sensible resolution of Kew Recreation Centre issues including no gas boilers!
Our campaign
Our campaign involved:
- Developing and distributing a candidate climate scorecard for each ward
- An on-line candidates forum
- Printing and distributing climate campign fence signs
- Street conversations and petitioning.
Climate scorecard
Our climate scorecards were designed to help voters identify the candidates in each ward committed to driving strong climate action by the Council. The scorecards were based on a detailed candidate questionnaire, mainly focused on climate action, but also covering Council accountability to the community. For current Councillors who were seeking re-election, an assessment of their voting record on climate issues was also included. Full details of how we went about scoring candidates can be found here, and this is an example of the scorecard (the one for Solway Ward):
Printed scorecards were letterboxed across the whole municipality and the scorecard was widely promoted on social media.
All but one of the elected Councillors (Felicity Sinfield, Cotham) completed our questionnaire. Click on a Councillor’s name below to see their response.
| Michael Nolan (Bellevue) | Felicity Sinfield (Cotham) [NO RESPONSE] | Victor Franco (Gardiner) | Wes Gault (Glenferrie) |
| Mal Osborne-Smith (Junction) | Lisa Hollingsworth (Lynden) | Shima Ibuki (Maling) | Chris Pattas (Maranoa) |
| Rob Baillieu (Riversdale) | John Friend-Pereira (Solway) | Sophie Torney (Studley) |
The questionnaire was designed to clearly identify the policies and actions which candidates would pursue if elected. It’s important that we hold our councillors to account, and make sure they deliver what they promised.
Candidates Forum – watch the recording
Lighter Footprints ran a very successful and well-attended online candidates forum as part of the campaign. After an initial welcome, there were separate sessions for each ward. Candidates introduced themselves and responded to 3 set questions, which were supplied to them in advance:
- Do you think Councillors should play a more significant leadership role in the community when it comes to climate change and if so, what would that entail?
- What new initiative would you propose to include in Council’s next climate action plan to help Boroondara residents reduce their carbon emissions?
- Community engagement is key to encouraging community action on climate change. How can Council better engage with residents and businesses on this issue?
Candidates then faced (probing!) questions from the audience. You can watch recordings of each session here.
Fence signs
Our climate fence signs were up on many fences across Boroondara during the election.
Kew Recreation Centre petition
In the lead up to the election we were out on street most weekends, talking to people about Council policies and asking them to sign our petition, requesting Council use to renewable energy to heat the Kew Recreation Centre rather than gas as planned. In August we submitted the petition with almost 1,000 signatures.
In a very promising development, the new Council has directed Council officers to submit a report in February 2025 regarding ‘the feasibility including cost (capital and operating) and the program implications of replacing the gas heating at the Kew Recreation Centre with heat pump technology’. This is great first step and an indication that we now have a Council that is serious about acting on the climate crisis.