Dendy Ward - 2024 Bayside Council Election

Overview

We asked candidates for the Bayside Ward of Dendy some questions, hoping to learn about their level of support for our local native wildlife. Here are their answers.

We also have responses from other Wards.

In our opinion, the following candidates provided responses broadly supportive of our local native wildlife:

  • Alex Nutman
  • Terence Scanlon

The following candidates were sent the questions but did not respond:

  • Thomas Bartels
  • Joanne Bryant
  • Isabella Do Rozario-Romic
  • Hanna El Mouallem
  • Natalie French
  • Paras Georgoulos
  • Joshua Goldstat
  • Michael Heffernan
  • Lindsey Joffe
  • David Lurie
  • Hugh McFadden
  • Mike Rawlinson
  • Greg Smith
  • Mark Tseytlin
  • Steve Wolf
  • Ming Min Xu

 

Please read the responses below for more detail about each candidate's level and type of support for native wildlife.

 

The Responses

Question 1

Does Bayside have any natural areas/places or flora or fauna that you particularly appreciate?  Where are they? How and why do you appreciate them?

Alex Nutman - Sun or storm I’ll always enjoy taking the dog for a walk along the Bay Trail.

Terence Scanlon - Personally I play a bit of golf a Brighton Golf course and its great to see the amount of bird species that live on course now.

 

Question 2

What are the most important values/benefits of Bayside’s natural (as opposed to built) environment to the Bayside community?

Alex Nutman - Our beaches bring in tens of thousands of tourists, both locally and internationally, each year. Benefitting local businesses, and providing bragging rights for Baysiders. We also have an array of indigenous and native trees that provide fantastic coverage, that we should seek to expand.

Terence Scanlon - Bayside is mainly a seaside natural environment with coast Teatree and eucalypts which must be protected from Tree vandal’s

 

Question 3

What Bayside-wide environmental matters/issues are most important in your view?

Alex Nutman - Bay Trail Habitats, and matters of coastal erosion. We can’t just shift sand back and forth forever. We need groynes, man-made reefs, or other long-term solutions. Our beaches are one of, if not the biggest attraction for the city, and need to be taken care of.

Terence Scanlon - Countering acting global warming , as I am a Scientist that has worked in the National museum and land Conservation council in the areas of ornithology & mammalogy depts as well as university of Melbourne Veterinary Sciences.

I have also been educated on global warming and its stages by a NASA scientist.

So I am very interested in maintaining natural reserves less large concrete highrises in a block configuration effecting coast temperature changes. 

Eg  VIC Planning Moorabbin Plan

 

Question 4

What local Ward environmental matters are most important in your view?

Alex Nutman - Completion of all aspects of the Yalukit Willam Nature Reserve should be a focus so council may move on to other areas of our city, particularly the issues above.

Terence Scanlon -  For Dendy ward it is the Yalukit  William Nature reserve to be finished.

 

Question 5

What do you think Council does well, environmentally?

Alex Nutman -  Programs like Electrify Everything and the Urban Forest Strategy are super. Action plans related to environmental issues are well designed by officers, and outline further measures council could commit to.

Terence Scanlon - Parks gardens and nature reserves are well maintained with trees and native flora

 

Question 6

In what respect(s) is Council lacking, environmentally?

Alex Nutman -  I think general sentiment toward environmental issues has been lacking, with some issues frequently having noses turned up at.

Terence Scanlon -  Bayside council is very green and environmentally concerned, allocation money to more tree planting in parks and gardens and nature strips. Concerning is the proposals of Vic Planning to build  up to 6-12 storey concrete towers within Moorabbin , Brighton East and East Hamption .

 

Question 7

What environmental issues/matters/challenges do you actively want to address, if any, as a Councillor?  In what way?

Alex Nutman -  Tree coverage through continuation of the Urban Forest Strategy, coastal erosion and sand movement.

Terence Scanlon - No response.

 

Question 8

Is biodiversity important for Bayside?  Why or why not?

Alex Nutman -  Definitely. A diverse native and indigenous mix of flora is important to provide habitats to native wildlife, prevent erosion, provide tree coverage, and keep Bayside unique.

Terence Scanlon -  In the pass I worked with RACI Australia to save Australia Bee industry from being under cut by cheap manmade manipulated Honey. As if we lost the industry the impact on biodiversity and pollinated would have been a horrific.

 

Question 9

Do you think Council should have a role in educating, engaging and empowering its residents to appreciate and actively care for the local environment?

Alex Nutman - Absolutely.

Terence Scanlon - This can be done by school education programs and they are already active on stopping  large tree removal  and encouraging more greenery to reduce increasing building heat load effects within Streets—survey done 

 

Question 10

Will you work to progress the implementation of the Urban Forest Strategy and the Fresh Waterbodies Management Plans?

Alex Nutman - Absolutely.

Terence Scanlon - The Urban Forest strategy 20-25 is well underway and yes I do support it as it has a major effect of local climate temperatures, power consumption and greenery in Bayside. As well as assisting slowing climate change impact.

 

Question 11

Do you support providing supplementary water for wildlife in Bayside's open spaces?

Alex Nutman -  If it can be done in a way that won’t promote undesired outcomes, yes.

Terence Scanlon - As these are public open access areas, children must be safe at all times. If these areas are not monitored, then the answer is no.

 

Question 12

Will you work to ensure that the Bronzewings will be effectively protected at Wangara Road?

Alex Nutman - Bayside appears to be uniquely positioned to provide a safe habitat for Bronzewings, and I believe we should maintain that position.

Terence Scanlon - Council has already put a recommendation on 24th of July 2024 to locate an area for Bronzewings.

 

 

References

The following references were included with our questions.

Fresh Waterbodies Management Plans (formerly "Ornamental Lakes Management Plans") BCC Meeting Agenda, June 2024, https://www.bayside.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-06/18%20June%202024%20Council%20Meeting%20Agenda_2.pdf pp 627 - 782

Urban Forest Strategy https://www.bayside.vic.gov.au/urban-forest-strategy

Water for Wildlifehttps://www.bayfonw.org.au/projects/waterbowls https://www.bayside.vic.gov.au/news/water-wildlife

Wangara Road Masterplan https://yoursay.bayside.vic.gov.au/future-use-wangara-road-site