Nominations

I’m your local independent candidate standing for Darebin council. I am a self-employed tradesman living in Reservoir. I love our diverse community, its food, parklands and quarter-acre blocks to grow fruit and vegies. Our rates should create roads and paths and provide council-owned aged-care and kindergarten services. We need to be a community of doers by joining community groups, scouts and local sporting clubs. Staff and patrons told me they want a 50m Reservoir pool, we should owner-build it without inflated corporate tenders. When community submit plans and queries, the council should act promptly. We want real solutions on global warming, not greenwashing. I am a community activist, successfully winning gains for our area: worked with others to force VISY to improve air quality; campaigning to make council’s zero emissions agreement real; improved community access at Darebin libraries; fought for Preston Market; upcycled tonnes of building materials saving it from landfill; and diverted potential food waste to feed residents in need. Council is a little cog in a bigger economic wheel, but it’s important that residents’ needs are met. As your councillor I will fight for your voice to be heard. Keep it Real, Vote 1 Leon Zembekis

Hi, I’m Cat Rose. I’m a Reservoir local who works as a nurse in Melbourne’s busy public hospital system. I’m running as a Victorian Socialists candidate in our council by-election because I’m sick of seeing inequality grow while essential services get worse. I know how the cost-of-living crisis is affecting people in our community. And as a nurse, I see first hand the importance of quality public services and the damage the neoliberal agenda of cuts and privatisation has done. I want to see Darebin Council provide the services we need for healthy and happy lives. Our council should serve our whole community, not just spend council rates south of Bell Street, while Reservoir is starved of services. So I will fight for the expansion of the Reservoir Leisure Centre, to protect Preston Market, and for environmental protections for Edwardes Lake and Edgars Creek. And I will fight to expand council services offered to our community, including publicly-run childcare and aged care services, and greater green spaces and active transport links.

Eight months ago, voters elected Councillor Gaetano Greco. His massive 58% vote signalled endorsement of his work. Gaetano and I were a strong team as Reservoir Councillors from 2012 to 2016. Whilst saddened by his death, I was honoured to be asked by Gaetano to be a candidate days before he passed away. What I will fight for reflects my pledge to continue his legacy: to redevelop the Reservoir Leisure Centre, keep aged care services in council hands, fix roads and footpaths, speed up investment in Wat Ganbo Park (former Ruthven Primary) and Dole Reserve; restore the annual hard waste collection, push for a $300 pensioner rate rebate; and for the Preston Market to be publicly owned. As a former councillor I have the experience to be a strong community voice and work hard on these issues. I fought to: save former Ruthven Primary site from development; to beautify Reservoir; keep council fees low; ensure our multi-cultural community was given a voice; improved aged care and child care services and advocated for sensible and quality housing developments. As a proud resident of Reservoir of Italian descent - it's always my community first not party politics so let's keep it proudly independent.

My name is George Kanjere, and I have lived in Darebin with my family since 2009. My kids go to school and play soccer in North West Ward, and I work as a union organizer. Darebin has lost a much loved and great advocate in Councillor Gaetano Greco. He showed us how to connect Council to community through listening, accountability, and standing up for what’s right - even when it wasn’t easy. For many years I have fought alongside Gaetano and others in our community to save Preston Market, and I have seen how Council can work for and against local interests, which is why we need strong and outspoken independent representation on council. We need to ensure that council maintains and improves childcare and aged care, and does not privatize them. We need to ensure that council prioritizes public safety, and brings our roads, streets and parks up to standard. We need council to invest in Northern Darebin - including a 50m pool for Reservoir, local community sports facilities, and the proper planting and maintenance of Edwards Lake. As your Councillor, I will be a progressive independent voice with the conviction, experience and community backing to get things done.

I’m your former elected Ward Councillor. I was humbled when over 50% of Reservoir residents voted for me. As your local councillor I stayed focussed on building the things our diverse community needed. Together we built and improved sports pavilions and courts for our Reservoir and Keon Park sports clubs. As a united community we built Merrilands Community centre and bocce court, Reservoir Community Centre and Library in Edwardes Street and the Keon Park Children’s Hub. We created the Edgars Creek Wetlands, and remodelled Edwardes Park Lake to stop botulism. We stopped over development near our parks and saved the Former Ruthven Primary School site and Central Creek grasslands as public parks. My track record shows I’m an active local councillor who listens and works hard to get things done. As an experienced independent I will put Reservoir residents first and get council back to basics. Make your vote count. To save Preston Market, fast track building a 50 metre Reservoir pool, fix water quality in Edwardes Lake and Edgars Creek, and lift the pensioner rebate to $300 vote 1 Tim Laurence, 2 Angela Villella, 3 George Kanjere and number all the other boxes in order.

I’m your Greens candidate for North West Ward. I’m a local mum, software engineer, and community volunteer. I love spending time at Edwardes Lake with my family. I want to make sure Council decisions reflect the care our community has for Reservoir and Keon Park. That means safer streets and better crossings so kids and teens can walk and ride independently. More places for people to connect and belong, with a community hub at Edwardes Lake boathouse and a vibrant Edwardes St. I’ll advocate for a Preston Market foundation to support traders and keep the market strong and local, with fresh, affordable, culturally significant food. I support upgrades to Reservoir Leisure Centre now — better maintenance, improved accessibility, more classes — and I’ll make sure you have a real voice in planning the new RLC. We need climate action that brings down energy bills. More street trees, planting at Wat Ganbo and Edwardes Lake, and controls on illegal fishing and off-leash dogs. As your Councillor, I’ll listen and work hard for what matters to you. This by-election is your chance to elect someone who puts care, community and climate at the heart of every decision. Vote 1 Melanie Thewlis.

As your local Labor Councillor, I will make sure Reservoir gets the attention and investment we deserve. I live in the North West Ward in Reservoir, use local services, and send my kids to local public schools. I love living here - and I want to make our community even better. In my work, I support community services that help people experiencing homelessness and mental health issues. I will fight to rebuild Reservoir Leisure Centre, bring back hard rubbish collection, improve traffic flow, and repair footpaths. We must protect Edwardes Lake and invest in our creeks, parks, playgrounds and sports clubs. Darebin has a vibrant multicultural community and history, including local institutions like the Preston Market - We need to secure its bright future. I will fight for Reservoir on Darebin Council and advocate to state and federal governments for investment. I respect the work Cr Gaetano Greco did for many years and will continue being a strong voice for our area. Voting Labor is the only way to elect a strong local voice in Reservoir who will continue to get things done. Vote [1] Labor. Vote [1] Daniel Scoullar. Number all boxes to make your vote count.