On 22 October 2016, you will elect a new Council. I would like to put my experience and passion to work for you for another term as your Councillor.

I have been a Councillor at Port Phillip for 8 years, including 3 years as Deputy Mayor. I was originally a marketing executive at L’Oreal and then a professional photographer. I founded and was President of unChain Port Phillip, so I know how important community organisations are.

I am totally independent and not a member of any political party. I strongly believe that the major parties should not control local government.

My aspirations are high for our city, and I am proud of some of my key achievements like building one of the best skate parks in the world and saving the Palais by ensuring much-needed structural repairs.

I see my vision as being twofold – about Celebrations and Challenges.

Celebration of our bay and beaches – cleanliness, safety and finding the right balance between quiet and activity. A ban on trucks on Beach Road from 6pm on Fridays. The rebuilding of Brooke’s Jetty.

Celebration of our villages – supporting our local businesses, ensuring safety and vibrancy, supporting arts and culture. We have to get the Pride Centre to St Kilda, where it belongs.

Our challenges are liveability, growth, ensuring the right development and density, affordable housing. Keep advocating for more schools, the best childcare for our juniors and the best aged care for our seniors. Fishermans Bend has to be a great new area. Public transport and travel adaptation are concerns – more DDA tram stops will be built. To start with, we need to relocate the tram stop planned outside SKIPPS.

Other challenges include a safe, sustainable city, costal adaptation, dealing with the ice epidemic, better waste management and hard rubbish collection. The impeccable care of our beautiful St Vincent Gardens is also key.

I will also fight to ensure the local community integrity and vibrancy of our much loved Bridport Street, Victoria Avenue and Armstrong Street shopping strips is protected. I will continue to work to ensure the success of the recent changes to Acland Street. And we will achieve the revival of Fitzroy Street by working together.

I know that our rates are rising, so it is important that Council cuts waste and saves money wherever it can.  And we cannot celebrate or face our challenges without bringing the community with us, consulting with the utmost level of transparency. Budgets have to be rigorous and ethics high.

I am honoured to have been elected twice to Council and I hope I have delivered on my promises, listened to you, stood up for you – even in tough times.

I hope you will re-elect me to keep being your voice on Council, 24/7.

Cr Serge Thomann
Deputy Mayor
Tel: 0411 188 980
Email: sergeyourvoice@gmail.com