Lorna Clarke

West Ward

Q1. Waste Management

What do you see as the main challenges to managing and reducing waste in the City of Bayswater and what specific actions will you take to improve the City's waste management outcomes:

  • in council operations?
  • in commercial operations?
  • at the residential level?

Waste management is one of those areas that you think should be simple - but isn't. One challenge is encouraging people to make sure they are placing the right waste, into the right bins. I moved a Notice of Motion on Council to bring forward the City's introduction of FOGO - food organics, garden organics. Basically, composting for those who don't have the time or inclination to do it in their garden. I've visited the new site and I've seen plastic bags and dirty nappies, in with the compost. We have a lot of work to do on community information and education about what can go into FOGO. But it's exciting to see the City's landfill - and therefore carbon emissions - already decreasing. It's amazing change in such a short period of time!

We have more to do. In Council operations, I hope that the new net zero carbon plan will drive reductions in waste. I think more can be done through procurement and how the City contracts with third parties to drive waste changes. I sit on the EMRC, the regional council which manages waste and I've found the economics of waste fascinating. The economies of scale have to work. We need to develop long term solutions for sorting recycling and make it simpler for families. For example, why couldn't Council/EMRC take all plastic waste (e.g. bottle lids or soft plastics that go to REDcycle) and sort it? Why not make it a one-stop-shop? Many families just don't have time to visit 3-4 different locations and end up putting waste into landfill. Also, the recycling contamination rates are too high and we need to work to bring these down.


Q2. Transport

Places that are less car-dominated than the City of Bayswater currently is enjoy a range of benefits including:

  • Safer streets
  • Cleaner air
  • Less traffic congestion
  • Healthier, more active population, and
  • Greater independence for children, seniors and people with disabilities.

Are you supportive of reducing car use and increasing active transport (eg walking, cycling) in the City of Bayswater? If so, what specific measures will you take to enable people to walk, bike (and scoot and skate) more?

If you are not supportive of reducing car use and increasing active transport, tell us why.

I'm supportive of increasing active transport, particularly walking, cycling, scooting and skating, and making it easier for those in wheelchairs, electric scooters and with prams to get around. After four years on Council, I'll never look at footpath the same way again! I've emailed in countless photographs of footpaths that are crumbling and need fixing. I advocated for King William Street to be 40km to improve safety. I've been supportive of little outdoor eating spaces outside Tbsp in Baysie, and in Maylands, which slows down traffic. I've asked for more cycling "parking" outside the Baysie Library (although I have to confess I'll never be a confident bike rider!) I also supported a loop in Bert Wright Park for scooters to whizz around.

I think there will still be a role for cars - hopefully more electric vehicles! But if public transport and infrastructure are improved and are becoming cheaper, why not look at bike and car sharing programs, incentives and rewards for those who leave the car at home and walking/cycling maps to get people moving and make our roads safer?

COVID-19 has fundamentally changed how people use public spaces and I think we've never been more grateful for our local parks and gardens. How we get to and from these spaces is interesting. More of us are working from home now, walking around our neighbourhoods and down to local coffee shops at lunch times or to start the day. We have to adapt our spaces to these changes. I want to see more pocket parks, more footpaths, more walking trails (e.g. based on toilet tourism with the amazing toilet at Claughton Reserve), more coffee vans, and fixing up the shops at Meltham. I want us to connect up the River to the Town Centre better, and be able to walk along the entire length of the River (subject to environmental sensitivities).


Q3. Urban Greenery

Are you supportive of increasing greenery and tree canopy in the City of Bayswater? If so, what tangible ways will you work to increase the urban forest:

  • on public land?
  • on private land?

If you are not supportive of increasing urban greenery, tell us why.

I'm very supportive of increasing tree canopy and greenery in Bayswater. Canopy not only gives us amenity - nice looking streets to walk down - but it will reduce the heat island effect as we feel the effects of climate change. I (successfully) moved a Notice of Motion at Council to double the number of trees the City plants each year. The City will bring tree-planting in-house and plant three times as many trees as they have previously planted. Unfortunately though, so many trees are being cut down with subdivisions and state government projects, that we haven't been keeping up.

I also advocated for the replacement of five trees for every one tree removed by Metronet around the Bayswater train station. I've voted against some tree removals on verges and as part of development approvals and I've supported developments that design new housing with trees, vegetation, verges and good design in mind. I've also asked the City to investigate incentives for retaining trees on private land. We have a lot more work to do in this space and I'm looking forward to it.


Q4. Priorities

What are your top priorities if elected to the City of Bayswater council?

I've focused in the last four years on creating a Homelessness Strategy and Committee, doubling tree plantings and supporting the City's carbon targets and plans. I've also chaired the City's Audit and Risk Committee, and created and chaired the Budget Committee - I introduced deliberative or participatory budgeting, a concept which encourages governments to ask local residents how they want their rates spent. About 40 community members told us what they valued in a special purpose series of workshops. I also kick started the Bedford shopfront regeneration project. I want to see all these plans fully implemented.

In the future, I'll fight for a long-term investment plan for our Bayswater Library. There's a strong local arts community in Baysie, and I'll like to see Elli House build a new art studio and a regular arts and writers' festival occurring every couple of years. I want to see more pocket parks and look at what areas in the City could be protected as Public Open Space. I also think we can improve how we use City facilities and buildings, so that local community and sporting groups and clubs have have upgraded facilities, at low rents. The City's casual staff were redeployed rather than stood down during the COVID-19 lockdowns, and I want a secure jobs and employment plan for our City. I'd like to extend the "Buy in Baysie" campaign that I started and ensure that we have a vibrant and diverse town centre.

Community members are more than welcome to get in touch with me if they'd like more information on what I'm hoping to achieve.


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Lorna Clarke
West Ward

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