Elli Petersen-Pik

South Ward

Q1. What are your top priorities if elected to the City of Bayswater council?

I have been pushing for improvements in many different areas during my two terms on Council, and I'd recommend having a look at my website ( ellipetersenpik.com ) and Facebook page ( www.facebook.com/ellipeterpik/ ) for those who want to find all the information. Specifically, increasing our tree canopy, protecting our environment, supporting recycling and FOGO, and pushing for infrastructure improvements that better support active transport modes and accessibility have all been key topics that I've worked on over the years.

Q2. What will you do to enable more walking and cycling in the City of Bayswater?

I'll continue my hard work in this area and focus on getting positive outcomes, one step at a time. As an existing Councillor, below is a short summary of what I've done just in recent years:

Successful in getting Council to create the City's first Active Transport Advisory Committee to guide improvements to walking and riding in the City, and I was a member of this Committee.
Initiated the Safe Routes to School Plan, which will gradually cover all schools in the City of Bayswater. Various actions have already been implemented around the Maylands Peninsula Primary School, including a safe pedestrian crossing outside the school that I fought for. As a result of my pressure, the implementation plan for MPPS also refers to safety issues at various crossings (an important issue that some originally tried to exclude). I was recently able to get the Council to direct the City to finalise the plans for three other primary schools in the City.
Got a commitment from Council to put a signalised pedestrian crossing on Guildford Rd between Ferguson St and Grafton Rd ($300k – with State Govt funding also expected).
Coordinated a campaign that led RAC to classify Guildford Road as the third riskiest road and put public pressure on State Govt to prioritise improvements, including for pedestrians and cyclists.
Got a mandatory tree planting program in school catchments, to shade pedestrians and cyclists, and I'm constantly working to get the City to regard "shade" as a key priority, including by adding it as an action in the City's new Council Plan.
Tried to get Council to consider reducing speeds in the catchment of MPPS.
Each year, I've been pushing for more resources to be allocated for new footpaths, and I initiated a requirement for new footpaths to be built across driveways ("Footpath Continuity").
Supported the adoption of the City's new bike plan, and over the years I supported funding allocations towards various bike paths.
Strongly advocated for the State Govt to build an underpass at Caledonian Ave level crossing.
Supported a program of road treatments to stop 'rat running' and slow traffic, and I was able to convince Council to reject the original proposal to include many mini-roundabouts in various areas (while removing existing stop signs), which would have been a terrible outcome for pedestrians and cyclists.
Got two pedestrian crossings on Whatley Cres improved with bollards and paths (First Avenue; Kenilworth St).

Q3. What will you do to increase the City of Bayswater's tree canopy?

As an existing Councillor, below is a short summary of what I've done in this area just in my recent term:

Championed efforts to increase tree planting and shade on footpaths, as well as improving care for existing trees. I pushed Council to increase tree funding and add a new performance indicator (KPI) for the CEO to meet canopy targets. I tried to commit Council to new short-term canopy targets.
Successfully pushed for the City to employ its first Urban Forest Officer.
Developed a policy aiming to restrict developers from clearing all trees from land by default in various types of developments and subdivisions.
Achieved mandatory tree planting on routes to school and, elsewhere, successfully pushed Council to change "opt in" verge tree planting to "opt out" to increase canopy cover.
Changed policies to allow residents to request more than one tree per verge and allow residents of stratas to easily request new verge trees.
Delivery of Maylands Underground Power project, which will improve tree canopy.

Q4. What will you do to help our community reduce emissions and support a move to renewable energy?

When it comes to the City of Bayswater, in 2021, I supported the adoption of the Emissions Reduction and Renewable Energy (ERRE) Plan, which includes our targets of 100% renewable electricity for City operations and net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. Over the years, I've supported various actions and budget allocations to reach those targets, including solar panels added to 25 sites, and the City's fleet cars being transitioned to hybrid or electric.