Michael Mathews

Comment: Read what Michael has to say about COLDSTREAM.  See section in red below:

MICHAEL MATTHEWS

Suburb of residence: Healesville

Occupation: State manager

How long have you lived in Yarra Ranges? Twelve years and would not live anywhere else.

Have you run for council/ been a councillor before, or any other level of government? I ran in the 2008 election. I also served as Board Member and Chairman of the Victorian Food & Wine Tourism Council for six years giving advice to the Minister and Tourism Victoria.

Are you/have you been a member of a political party? If yes, which party? If no, with which party do you most identify? Not a member of any party and never have been. I always have remained independent and prefer to do so to allow taking an unbiased and objective view of issues before me.  As an example I worked with John Brumby when he was Minister for Regional Development and Tim Holding Tourism Minister and on the conservative side am a friend of Christine Fyffe’s and have had meetings with Tony Smith (our Federal Member).  Local Council should not be about politics.

Are you or have you ever been a member of a political interest or lobby group? I have not ever been pat of any political lobby group. I have lobbied Government for better taxation and structural reform for the wine industry when on the Wine Australia Board.

If you are elected, will you commit to remaining a councillor for the whole term? Yes – I never start a process unless I am prepared to see it through.

What is your campaign budget? Who is funding your campaign? I have no set budget it is a daily proposition seeing what I can afford to do.

Who will you direct your preferences to? After much consideration I have given my first preference to David Hill as I know him to be concerned about local issues and he is an independent candidate with energy and drive. My second preference is directed to Les King who is also independent and passionate about helping the local community. I do not believe the local council should be politicised or a platform for ideologically biased agendas.

Describe your involvement in the local community. I have worked for the region as; Committee Member/President Yarra Valley Winegrowers Association, Founding Director and Deputy Chair of Yarra Ranges Regional Marketing, representing the Yarra Ranges as a Board Member and Chairman of the Victorian Wine Industry Association, representing the Yarra Ranges as Member and Chair of the Victorian Food & Wine Tourism Council, Member of Yarra Ranges Regional Marketing Finance Committee. Executive Chair of Grape Grazing, Deputy Chair of the Regional Bushfire Recovery (Marketing) Committee as well as participating in a variety of forums, committee and groups.  I have also managed and worked with a range of local businesses including being General Manager of TarraWarra Estate for six years and a member of the steering committee for the TarraWarra Museum of Art. I am also Chair of Life Education Yarra Ranges.

What do you think being a councillor involves? Assessing current and future needs for our region, providing the executive with the strategic direction and policies under which they deliver on those goals. To do this a councillor must engage with the local community to take on board the views and needs of the ratepayers in the development of the strategic direction. At the same time this must be done with a framework of financial responsibility - like all of us a council must live within its means. A councillor also has a duty to protect the regions natural assets and build a cohesive, vibrant and economically strong community.

What do you think are the most important issues for your ward? There are many to name just a few:

* Ensuring, roads, footpaths, drainage and vegetated areas are maintained. 

* Fixing the gateway signage to Healesville.

* Connecting the Healesville/Yarra Glen Rail.

* Addressing the needs of Yarra Glen and Coldstream communities to allow them to prosper.

What do you think are the most important issues facing Yarra Ranges?

* Building a strong economy. 

* Uniting the community.

* Supporting tourism.

* Reducing debt.

* Protecting our beautiful environment.

* Making our community safe.

Where do you stand on the logging currently taking place in Toolangi? Should it be stopped or does it have a rightful place to continue? Logging can and has for decades been in our community providing employment and contributing to the local economy. It is also subject to some of the strictest regulations in the world where timber we import is often from countries with no such restrictions. Whilst some suggest that logging impacts negatively on tourism the actual figures and my own experience do not support this view. Therefore my view is that logging has a place in our region, always has and I see no reason at this time to change that. I support sustainable logging.

Is enough being done to try secure higher education in the shire once Swinburne’s Lilydale campus closes? Early days and there is a lot to consider. Swinburne owns the property and building under various titles. Whilst there is much talk about a sale of it all that would be subject to approval by the state government. I am aware there are already discussions being held to retain the site as an education facility – that would be my preferred outcome.

Should the urban growth boundary be extended further in the Yarra Ranges? 

What sort of development would you allow? Any extension of the urban growth boundary needs to be carefully considered to ensure we retain the environmental integrity and beauty of our region. That said I think there is scope to allow appropriate development in Coldstream such at that proposed by the Coldstream 2020 Group.

Yarra Ranges Council is looking at a $15 million bill to top up the local government super fund. Is a rate rise justified to pay this unexpected fee? No – we should not increase debt.