Docklanders in the council election mix

Six Docklanders are running for council in the upcoming election.

This is double the number of Docklanders who stood at the  last election in 2008.

And four of the six Docklanders running are on the same ticket. On the ticket is former Chamber of Commerce president Keith Rankin, who is running for Lord Mayor with the Harbour Kitchen’s Grace Han as his deputy.

Also on the ticket are Gerard Anderson and Maree Norris, who are running for councillor positions.

Mr Rankin said, if elected, the team would build on the council’s existing investments in Docklands by advocating for new infrastructure, improvements to the waterways and new mooring facilities.

He said his team was committed to delivering outcomes that would make Melbourne a more liveable city.

These include improvements to parks and gardens, new cycling infrastructure and planning controls that protect the character of neighbourhoods and providing a stronger voice for the community.

Michele Anderson is another Docklander who is running for one of the nine councillor positions.

Ms Anderson has lived in Docklands for 10 years and is running for the position of councillor, alongside Stephen Mayne.

“I believe the community should be listened to and council should be a true representation of both businesses and residents,” Ms Anderson said.

Ms Anderson’s policies refer to the issue of short-term accommodation.

She said buildings in Melbourne should be either residential, with a minimum 30-night stay, or purpose-built accommodation buildings.

The sixth local running for election is Sally Hewitt, who is seeking a councillor position on Gary Singer and John So’s ticket.

Ms Hewitt’s policies for Docklands include more control over serviced apartments, holding developers accountable, rationalisation of the management bodies that have authority over Docklands and a greater focus on tourism through a 5-star destination hotel.

The Docklanders are among nine leadership teams vying for the roles of Lord and Deputy Lord Mayor and 40 individuals running for nine available councillor positions.

Docklanders will have a chance to hear from the candidates at a “Meet the Candidates” night on October 16 from 7pm at Watermark.

The Rotary Club of Docklands will host the event, which will be chaired and moderated by Docklands News’s Shane Scanlan.