New Labor Supported candidate for South Ward

Christopher Anderson, resident of Brunswick West, with a long history in local community involvement has won support from the Australian Labor Party to contest the South Ward this year’s council elections.

Christopher is one of a suite of candidates that the ALP has selected to run in the November 2008 Moreland Council elections.

Christopher has a strong understand of local issues and the things that matter to the residents of Brunswick

“I have a strong appreciation of what makes it a great place to live. In moving forward, I am deeply passionate to continue and improve to make it even better.“Having worked very closely with numerous community leaders and organisations, I have first hand knowledge and experience of the day to day and long term issues facing Brunswick and residents”, Christopher said.

Christopher also has a historic connection to local government, being the grandson of former City of Brunswick councillor and two time mayor, Norman Anderson. A trust in the name of Cr Norm Anderson gives annual grants to local organisations for the benefit of young people.

Christopher hopes the election campaign will encourage debate on issues including transport; sport and recreation, particularly the use of open spaces; and the opportunity to work across all levels of government to create better facilities for Brunswick families.

“We deserve a responsive council that can respond to these issues and balance the needs of new residents with those of our longer-standing residents,” Christopher said.

Christopher currently works as Electorate Officer for Brunswick MP, Carlo Carli on Sydney Road.

About Christopher Anderson

Christopher lives and works in Brunswick.

He lives in Heller Street, Brunswick West, just around the corner from Union Square on Grantham Street. He works as Electorate Officer for Brunswick MP, Carlo Carli on Sydney Road.

He also studies part time at the University of Melbourne in the Master of Public Policy and Management course.

In his spare time he co-ordinates the juniors at the Brunswick Hockey Club and in summer he occasionally plays a game of cricket with the East Coburg Cricket Club.

He has been a member of the Australian Labor Party since 1992, serving as President and Secretary of Coburg Branch, as a member of the youth, economics and transport policy committees, and as a State Conference Delegate.

He has also served as a member of the RMIT University Council.

Christopher lists securing greater access to the internet for disadvantaged residents as one of his most satisfying achievements. He was a founding member of Virtual Moreland that got community groups online and trained over 1200 disadvantaged residents in how to use the internet.

He also played a leading role in securing funding for a $1 million synthetic hockey field at the Brunswick Secondary College in Dawson Street.

Finding a solution to the competing transportation needs of the area is high on Christopher’s priority list. He is involved in a campaign to encourage the State Government to reconsider its proposed transport solution for inner Melbourne, in particular the east-west road tunnel.

Christopher’s views

What is ‘right’ about Brunswick?

• Good connections (transport/services/ proximity to major activities)
• The people – diverse, interesting, progressive, multicultural
• Our north/south streets – Sydney Road, Lygon St, Grantham/Melville Road
• Strong sense of community
• Vibrant arts/culture/music scene
• Improving urban amenity

What is ‘wrong’ about Brunswick?

• Open space is not where its needed
• Community organisations are under stress
• Housing costs – rents and mortgages are getting costlier
• Trams are overcrowded and there are not enough in the evening (esp West Brunswick)
• Children’s services – not enough of them
• Sports clubs feel neglected and squeezed
• Streetscape quality is varying Brunswick West – is not well connected to the rest of Brunswick
• Competition for roads – conflicts between parking, driving, cars, bikes and pedestrians

What is needed?

• Strategic plans that targets buying more open space in areas of future high demand
• Better support and understanding of the pressures that community organisations face.
• Council plans to help ease the financial burden on new home owners
• Council campaigning with the community to increase public transport capacity
• Maintain and improve access to services and destinations around Sydney Road – better bus links, walking and cycling east west routes and maintaining suitable car access.
• Council needs to improve links with sporting groups – smarter allocation, easier to understand processes and forms, easing off on increasing fees during the drought, more responsive approaches in dealing with infrastructure.