Kingston Your City: Bonus Advocacy Edition

We're proud to present a bonus edition of Kingston Your City that unpacks some of our key advocacy projects and priorities ahead of the federal election.

You can find some additional documents and information on this page about the issues featured and the contact details you need if you would like to add a supportive voice by contacting your federal member.

What are we asking for?

We've divided the many issues that impact Kingston into a few key priorities. We are asking for funding support, some laws changed and for the government to use their existing powers to protect our aviation industry.

How can I help?

• Your vote and your voice is the greatest support you can give. Voting for members who support Kingston will ensure our community is heard and our needs are met.
• We have included links so that you can contact your relevant federal member on any of the issues featured in this edition, to remind them that they matter to you.
• A sample letter has been included below our Key Documents if you need some help to get started.
• You can also help by sharing our posts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to get the word out in our community.

What are the issues?

Aquatic Centre

What: We are asking for funding support to build an accessible and sustainable district level aquatics facility to serve the current and future needs of our growing community.

Why it matters: We need to keep our growing and ageing community moving in a way that meets their needs and supports their health.

More: Key Documents, Creating a New Aquatic and Leisure Centre for Kingston | Your Kingston Your Say, Watch the video

Moorabbin Airport

What: We asked the Australian Government to exercise their power via the Airports Act 1996 to stop further development of the Moorabbin Airport site that will shrink space for aviation and increase commercial expansion and they responded in our favour.

Why it matters: Moorabbin is a training hub for Australian aviation that provides jobs and opportunities. Without intervention there may not have been space left to safely fly and operate.

More: Key Documents, Watch the video

Kingston City Hall

What: We are asking the government to match our $5million commitment to redevelop Kingston City Hall into a large scale music, arts and civic events centre.

Why it matters: There is no venue of this kind in the South to serve our community. Economic modelling shows us that the flow-on effect of this project would help kickstart pandemic recovery for the arts, hospitality and construction sectors.

More: Key Documents, Securing the future of Kingston City Hall: Kingston City Hall Masterplan (Stage 2) | Your Kingston Your Say, watch out for our #MakeSomeNoiseForTheSouth campaign on social media

Recycled Water Project

What: We need funding support to complete a pipeline to direct non-drinking water to our world class golf courses and growers.

Why it matters: Using drinkable water to irrigate thousands of metres of land is wasteful, but relying on storm water is also becoming difficult in a changing climate. We need a stable solution that meets growers and business needs.

More: Key Documents, Green Wedge Management Plan Review | Your Kingston Your Say

Our Climate Agenda

What: We have formed our own NetZero 2030 campaign and are working with our regional councils through the South East Councils Climate Change Alliance to form a strategy to combat the specific impacts of climate change in the South East.

Why it matters: To prevent a climate and environmental disaster in our future we need to make smart changes now for Kingston and our region.

More: Key Documents, Kingston Net Zero 2030 - Supporting our community to take climate action | Your Kingston Your Say, Watch the video

Back Your Neighbour

What: We have joined councils across Australia to advocate for the nearly 100,000 people in our community waiting to have their refugee status confirmed.

Why it matters: While these people wait, they receive no support (such as Medicare or Centrelink). Some are waiting up to nine years for life to begin. Community groups are usually the main source of support and this is not sustainable.

More: About the campaign – Back Your Neighbour

GSEM regional priorities

What: Greater South East Melbourne (GSEM) advocates for jobs, infrastructure, investment, liveability, sustainability and wellbeing for the southeast and everyone who works and lives in the region.

Why it matters: We are advocating as a group to deliver forty-six important regional projects under four priority areas: Economic sustainability, Stronger families and communities, Environmental sustainability, Transport and connectivity.

More: Regional Projects—South East Melbourne (gsem.org.au)