By Mikayla van Loon
Having served on Yarra Ranges Council for 15 years, Tim Heenan will return for another four as he takes up this next term as Billanook Ward councillor.
Gaining majority of first preference votes with 56.28 per cent, Cr Heenan was guaranteed a declared spot over singular opponent Wendy Wright who reached 43.72 per cent in her first election.
“I’m very grateful that the people of Mount Evelyn and Lilydale have seen fit to have me represent them again. That’s pretty important,” he said.
As a first priority heading back into a council term, off the back of a year of community outcry and petitioning, Cr Heenan said drainage would be at the top of his agenda.
“We’ve got to make good, substantial outlay now in our major projects to make sure we can fix it without any more Band Aid jobs,” he said.
“We can fix what is under our responsibility, Melbourne water plays a part too, but Yarra Ranges needs to now look at the long term benefits of having more upgraded drainage in some of the areas that have had substantial flooding.”
Cr Heenan was very pronounced in the requirement for Melbourne Water to play a large part in the upgrade of infrastructure.
“There is substantial interaction with Melbourne Water and for a very long time, Melbourne Water has not come to the table, and they need to know they play a very important part too.
“It doesn’t stop just with Yarra Ranges Council, Melbourne Water has to make sure they understand their responsibilities.”
With five returning councillors and four new appointments, Cr Heenan said “it’s great to have a new team, new focuses” but some of the key challenges still remain.
“I do have a great concern that the funding models we’ve been getting from the Federal and State Government won’t be as they have been in previous years.
“So we need to really understand how our financial situation is going to be going forward, and we’ll probably be called upon to make some really serious decisions about where the money is spent.
“I know the members of the community want it spent in a way that it will have the proper outcome for ageing infrastructure, for ageing areas of the council where there hasn’t been a lot of money spent over the years to upgrade that infrastructure, and that needs to be addressed now.”
Cr Heenan said that while his focus would be on his ward and residents, the broader commitment of a councillor to the entire shire was equally important.
“We shouldn’t just think that it’s about wards because we’ve all got a supreme responsibility to the Yarra Ranges, the whole of Yarra Ranges and decisions we will be making in the future will be hopefully for a positive outcome in Yarra Ranges as the council.
“They’ve clearly stated what’s important to them, we need to somehow come to a better standing with their rubbish collection. We need to come to a better standing with infrastructure renewal.
“We need to spend money in the right places in a proper physical environment. The people want the grassroots issues taken care of.”
