Darebin

This October, vote for a Greens Councillor who will work for our local community, put people ahead of profits, and take real action to tackle climate change.
 

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Greens achievements in Darebin

Darebin has had five Greens Councillors in its history: 

  • Trent McCarthy, 2008-2024 (Deputy Mayor 2021-22) 
  • Kim LeCerf, 2016-2020 (Mayor 2016-2018) 
  • Steph Amir 2016-2020 
  • Susanne Newton 2016-, Deputy Mayor 2018-20; 2022-2023, Mayor 2023-2024
  • Tom Hannan 2020-2024

Our achievements include: 

First government worldwide to declare a climate emergency, kickstarting a worldwide climate emergency movement 

  • Developed world’s first Climate Emergency Plan 
  • Led Victorian Energy Collaboration (VECO) where 51 Councils in Victorian are now powered by renewable energy https://www.veco.org.au/ 
  • Built Australia’s first indoor-outdoor gas free aquatic centre, the award-winning Northcote Aquatic and Recreation Centre
  • Doubled solar power in Darebin through the award winning Solar Savers program
  • Reached net zero emissions at Darebin Council and are now aiming towards net zero as a community in our second climate emergency plan 
  • ‘Rewilding’ Darebin with over 300,000 trees, plants and shrubs planted 
  • Started the Darebin Nature Trust and the Climate Emergency Committee 

Long-term partnership with First Nations communities in Darebin 

  • One of the first Councils to have a First Nations advisory committee, the Darebin Aboriginal Advisory Committee (DAAC), going for over 20 years 
  • Second Victorian Council to move celebrations from 26 January after Yarra. We now hold a First Nations led alternative celebration in September, Ganbu Gulin. In 2024, Mayor Susanne Newton supported the Ganbu Gulin event instead of having a Mayoral event. 
  • Statement of Commitment with Wurundjeri Woi-Wurrung people renewed in 2019 https://www.darebin.vic.gov.au/Community-and-pets/Aboriginal-Darebin/Our-commitment/About-our-commitment 
  • Aboriginal Employment Strategy in place
  • MOU with Aboriginal Housing Victoria including waiving rates 

LGBTIQA+ inclusion 

  • Drove Rainbow Tick accreditation for some Council services, which has been awarded 
  • Australia’s first Trans and Gender Diverse swim nights at Reservoir Leisure Centre 
  • First Council in Australia to sign the Darlington statement
  • Strong LGBTIQA+ advisory committee 

Across our community

  • Refugee Welcome Zone and are a leadership council in the Mayoral Taskforce Supporting People Seeking Asylum who run the Back Your Neighbour campaign
  • Flying the Palestinian Flag over the Preston Town Hall since December 2023 and taking a strong stance on Palestine including calling for a permanent ceasefire,  ending the illegal occupation of Palestinian territories, and exploring Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions.
  • Flying the Morning Star flag over Preston Town Hall every 1 December in solidarity with the people of West Papua. 
  • First Council to be awarded ‘Excelling’ status in the Welcoming Cities Framework through Welcoming Australia 
  • Supporting women and girls’ sport through building a dedicated multi-sports premier facility for women’s sport and the wider Darebin community, Narrandjeri Stadium.
  • Susanne said no to the Mayoral car and asked for the amount allocated to be put back into the fleet to purchase e-bikes.
  • Leased Council land to a housing provider for 50 years to build social housing in Preston https://www.housingchoices.org.au/housing/projects/preston/

Through these changes, Darebin has been transformed into one of the highest functioning and most progressive councils in Australia. But there's still much more work to do, and we need Greens to get it done. 

Our vision

Our commitments to you over the next four years include:

  • Our COVID recovery plan - A Green New Deal for Darebin - to create thousands of local jobs, invest in the arts, back local businesses and care for our most vulnerable people and the environment

  • Planting 1.5 million trees, plants and grasses across Darebin by 2025

  • Upgrading Reservoir Leisure Centre and rebuilding Northcote Aquatic and Recreation Centre as a 6 Star Green Star facility for all community members

  • Improving access to green space and making developers pay their fair share

  • Expanding Solar Saver to include batteries, heat pumps and energy efficiency

  • Advocacy to extend the number 11 tram to Reservoir Station and increase the public transport network through East Preston

  • Ensuring public spaces and services are safe and accessible for everyone, including multicultural communities, LGBTIQ communities, older residents and people of all genders.

If you have other ideas or pressing issues, we'd love to hear them. Please get in touch with any of our candidates to share your thoughts on how we can make Darebin thrive.

Contact your Darebin Greens Team

Facebook: facebook.com/DarebinGreens

Email: darebinbranch@vic.greens.org.au.