Council and Elections

Cr Susan Rennie (Mayor)
Mobile: 0419 750 035
Fax: (03) 9261 4878
Email: Susan.Rennie@darebin.vic.gov.au

Term as Councillor: 2016-2020
Term as Mayor: 2018 - 2019

Committee memberships: Planning Committee, Climate Emergency Darebin Advisory Committee, Hearing of Submissions Committee, Audit Committee, Darebin Aboriginal Advisory Committee (Co-Chair), Darebin Bicycle Advisory Committee (Proxy), Darebin Interfaith Council (Co-Chair)

Councillor profile: As a resident of 20 years, I have a deep sense of connectedness to place and community in my neighbourhood and across Darebin.
I've worked in the health and community sector for 25 years and championed social justice causes. On Council I can help to ensure the community is safe, welcoming and healthy for all.  Every person should feel valued and included, whatever their background.

We have challenges ahead in Darebin to plan for population growth and welcome 40,000 new residents in a way that enhances liveability rather than detracting from it. So my key local concerns include enhancing community health and wellbeing, building a more sustainable city, and improving the planning scheme to achieve better health and wellbeing outcomes.

Cr Kim Le Cerf
Mob: 0419 750 457
Fax: (03) 9261 4874
Email: Kim.LeCerf@darebin.vic.gov.au

Terms as Councillor: 2016-2020
Terms as Mayor: 2016-2017, 2017-2018

Committee memberships: Planning Committee (Chairperson), Hearing of Submissions Committee (Chairperson), Climate Emergency Darebin Advisory Committee (Chair), Audit Committee, Darebin Australia Day Committee (Chair), Darebin Domestic Animal Management Reference Group (Co-Chair), Darebin Education Committee (Co-Chair), Darebin Environmental Reference Group (Co-Chair), Darebin Women's Advisory Committee (Co-Chair), Municipal Emergency Management Planning Committee (Chair),

Councillor profile: Cr Kim Le Cerf was elected to Darebin Council in 2016 and is currently serving as Mayor of an invigorated new Council featuring six women. Kim has undertaken study in economics.

Kim's passion for the environment and desire to create a sustainable future for generations to come has been the foundation of a career in environmental leadership and project management in both local and state government. Much of her career to date has been devoted to managing the impacts of climate change, both locally and globally.

As a Darebin councillor, Kim feels a strong connection to the local community where she lives and where she is raising her three children. She has committed to addressing key urban issues, including getting planning and land use right so we don’t destroy the neighbourhoods we know and love, investing in infrastructure now and for the future, and of course, responding to climate change.

Cr Trent McCarthy
Mob: 0419 750 604
Fax: (03) 9261 4876
Email: Trent.McCarthy@darebin.vic.gov.au

Terms as Councillor: 2008-2012, 2012-2016, 2016-2020
Committee memberships: Planning Committee, Climate Emergency Darebin Advisory Committee, Hearing of Submissions Committee, Darebin Environmental Reference Group (Co-Chair),

Councillor profile: The place we now call Darebin has a rich history of human settlement going back thousands of years. We should look to how the Wurundjeri Nation has lived in harmony and connection with this land to meet the challenges we face, now and into the future.

With Darebin’s population expected to grow by 40,000 over the next 14 years, we need to make better and fairer use of what we have. We must secure, rejuvenate and create the services and infrastructure our diverse community needs, from community centres and sports facilities to children’s services and aged care. We must always keep an eye on what makes Darebin a great place to live - our inclusive and vibrant community, our unique streetscapes and urban spaces and our bushland, parks and creeks.

I'm excited to work with you and our new Council team to meet the big challenges, ensuring we have well-designed, accessible and sustainable housing and that we take strong local action on climate change. We need open and accountable governance and community-led solutions - everyone should feel ownership of Council’s plans.

Cr Steph Amir
Mobile: 0419 750 192
Fax: (03) 9261 4852
Email: Steph.Amir@darebin.vic.gov.au

Term as Councillor: 2016-2020
Committee memberships: Planning Committee, Hearing of Submissions Committee, Darebin Arts Ambassadors (Co-Chair), Darebin Bicycle Advisory Committee (Co-Chair), Darebin Youth Advisory Group (Chair), Northland Urban Renewal Precinct Steering Committee (Co-Chair), Sexuality, Sex and Gender Diversity Advisory Committee (Chair)

Councillor profile: We have everything we need in Darebin - Merri Creek, shops, cafes, great schools and connection to the rest of Melbourne. I’m proud that we’re a leader in arts and culture and cultural diversity, and love that people in our city stop and say "hello".

I joined Council to make sound decisions for the community; I want to implement good policy and lead in areas like environmental sustainability.  I’m energised by the fact that Council better reflects our diverse community now with women, young people and LGTBIQ people represented.

We need to invest in good infrastructure now, not retrofit later.  We need to improve economic equity, leverage our multicultural strengths, and work to ensure everyone can live a prosperous, connected life.

Cr Lina Messina
Mobile: 0419 750 504
Fax: (03) 9261 4847
Email: Lina.Messina@darebin.vic.gov.au

Term as Councillor: 2016-2020
Committee memberships: Planning Committee, Hearing of Submissions Committee, Active and Healthy Ageing Community Advisory Board, Northland Urban Renewal Precinct Steering Committee (Co-Chair), Preston Business Advisory Committee (Chair)

Councillor profile: Darebin is a great municipality - I love our unique social and cultural diversity.

As a council we will need to capitalise on councillor’s individual strengths, talents and attributes.  We’ll need to embody cohesion, trust and strong working relationships.

I am passionate about making a contribution to our community and honoured and humbled by the trust placed in me and the Council.

Cr Julie Williams
Mobile: 0419 750 152
Fax: (03) 9261 4846
Email: Julie.Williams@darebin.vic.gov.au

Term as Councillor: 2012-2016, 2016-2020
Committee memberships: Planning Committee, Hearing of Submissions Committee, Darebin Disability Advisory Committee (Co-Chair), Darebin Domestic Animal Management Reference Group (Co-Chair), Northland Urban Renewal Precinct Steering Committee (Co-Chair), Preston Business Advisory Committee (Proxy)

Councillor profile: I've lived worked and played in Darebin nearly all my life and am now raising my family here.

Darebin is so culturally diverse with an abundance of food, schools, sporting clubs and innovative businesses, open spaces and great transport. The Preston market is a great reflection of the culture that makes this community so wonderful and livable.

With our growing population, within the next 15 years, 25 percent of our residents will be over the age of 65. I want to ensure Darebin continually invests in infrastructure, trees, safety and appropriate development so that our next generation will be accommodated for.

I was motivated to stand for council again because I wanted to ensure that Darebin builds appropriate development, protects sensitive interfaces, manages parking, and protects local amenities.

Cr Susanne Newton (Deputy Mayor)
Mobile: 0419 764 245
Fax: (03) 9261 4843
Email: Susanne.Newton@darebin.vic.gov.au

Terms as Councillor: 2016-2020
Committee memberships: Planning Committee, Hearing of Submissions Committee, Bundoora Homestead Board of Management Committee, Active and Healthy Ageing Community Advisory Board, Darebin Aboriginal Advisory Committee (Co-Chair), Darebin Disability Advisory Committee (Co-Chair), Darebin Housing Committee (Co-Chair), Darebin Women's Advisory Committee (Co-Chair), Edwardes Lake Park Reference Group Committee, Reservoir Structure Plan Community Reference Group (Co-Chair), Sexuality, Sex and Gender Diversity Advisory Committee (Proxy)

Councillor profile: I choose to live in Darebin because it's so diverse and vibrant, and I've gotten to know and love Reservoir.

Reservoir is an amazing example of different ethnic communities living in harmony.  But there’s room for more small businesses and a livelier shopping strip - enhancing what's good about Reservoir now while maintaining the sense of community.

Our city faces significant challenges with population growth, the impacts of traffic and climate change.  As a Council we need to ask if we have good enough planning to cope with density and manage the impact.

At a local level, my key concerns reflect what the community told me: hoons and safety on our streets, appropriate development and open spaces to balance the increase in housing density.

Cr Gaetano Greco
Mob: 0419 750 214
Fax: (03) 9261 4841
Email: Gaetano.Greco@darebin.vic.gov.au

Terms as Councillor: 2008-2012, 2012-2016, 2016-2020
Terms as Mayor: 2013-2014
Committee memberships: Planning Committee, Hearing of Submissions Committee, Bundoora Homestead Board of Management Committee, Active and Healthy Ageing Community Advisory Board, Darebin Aboriginal Advisory Committee (Co-Chair), Darebin Arts Ambassadors (Co-Chair), Darebin Education Committee (Co-Chair), Darebin Housing Committee (Co-Chair), Darebin Interfaith Council (Co-Chair), Edwardes Lake Park Reference Group Committee, Reservoir Structure Plan Community Reference Group (Co-Chair)

Councillor profile: Darebin is the best multicultural city in Victoria, with people from all over the world living side by side in harmony and supporting one another.

We have great local businesses, cafes and restaurants - my top priority is protecting the iconic Preston Market’s character and culture. I’m eager to get things done for our city, to make Council more transparent and accessible and help people have a real say about how ratepayers’ money is spent.

It’s time to get on with big projects, like the multi sports stadium, new intercultural centre, Edwardes Lake Boat House, city beautification, and environmental initiatives.

We also need to stop inappropriate development. Enough is enough. We need to fix traffic and parking problems and ensure the State Government fixes our dangerous rail crossings.

Cr Tim Laurence
Mobile: 0419 750 234
Fax: (03) 9261 4842
Email: Tim.Laurence@darebin.vic.gov.au

Terms as Councillor: 1996-1997, 1998-2002, 2008-2012, 2012-2016, 2016-2020
Terms as Mayor: 2000-2001, 2012-2013

Committee memberships: Planning Committee, Hearing of Submissions Committee, Bundoora Homestead Board of Management Committee, Edwardes Lake Park Reference Group Committee, Reservoir Structure Plan Community Reference Group (Co-Chair)

Councillor profile: No other place can match the vibrancy of this easy-going and culturally diverse community. People are quick to say hello and we're a multilingual lot with many languages in our midst.

We're spoilt for food choice with Preston market and a diverse range of cultural providores, and our large urban parks and creek valleys provide great open spaces.

I ran for council again to make a difference.  I believe we must ensure a fair go for all, equal access to council services, and equal allocation of ratepayer funding across our suburbs.

Our biggest challenge is restoring our City to being the best place to live in Melbourne.  We need better roads, replanted parks, affordable housing, greener streetscapes, renewed sports facilities and first class community centres and services.