What you need to know
Councillors are voted in by residents every four years, to represent the community and make decisions regarding a large range of issues. Moonee Valley is made up of three wards - Rose Hill, Buckley and Myrnong, and each ward is represented by three Councillors.
Information about Councillors
To contact a Councillor, please see their details on their respective pages or contact the Councillor Support Office. They can assist members of the community and organisations with general Councillor enquiries, including invitations to attend events and meetings. Contact them on 9243 8846 or email coffice@mvcc.vic.gov.au
Role of Councillors
A Councillor's primary role is to represent the community and effectively translate the community's needs and aspirations into a direction and future for the municipality.
In representing their local communities, Councillors perform many roles including:
- acting as a responsible and accountable sphere of democratic governance
- providing for appropriate services to meet community needs
- facilitating and coordinating local efforts and resources in pursuit of community goals
- advocating to State and Federal Governments and other bodies on issues of concern to residents
- encouraging a positive community identity and civic spirit
- each November, the council team will elect a Mayor who then leads his or her council team and the wider Moonee Valley community for the following 12 months
For more information about the role of Councillors, visit the Know Your Council website.
Rose Hill Ward
- Airport West
- Avondale Heights
- Keilor East
- Niddrie
- most of Essendon West
- part of Strathmore Heights
Buckley Ward
- Aberfeldie
- Essendon Fields
- Essendon North
- Strathmore
- most of Essendon and Strathmore Heights
- parts of Moonee Ponds and Essendon West
Myrnong Ward
- Ascot Vale
- Flemington
- Travancore
- most of Moonee Ponds
- part of Essendon
Mayoral Position
Councillors vote in a new Mayor every 12 months. The current Mayor is Cr Samantha Byrne and the Deputy Mayor is Cr John Sipek.
Here is a list of previous Mayors:
| Year | Mayor |
|---|---|
| 1997-98 | Cr Eugene Hammer |
| 1998-99 | Cr Hedley Moffat |
| 1999-00 | Cr Don Cornish |
| 2000-01 | Cr Trevor Sinclair |
| 2001-02 | Cr Don Cornish |
| 2002-03 | Cr Eugene Hammer |
| 2003-04 | Cr Mark Kennedy |
| 2004-05 | Cr Lydia Kauzlaric |
| 2005-06 | Cr Jan Chantry |
| 2006-07 | Cr Ben Opie |
| 2007-09 | Cr Paul Giuliano |
| 2009-10 | Cr Shirley Cornish |
| 2010-11 | Cr John Sipek |
| 2011-12 | Cr Jim Cusack |
| 2012-13 | Cr Narelle Sharpe |
| 2013-14 | Cr Jan Chantry |
| 2014-15 | Cr Narelle Sharpe |
| 2015-16
2016-17 |
Cr Andrea Surace |
| 2017-18 | Cr John Sipek |
| 2018-19 | Cr Narelle Sharpe |
| 2019-20 | Cr Samantha Byrne |
Councillor-Community Dispute Resolution Policy
Council has developed a Councillor-Community Dispute Resolution Policy (pdf, 37KB) which provides a process for resolving disputes that may arise between a Councillor and a member of the community.
The policy encourages Councillors and community members to try and resolve matters before commencing any formal process under the policy. However, in the event a dispute does remain unresolved following an informal resolution process, the policy provides an avenue for community members to formalise their complaint in writing and have the dispute facilitated by the Chief Executive Officer.
Donations and Grants register
The Donations and Grants Register contains information about who Council donated to and grants awarded by Council including the amount of each donation and grant.
Code of Conduct
Councillors are governed by a Code Of Conduct (pdf, 300KB) to maintain the highest standards of conduct and behaviour.
Councillor expenses
In accordance with the Local Government Act 1989, Councillors are entitled to be reimbursed in relation to expenses incurred in their capacity as a Councillor.
Council has adopted the Councillor Expense and Reimbursement Policy 2018 (pdf, 520KB) which provides a broad overview of how Council provides assistance and support to the Mayor and Councillors in carrying out their role and official duties.
To ensure greater transparency, we publish the reimbursement of Councillor expenses here on this page on a quarterly basis. The figures included in these reports may include expenses not incurred in the reporting period but processed by the administration in the reporting period.
- Quarterly Declaration of Councillor Expenses 1 April 2019 to 30 June 2019 (pdf, 200KB)
- Quarterly Declaration of Councillor Expenses 1 January 2019 to 31 March 2019 (pdf, 200KB)
- Quarterly Declaration of Councillor Expenses 1 October 2018 to 31 December 2018 (pdf, 215KB)
- Quarterly Declaration of Councillor Expenses 1 July 2018 to 30 September 2018 (pdf, 200KB)
- Quarterly Declaration of Councillor Expenses 1 April - 30 June 2018 (pdf, 91KB)
- Quarterly Declaration of Councillor Expenses 1 January - 31 March 2018 (pdf, 91KB)
- Quarterly Declaration of Councillor Expenses 1 October - 30 December 2017 (pdf, 47KB)
- Quarterly Declaration of Councillor Expenses 1 July - 30 September 2017 (pdf, 92KB)
- Quarterly Declaration of Councillor Expenses 1 April - 30 June 2017 (pdf, 179KB)
- Quarterly Declaration of Councillor Expenses 1 January - 31 March 2017 (pdf, 140KB)
- Quarterly Declaration of Councillor Expenses 1 July - 30 September 2016 (pdf, 140KB)
- Quarterly Declaration of Councillor Expenses 1 October - 31 December 2016 (pdf, 144KB)
- Quarterly Declaration of Councillor Expenses 1 April - 30 June 2016 (pdf, 216KB)
Political Party Membership
This Register contains details of political party memberships held by Councillors. The register includes both past and present memberships.
| Councillor | Current Membership | Previous Membership |
|---|---|---|
| Cr Samantha Byrne | No | |
| Cr Jim Cusack | Yes - Australian Labor Party | |
| Cr Rebecca Gauci Maurici | Yes - Liberal Party of Australia | |
| Cr Richard Lawrence | No | Yes - Liberal Party of Australia 2011-2012 |
| Cr Nicole Marshall | Yes - Australian Labor Party | |
| Cr Cam Nation | No | Yes - Liberal Party of Australia |
| Cr Narelle Sharpe | No | |
| Cr John Sipek | No | Yes - Australian Labor Party 2005-2016 |
| Cr Andrea Surace | No |