Team Reece says it’s ready to “get good done” for Melbourne

Incumbent Lord Mayor Nick Reece has revealed the full list of names of those he’s taking to the City of Melbourne elections, who he said had “the experience and energy” required to serve the people of Melbourne.

With caretaker mode now officially kicked in at Melbourne Town Hall, Cr Reece is now free to focus solely on his team’s election campaign under the catchphrase “Gets Good Done”.

Topping the Team Reece leadership ticket is his candidate for Deputy Lord Mayor, Liberal Party member, and fellow councillor, Roshena Campbell, who had already announced her candidacy back in July.

Cr Campbell served alongside Cr Reece as a councillor during the last term at the City of Melbourne as part of team of former Lord Mayor Sally Capp, who she opposed on a range of different issues.

While Cr Reece, a Labor Party member who is running as an independent at this election, also has differing views to Cr Campbell on several key issues, he has formed an unlikely alliance under a “unity ticket” at this election.

At the top of the team’s council ticket will be veteran councillor Kevin Louey whose influence within Melbourne’s Chinese business diaspora has seen him receive the number one spot under former Lord Mayors Robert Doyle and Sally Capp.

Regardless of whether Nick Reece wins the Lord Mayoralty, you can lock in Cr Louey to be returned for what would be a staggering fifth consecutive term since first being elected in 2008 – two decades as a councillor to be exact.

Team Reece’s all-important second councillor spot will be taken by Queen Victoria Market (QVM) trader and entrepreneur Mark Scott, who previously served as the market’s manager up until 2017.

Making up the rest of the team are digital entrepreneur and marketing expert Lisa Teh, who has switched allegiances having previously ran as Arron Wood’s candidate for Deputy Lord Mayor in the 2020 elections.

Beneath Ms Teh in the number four spot is renowned Southbank resident and founding member of residents’ group Southbank3006 Jannine Pattison, followed by Carlton Public Housing Estates Residents’ Association leader Hamdi Ali.

Rounding off the Team Reece council ticket are Docklands resident and decorated athlete Sue Stanley, and passionate Kensington resident Simone Hartley-Keane, who will assume the sixth and seventh positions, respectively.

Cr Reece said he was “so proud” of the team that had been assembled, stating it was “chock full of experience, diversity and a deep commitment to serving the people of Melbourne”.

“Each member of the team brings unique strengths and perspectives, and a dedication to work hard every day to make the best city in the world even better and even fairer,” Cr Reece said.

Cr Campbell added that the team was “ready to work hard and help ensure Melbourne continues to thrive.”

“Team Reece is focused on delivering real results that benefit every Melburnian, from supporting local businesses and easing the cost of living, to helping address the housing crisis and making our city safer and cleaner,” Cr Campbell said.

Since officially announcing his candidacy for Lord Mayor back in July, Cr Reece has announced a significant number of policies for the city, many of which directly impact the CBD.

Perhaps most notably, he has pledged to do everything in the council’s power to “turbo charge” the conversion of city offices to affordable homes with a series of practical changes, including slashing council rates for successful conversions.

In October last year, a “housing statement” released by the state government vowed to explore turning unused commercial space into “around 10,000 to 12,000 apartments and mixed-use properties”.

An audit of the CBD conducted by the Property Council of Australia identified nearly 80 buildings that it considered appropriate for conversion, however the government has yet to make any further announcements.

Cr Reece said the City of Melbourne would “help facilitate the creation of thousands of new homes with planning incentives, technical support and financial assistance to help convert existing office buildings into new apartments”.

These proposed measures include, but not limited to, refunding permit application fees for any conversion project creating more than 100 new apartments, slashing council rates, and establishing an Office Conversions Working Group with the state government.

As reported in this edition of CBD News, Cr Reece also made headlines in September by announcing he would sell the council’s 51 per cent stake in the Regent Theatre on Collins St to help fund new creative spaces and establish a Melbourne Arts Future Fund.

Team Reece has also announced a suite of policies aimed at improving city safety and cleanliness, supporting small business and investment into the city and establishing Australia’s largest ever renewable energy purchasing plan.

Having served his apprenticeship as a councillor since 2016, as well as Deputy Lord Mayor under his predecessor Sally Capp since 2020, Cr Reece believes he’s well and truly up for the challenge of a full term in the City of Melbourne’s top job.

“Melbourne is the best and fairest city in the world, but we can’t rest on our laurels. We know other cities are stepping up their efforts and we need to do the same,” Cr Reece said. “As Lord Mayor, I want to bring our city’s people together and work closely with our leaders so we can seize every opportunity for Melbourne in the years and decades ahead.” •