Prahran By-Election Advocacy
The recent Prahran By-Election, held on 8 February, saw Council's Advocacy team actively engaging with candidates to promote key community projects and priorities. In preparation for the election, the team developed a comprehensive advocacy plan to guide their interactions and ensure that the needs of the community were effectively communicated.
To support these efforts, officers prepared a Prahran Priority Project Opportunities document, which highlighted significant projects and partnership opportunities with the Victorian Government. These projects were selected based on existing advocacy priorities and their high significance to the Council, as determined by the Advocacy Framework outlined in the Advocacy Strategy 2024-28, Council’s guiding advocacy policy.
Prahran Priority Project Opportunities
The priority projects included in the document were:
- Children's Centre Infrastructure
- St Kilda Primary School Hall/Community Hub
- Community Safety
- Active Transport and Pedestrian Safety
- St Kilda Library Redevelopment
- Sustainability and Climate Action
In January 2025, ahead of the election, Mayor Crawford and the CEO met with Liberal Candidate Rachel Westaway, Greens Candidate Angelica Di Camillo, and Independent Candidate Tony Lupton. These meetings provided an opportunity to present the Priority Project Opportunities document and discuss their items of interest. Feedback from the candidates indicated that the priorities aligned with their visions for Prahran, and they expressed support for working with the Council to advocate for these outcomes if elected.
In addition to these meetings, letters containing the priority projects booklet were sent to other candidates for their consideration.
Mayor Crawford has extended her congratulations to the successful candidate, Rachel Westaway, through a letter and has requested a further meeting. The next steps involve discussing how Ms. Westaway can collaborate with the Council to achieve mutual benefits for the projects outlined in the Priority Project Opportunities document.
Council's proactive approach in advocating for these key projects demonstrates a strong commitment to enhancing the community's infrastructure, safety, and sustainability. The engagement with candidates ensures that the voices of Port Phillip residents and traders are heard, and that their needs are prioritised in future government partnerships.
To find out more about the way Council advocates, visit Advocacy - City of Port Phillip