Jackie Watts, Melbourne City Councillor | Public figure
Jackie Watts, Melbourne City Councillor
Reviews
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25.01.2022 Greetings You may already be aware that the City of Melbourne election results were announced at 5 pm yesterday. I have been re-elected - and I sincerely thank those who have expressed such wonderful support and encouragement to me and to Team Morgan during the recent frenetic weeks of the campaign and, most importantly, during my previous terms on Council. ... While the election is fresh in our minds and avoiding too much campaign detail, there are two points, which need to be made: This has been my third City of Melbourne Council election candidacy and, my experience leaves me with no doubt at all that the current system is deeply flawed. Voters, denied equitable representation, appear to have lost trust or confidence in the system. Voter participation has dropped to an all time low (around 55%). Despite voting being compulsory and despite the voting period being extended for 5 extra days this election, such an abysmal voter turnout indicates that the City of Melbourne electoral system is no longer credible. Turning now to a positive outcome voters have once again narrowly avoided a Council in which Team Doyle has an absolute majority - a very significant safeguard for local government democracy in Melbourne. The groundwork for this lies in the submissions to the VEC prior to the 2012 City of Melbourne election. We called for 2 additional Councillors to reflect increased population density, to deliver extra talent on Council and, most importantly, to prevent a Council controlled by a dominant, well-funded, incumbent voting Bloc. This strategy has worked. Let’s hope that further electoral reforms will emerge from the State Government before the 2020 election. The pro-corporate gerrymander must end. Voter eligibility in the City of Melbourne must be consistent with all other municipalities. Equitable representation at the Local, State and Federal levels of government is simply a Right denied to voters in the City of Melbourne. So - I look forward to the next Council term. There is much to be done in the next four years. Melbourne has a way to go before, in my view, it becomes a genuinely ‘liveable’ city’. Hubris from Town Hall won’t get us far! I will be relying upon you all to keep me ‘in the loop’ by expressing your concerns, keeping the information flowing, sharing your the ideas with me. There is much to love about Melbourne and many ways in which truly accessible and transparent Council can make it even better. Kind regards Jackie Watts
23.01.2022 A constituent called me yesterday to discuss about living alongside the homeless and how some dont understand as readily as the rest of us that certain conditio...n have to be met in order to keep everyone safe during Coronavirus. Conditions like Social Distancing, Masks, Sanitisation, and each of those conditions are difficult to maintain when you've bene living on the streets. Now we have accommodation for the homeless, the issue to keep our community safe is that of education and tolerance. We have to take care of those who are homeless and we have to understand its not their fault and we have to understand their needs are multiple and complex. We dont need wrong policies, what we need is to address the reality of how so many of are so close to the line and how to maintain decent places for the homeless to live in our city especially during the times of Coronavirus. Re-elect me and I will continue thinking clearly and constructively on this, one of the most complex problems in our city.
21.01.2022 Re-elect Dr. Jackie Watts OAM in The City of Melbourne Council Elections. #melbourneconcilelections #councilelection2020 #cityofmelbourne #jackiewatts
20.01.2022 Traders groups and precincts know what they need from their Council
18.01.2022 There is Chinatown, there is Greek precinct, there is Italian precinct in the Melbourne CBD. So why should we not have an Indian precinct in the Melbourne CDB?
17.01.2022 At the yesterday morning listening to the traders about their justifiable dismay at the 5 which had so severely damaged their opportunity to trade. Given that customers were so very scarce indeed this morning, traders seemed pleased to chat with me and share their disappointment that the Premier was unwilling to recognise that the outcome of his persisting with the 5 was causing such avoidable hardship not only for the traders box the QVM is dire.
16.01.2022 Off Swanston St. In the grounds in from of Newman Chapel - A new and poignant statue depicting homeless person on a park bench. A reminder of those ‘homeless’ citizens needing support especially amidst the Lockdown. The Govt has arranged temporary accommodation in various locations around our municipality - but sadly it is not going well. I’ve received several calls from constituents concern that DHHS is not properly caring for those in their care - nor showing respect for th...e local residents. DHHS has a factor in Education about COVID safety- and provide psycho/ social support for complex needs amongst the homeless as well as a roof over their heads. The tolerance levels are dropping. Locals are compassionate people, but they have fears of health and safety risks and don’t necessarily want to VICPOL engagement. They want and they urgently insist that DHHS to do their job by supporting the homeless now in neighborhood Melbourne’s neighborhoods. They want DHHS to say when the homeless will actually have homes See more
15.01.2022 Dismayed to observe disposed used masks thrown down on the streets of Melbourne.
14.01.2022 I am seeking re-election - precisely because the Next Council term will be like no other. The recovery of our City has barely commenced. Vote 1 on your City of Melbourne Council Election Ticket to re-elect me for in the Council Elections next month. #melbournecity #melbournecitycouncil #councilelections #jackiewatts #cityofmelbourne #melbourneconcilelections #Councilelection2020 #VoteForJackie
13.01.2022 New post: Queen Victoria Market Precinct Renewal- January information sessions temporary market pavilion has been published on CoRBA
10.01.2022 Valuing heritage is in Melbourne’s DNA. Out multi-layered heritage - architectural, cultural, and environmental - is widely acclaimed. Local History Groups continue to flourish- doing a tremendous job of documenting and celebrating our past. Owners of heritage properties invest their time and their money in painstakingly researching and restoring many marvellous properties. Having owned and restored several heritage houses myself, I know full well the satisfaction of preserv...ing wonderful heritage assets for future generations. But what about the fate of heritage ’assets ‘ property owned by corporations? Or developers? So often it seems they are lawfully' gutted to mere facades, overwhelmed by towering developments or unlawfully demolished completely like the Corkman Hotel in Carlton? And what about the fate of publicly owned heritage ‘assets’? For example the splendid Lemon Scented Gumtrees cut-down by Vic Roads to make way for? Roads! And what about the desperate struggle to defend the Nationally and State heritage listed Queen Victoria Market from the threat ‘Renewal’ by then owner - the City of Melbourne? Fortunately Heritage Victoria and a horde of heritage organisations stood firm in halting the inappropriate plans - for now at least. Regrettable too the inexplicable neglect by Development Victoria of the iconic Central Pier in Docklands - the last of its kind in Australia. What can be done when Responsible Authorities such as these somehow manage to ‘turn a blind eye’ to what is genuinely valued by the community -and will be of immense value well into the future? So - What CAN be done is to be ever vigilant, and NEVER take heritage protection for granted. Insist politicians at all levels of Government really acknowledge the lasting ‘value‘ of Melbourne’s heritage assets
09.01.2022 to hear about the desparate need for more open space around city from the residents of this amazing city of Melbourne. The council need to understand the planning permits and serve in the best interests of their constituencies. If re-elected I will continue to serve with the best interest of the local community. ... #melbournecity #cityofmelbourne #jackiewatts #voteforjackie #councilelections #melbournecouncilelections #elections2020
09.01.2022 A well deserved ’Shout-Out’ for the wonderful U3A in Melbourne. The University of the Third Age(US3A) is an extraordinary organisation in this City and beyond. Today I discovered just how special Melbourne’s U3A really is. The U3A Melbourne City is the oldest branch of the University of the Third Age in Australia. It was established in 1984. It has 1300 members, all of whom are 50 years or older and retired or semi-retired, attend classes and activities conducted in 13 ve...nues around the City of Melbourne. Although pre-COVID out streets were over-flowing with young university students, according to the MCC website 16% of the residents of Melbourne City are actually 50 years of age or older. Many, but not all, are retired. Since the city was overwhelmed with COVID19 in March 2020, most of the courses offered have been conducted online or regrettably suspended to comply with COVID 19 restrictions. Approximately 70% of U3As operating in premises which free or discounted provided by the respective municipality. Yet - To my astonishment, the U3A Melbourne City currently receives no support in ration to premises. This must change post-election. If re-elected I will do my best to see that it does and that U3A receives the support it clearly deserves. The U3A makes an immense contribution to Melbourne - cultural and social. benefits to the community include: - exchanging information - transferring skills - new technologies - continuing to develop established interests - eg. languages and history - intellectual stimulation - chess, bridge - Physical activity - bushwalking
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07.01.2022 Opening up Melbourne’s Waterways Melbourne’s waterways are seriously under-developed public asset. Few are aware that Melbourne has more extensive navigable waterways than Sydney.... As Chair of the Melbourne Maritime Heritage Network, Jackie argues that there is significant State government investment in Melbourne’s waterways and they will deliver economic benefit if properly managed to optimise the return-on investment. There is a need to unlock this potential. Now is the time. When the COVID Lockdown ends there needs to be a serious re-think by all key stakeholders. In times gone by, the Yarra and Maribyrnong Rivers, the Yarra Estuary, Victoria Harbour, Port Phillip Bay and the South West coast beyond, were well used and played a more lively part in social and economic fabric of life in Melbourne. Nowadays public use he waterways has languished. Those in the bureaucracy managing our waterways over recent decades, have demonstrated that they have little understanding of the pleasure, nor the profit for that matter, which may be derived from this public asset. There have been attempts Melbourne in the recent past to establish such waterways services. Predictably progress has been stymied by over zealous ‘re-tape and bureaucratic demarcations, As we creep towards end of Lockdown, optimism in relation to waterways activation grows. The benefit of properly activating Melbourne’s waterways - transport and tourism - is abundantly clear. Let’s seize the opportunity to make activation of our waterways is a key element in Melbourne’s post pandemic recovery.
06.01.2022 A thought from my walk earlier today, our city is densly populated and its amazing how people have taken to Melbourne General Cemetery for their workouts and walks. It was originally designed as a recreation park and its great to see how it has re-emerged as a popular place for excercise. Its amazing how Covid-19 is bring back to life landmarks like this. I hope to bring back life to the local Melbourne City community both to the businesses and residents. Vote for me in the council elections next month and re-elect me for another term as a Councillor of this beautiful city of Melbourne.
06.01.2022 Miriam writes: just got my market delivery - where else can I get quality and freshness at these prices? Not at the supermarket, and not within 5km from me, ...which is why I am so grateful to the lovely traders for my delivery. Get on the market website and check out the traders who deliver, also some of the pick up ones can organise delivery! PS that's local strawberries , fresh and sweet as ... for $6.00 kilo!!!!!!!!
06.01.2022 3aw Radio interview about the impact on Queen Victoria Market
02.01.2022 ! While we appreciate the works and construction around us, sometimes its unbearable and beyond the noise limits. If re-elected I will take the steps to bring reduce the noise pollution that affects our city at all times. ... #melbourncity #councilelections2020 #melbournecityelections #elections2020 #jackiewatts #voteforjackie
01.01.2022 Update after the last council meeting and why it is important the community has experienced councillors like myself to guide the community out of the Covid-19 for business growth. #melbourncity #councilelections2020 #melbournecityelections #elections2020 #jackiewatts #voteforjackie
