Left to Right Cr Sean O’Reilly,  Cr Loi Truong, Cr Heang Tak, Cr Youhorn Chea, Cr Angela Long, Cr Jim Memeti, Cr Roz Blades, Cr Peter Brown, Cr Maria Sampey, Cr John Kelly, Cr Matthew Kirwan.

It is an honour and a great privilege to be elected Mayor of the City of Greater Dandenong – a role I previously held in 2010.

The opportunity to represent the residents of one of Australia’s most vibrant municipalities is something I am very proud of. I’ve lived in Greater Dandenong for more than 38 years. This vibrant city is where I chose to raise my three children, where I lay the foundations for my business and where I built my career in Local Government. I, like many people in our great city, was born overseas. I moved here from Albania when I was two and I am so thankful for the opportunities this city has given me. I am a passionate advocate for this city and when I reflect on the incredible opportunities Greater Dandenong has offered me I am truly humbled.

I’m intensely proud of our diversity, our sense of community, and the achievements of all of our residents.

However I’m also committed to building on our achievements to date – always striving to ensure Greater Dandenong is an even better place to live, work or study. Since being elected as a Red Gum Ward councillor in 2005 and as Mayor in 2010 I have gained a valuable insight into our community’s strengths. It also opened my eyes to areas where we could do better.

In 2010 I was a strong advocate for the centralisation of Council services. In that same year a Memorandum of Understanding was signed to develop a central Municipal Office in Dandenong. In a lovely twist of fate I believe it is fitting that I have been returned as Mayor in the year that our new Municipal Building in central Dandenong was officially opened.

Greater Dandenong’s new civic centre and outdoor square was a flagship project for central Dandenong and will form the new heart of Melbourne’s south-east region. Council’s investment in this project complements significant public and private investment in the revitalisation of central Dandenong – another project I was a strong advocate for during my last mayoral term. Together with my fellow Councillors I am confident we can achieve fantastic outcomes for our vibrant and diverse city.

Home to more than 150 different nationalities, Greater Dandenong continues to thrive.

A number of key projects currently underway or recently completed by Council will only strengthen and enhance our city. These include the revitalisation of the Afghan Bazaar Streetscape, the completion of the Springvale Railway Station grade separation, upgrades to key sporting grounds and pavilions and the progression of the Ross Reserve Urban Park Masterplan. For years we’ve dreamed of a state-of-the-art building to serve the whole community and now we have it.

In coming years we’ll also be redeveloping the former Springvale Council offices site to make sure our Springvale community has easy access to top-class facilities as well. We’ll be building a new library, customer service offices, community rooms and refurbishing the historic Town Hall.
This is all part of the major transformation taking place in Greater Dandenong. Just 15 years ago the stockyards in Dandenong were selling live pigs and chickens in the street. We have certainly come a long way.

Today we have a brand new main street, the redeveloped Dandenong Market and the Drum Theatre breathing new life into the historic town Hall.

New corporate headquarters are opening all around – including the new Government Services Building and construction is underway on a $75 million headquarters for the Australian Tax Office. Two hundred new apartments have been built in the Mosiac development, three thousand people are already living in the new Metro Village and dozens of new shops and restaurants have opened up around town. Thanks to the Revitalising Central Dandenong project we’ve seen a phenomenal $500 million dollar investment pour into our city over the past eight years.

These projects are all helping to enhance our city and further develop it as a vibrant, connected and caring place to live and work. I see myself as a positive role model and will continue to promote understanding, tolerance and acceptance within our city.