Pre-poll voting has opened for more than 5 million voters in this year’s local council elections in the Australian state of New South Wales, which have been delayed twice due to the pandemic.
Elections for 124 of New South Wales’ 128 councils will be held on this coming Saturday, December 4, whereby residents will be voting for their preferred councillors.
If you reside in Ward 5 of Bayside Council, which covers the suburbs of Kyeemagh, Brighton-Le-Sands, Monterey, Ramsgate Beach, Dolls Point, Sandringham, Sans Souci, Ilias Tzortzis is your man.
Ilias Tzortzis’ love of the beautiful seaside suburb of Brighton Le Sands started way back, in the summer of 1993-94.
Having just finished high school, he started work in a popular restaurant in the suburb’s Novotel Hotel.
Ilias also spent his recreational hours at many of the bustling local cafes, socialising and getting to know many of the area’s residents.
Through his family’s long-standing involvement in the community via their iconic restaurant ‘Le Sands’, Ilias has seen much change.
Ilais’ aim is to recreate Brighton and Bayside and a recreational and tourist destination, as well as a great suburb to raise a family.
"I am committed to creating a proud legacy for future generations."
A vote for Ilias guarantees that YOUR voice will be heard.
“The most important part of representing the people of Bayside is to listen,” explains Ilias.
“Politicians don’t have all of the answers, however I am accessible to all residents and business owners seven days to address matters as they arise, and I aim to conduct quarterly meetings open to all, to discuss legal issues.”
Ilias’ vision is to develop and implement a better cleaning plan which maintains the cleanliness, condition and safety of our footpaths, roads and bayside foreshore.
Ilias Tzortzis' priorities for the area include:
Better roads, footpaths and foreshore management and keeping our beaches clean
Better roads, footpaths and foreshore management including to allocate greater resources to the cleaning of the beaches during summer on weekends and Mondays, over and above what is currently being done.
Better financial management and to put a stop to wasting ratepayers’ money
With massive accumulated operating losses since amalgamation, Bayside council needs better management of accounts and productivity, and chronic underperformance needs to be investigated.
Diversify council revenue streams
Greater transparency and due process with management and allocation of public assets and funds is required. Council needs to diversify its revenue streams and move away from a rates-only approach to seek more commercial opportunities to improve its financial position.
Prevent overdevelopment in the local area
Bayside council needs to assess all new developments in the local government area and deliver better design, stricter approvals and greater scrutiny on the developers and builders, more liveable designs and better outdoor facilities in accordance with planning codes.
Enable greater community engagement
Better community engagement by making councillors more visible and accessible to the community to assist with issues.
Stop car and motorbike hoons; and dangerous jet-skiers
Bayside council needs to work better with authorities to implement changes and solutions for anti-social behaviour by drivers of loud cars and motorbikes, and the unsafe practices of jet-skiers on the waterways.
Effective financial assistance to community groups
Providing support to local community groups that provide critical functions particularly for vulnerable and disadvantaged people in the local area.
So vote 1 for Ilias Tortzis!
How to vote for for Ilias Tzortzis, your truly independent candidate for Bayside:
How and when to vote
Residents are being encouraged to vote early, via post or online to reduce crowds at booths.
Early voting or pre-poll is open and available until Friday, December 3. Anyone who is enrolled to vote can do so by pre-poll this year. There is no absentee voting — electors can only vote in person in their council area.
All residents can vote pre-poll or visit a voting centre or polling booth on December 4.
The NSW government has expanded the eligibility criteria for online and postal voting this year due to COVID-19. Online and telephone voting, known as iVote, is available to those who are blind or have low vision; need help to vote or find it hard due to a disability or reading difficulty; are a registered silent elector; live more than 20 kilometres from a polling venue; will not be within their council area on election day, or; applied for a postal vote but have not received ballot papers. Applications to use iVote are open until 1pm on election day.
Postal voting may be available to people who find it difficult to get to a voting centre or polling booth on election day. Applications close at 5pm on Monday, November 29, and the packs must be returned by 6pm on Friday, December 17.
