Rachael Robathan

THE former leader of the city council slammed the new Labour administration for failing to find new sites for housing since taking over City Hall in Victoria more than two years ago.

Conservative councillor Rachael Robathan said it was “shocking” how the council leader Adam Hug could not list a single new project identified since May 2022.

She was speaking at the full council meeting on Wednesday night.

“You are only building our schemes”, she said, referring to projects started by the Tories before they were swept out of power.

Cllr Hug said: “We are working at pace to expand the pipeline, we have to deliver even more council and intermediate homes.

“We have recently broken the log jam that is affecting delivery of the Lisson Grove site. The CPO [compulsory purchase order] process for Church Street has concluded. We have gone through the programme we have inherited, one of the biggest programmes in the country. We have taken it and enhanced it.

“When local authorities across the rest of the country cannot deliver homes, we are getting on and building. We are making sure what we are building is maximising homes for people.”

Cllr Robathan was not impressed, and said: “I find that a shocking response from the leader of this administration. In two-and-a-half years they have not identified any news schemes. Is he concerned by not bringing forward additional schemes, this will leave the council very short on its delivery? No new identified schemes. A shocking record.”

Adam Hug

The war of words over housing projects was the one of several disputes between councillors in the debate that at one point had to be broken up by the Lord Mayor hammering his gavel.

The chamber of squabbling politicians did appear united in tributes to Tikquaan Stephenson-Walters, a young man who was shot dead in Queen’s Park a fortnight ago.

Cllr Hug said: “We were all shocked by the horrific killing a few days ago. Tikquaan was known by so many people in our area, including Cllr [Angela] Piddock, who was his teacher. Karen Buck knew him since he was a small boy. It was a senseless act of violence and a symptom of a bigger problem that we are trying to address.”

There have been no arrests in the murder investigation into the moped gun attack in Bravington Road, off the Mozart Estate.

There were deputations from residents on a range of issues including heritage buildings being too frequently demolished and cyclists jumping red lights.

One petition, signed by more than 300 people, calling for new speed restriction measures in a Pimlico residential street.

Camilla Carbalotto said drivers often came the wrong way down the street and there had been many accidents and near misses.

She said: “Motorists are speeding down Turpentine Lane. Can the council make this road safer by providing signage, or bumps, to deter this behaviour that has already caused accidents?

City management and air quality chief Cllr Paul Dimoldberg responded: “Yes we will support residents on this. Council officers have been in discussion with residents. The likely option will include what’s known as virtual cushions. Examples can be seen on St George’s Drive. We are also considering a high-friction material that is similar to a raised table. Speed bumps have been considered but considering the proximity this kind of measure could create vibrations that would be another problem.”