By Ethan Benedicto
A pledge to be the local voice for the people, Stefan Koomen has announced his candidacy for Casey’s upcoming October elections.
Standing as an independent candidate for Waratah Ward, Koomen, is looking to bring representation from the suburbs of Hallam, Doveton and Hampton Park to the council table.
A long-term local, Koomen and his wife have lived in the ward for years, and as homeowners, ratepayers, and volunteers, he is more than invested in the area’s future.
“It means having someone who loves and works in the area, being a voice for the area, and ensuring that the issues in our communities, which are unique, get a voice in the council,” he said.
“That means services and infrastructure are prioritised when in the past they have been overlooked a the expense or favour of other new emerging areas [in Casey].
“It’s making sure that the suburbs of Doveton, Hallam and Hampton Park get their fair share of investment and attention.”
Koomen has been a staunch supporter and active member of the Doveton Pool Campaign, which was a widespread and joint community effort in a move to save and revitalise the much-loved pool.
Building more in infrastructure, Koomen acknowledged the diversity of needs regarding the three suburbs in the ward, but Hampton Park Shopping Centre [Central] is a priority, saying that there is a need “to make it a community hub that we can all be proud of”.
“Council had a plan since 2018 that hasn’t progressed because we haven’t had a local voice, so that will be my priority for Hampton Park, to get that moving.
“For Doveton, it’s the Doveton Pool, ensuring that it’s upgraded and that it stays in our community is very important.
“In Hallam and across the rest of the ward, playgrounds and parks need to be improved and better maintained, they’re often overgrown and quite dirty so better maintenance and cleaning will give us areas that we can be proud of.”
With the recent changes in Casey’s wards, Koomen highlighted the lack of local representation for Waratah Ward’s suburbs, where previous councillors were not residents of Hallam, Doveton or Hampton Park.
“As a local Justice of the Peace, I’ve always believed in inputting the community first, and I will continue to advocate tirelessly for our suburbs,” he said.
“Our suburbs deserve better – someone who will fight against backroom deals and bring greater transparency for our suburbs.”
Community safety was also another factor that Koomen would embark on if elected, and while crime and related topics are subject to the State Government’s authority, he said that at the council’s level, it’s about “being a local voice”.
“I intend to have regular meetings with local police to keep them updated on the issues in our area because at the moment there is no voice from our suburbs actually talking on behalf of residents to police where they should prioritise their resources.
“From a local council perspective, it’s about having accessible and safe public spaces, that involve increased and improved lighting, and also other safety measures so that we can discourage anti-social behaviour and better connect people with our public spaces.”
Having worked for several years under Gabrielle Williams MP, Koomen understands the need for good governance in all levels of government, especially when it comes to council; standing firm in the belief and understanding that “I’ll be [putting] residents first”.
“I’m independent in the sense that no one can tell me how to vote or what to do.
“I’ve had experience working in government and working with local government[s], so I understand how it works – I have the experience to be able to achieve things and get things down for our community.
Steadfast in upholding values of integrity and transparency at all levels of council, he also believes that this level of governance should be entirely apolitical, adding that it needs to be centred on “local residents who are willing to work together for the best outcomes”.
“There are going to be 12 councillors who need to be able to constructively build a plan for our community, our council, our municipality, and politics isn’t needed in that environment.”
Further building on his stance of transparency, Koomen is adamant on the importance of teamwork amongst other representatives when elected into the council, where if he were to be elected, said it would be one of the “biggest priorities”.
Like the vision of cohesion among community members, he said “it’s ensuring that we have a constructive and functioning council that works together to get the best outcomes for our community”.
“I’m committed to doing that but I’m also committed to being a strong voice for our suburbs that, if elected, I’ll be representing.”
As the election draws near, Koomen aims to bring his experience of being a community advocate to the council’s table, looking to emphasise the importance of having a representative who lives in and understands the area’s needs.
