The Inner South Metropolitan Mayor's Forum (ISMMF) - which includes Bayside, Boroondara, Glen Eira and Kingston City Councils - has called on the major parties to work with them to address the common challenges faced by the region's 614,577 residents.
Representing one in eight Melburnians and spanning 13 state electorates, the councils are presenting a united front to call for planning reforms, a pipeline of new open space opportunities, more social and affordable housing, and sustainable maternal and child health services.
Glen Eira Mayor Cr Jim Magee said the ISMMF was a partnership established to advocate for change on the issues affecting Melbourne's inner south.
"Through strong community engagement with our communities, we've listened closely to understand what the inner south wants the next Victorian Government to help councils deliver," Cr Magee said.
"In the lead up to the election, we will put forward - with a shared voice - tangible solutions that the next Victorian Government can implement immediately to deliver on these priorities."
Mayor of Boroondara, Cr Jane Addis said ISMMF will lobby election candidates, and the State Government to allow Victorian communities to have a genuine say about what happens next door and in neighbourhoods of every single Victorian.
"This State Government has dramatically changed our planning system to reduce the opportunity for councils and their communities to genuinely participate in decision making affecting their lives," Mayor Addis said.
Kingston Mayor Cr Steve Staikos said that the ISMMF is advocating for a pipeline of new open space opportunities to boost community health and wellbeing for the region's growing population.
"There are immediate opportunities to deliver new green open spaces, but we can't do it without the State Government's support," Cr Staikos said.
Bayside Mayor Cr Alex del Porto said that the Victorian Government needs to partner with Local Government to deliver sustainable affordable housing and maternal and child health services.
"Our communities must be liveable and accessible with a focus on health and wellbeing," Cr del Porto said.
"That's why we're calling on the next Victorian Government to maximise the potential benefit of the Big Housing Build and fund its fair share of maternal and child health services."
