President says he’ll stay

Tom Dalton (left) with Travis Hamilton (second from right) are both running for council.

By Mitchell Clarke

The president of the Pakenham Football Club has no plans to step down from his role, if elected to council.

Cardinia Shire Council candidate Travis Hamilton has announced he’ll be running in Toomuc Ward – the area where the football club is based – despite living in the Bunyip Ward.

Mr Hamilton said he was “very passionate” about the area after having spent many years volunteering within Toomuc.

“My volunteer roles within the Toomuc Ward include seven years with the Pakenham Junior Football club – six of those as president, four years on the Toomuc Recreaction Reserve Committee with two years as president, and for the past two years I have served as president of the Pakenham Senior Football Club,” he said.

Despite his well known involvement in the sporting community, Mr Hamilton will not step away from the football club, regardless of concerns about a perceived conflict of interest.

“As a volunteer I have no intention of giving away any of my volunteer roles as I believe they aren’t a conflict of interest,” he told the Gazette.

The club and other user groups are in negotiations with the council over major redevelopment plans at Toomuc Recreation Reserve, funded by the Federal Government in the lead-up to last year’s election.

Two other candidates – Jack Kowarzik (Pakenham Hills Ward) and Tom Dalton (Officer Ward) both also have links to the football club.

Mr Kowarzik, however, has confirmed he stepped away from the club on 31 July, prior to running in the election.

He was a member of the Pakenham Football Club for the past 15 years, as a junior player and then starting with the senior club at Under 18 level.

“Two years ago, I joined the committee with a view of bettering the football club and helping out where I could, as it had done so much for me,” he said.

“When I decided to run for council, I formally resigned from the committee to avoid any potential conflicts of interest. I also formally resigned from the Cardinia Lakes Residents Group on the same day for the same reason.”

Mr Dalton has not responded to requests for comment from the Gazette.

Six candidates are vying for the one spot in Toomuc Ward, including previous councillor Michael Schilling.

Mr Hamilton has announced he’s running under the Clean Up Cardinia banner, which has come under fire for allegedly trying to turn the council into a “politics machine”.

He said his intentions on council wee to ensure the shire became a “safer place to live” and a “great area to raise a family”.

“Honesty in local government is something we are all passionate about, and we will work with our fellow councillors and the council’s CEO to implement positive changes,” he said.