Councillor updates from Cr Jason Martin for June/July 2026

Having an open mind and a sense of curiosity are two qualities I believe are essential to being an effective local councillor and achieving positive outcomes for our community.

In May, I attended a feedback session for the Mahoney’s Reserve Masterplan and had the opportunity to meet with many residents and stakeholders. As our community continues to grow, it is vital we maximise the potential of community assets such as Mahoney’s Reserve.

During the engagement session, I spoke with residents about several key issues including the need for modern sporting facilities to support the growing participation in female sport, fencing adjacent to neighbouring properties, proposed off-leash dog areas, and parking and traffic concerns. The feedback and conversations were positive and valuable to me as your local councillor.

A number of residents also raised concerns regarding community safety in the area. I will be discussing these matters with the newly formed Whitehorse Community Safety Committee and Victoria Police. Council can play a role in improving safety within public spaces through urban design, improved  lighting, and encouraging greater community activation of parks and reserves.

In planning matters, I continue to see a gap in community awareness regarding Victorian Government planning reforms. Terms such as deemed-to-comply standards, low-rise and mid-rise housing codes, and activity centre programs are becoming common.

As our city grows, I will continue advocating for best-practice planning outcomes from a local government perspective. It is important both local and State governments clearly communicate these changes to the community.

Major events during May also included the opening of the basketball courts on the top level car park at Forest Hill Chase. These courts are an innovative solution helping meet increasing demand for basketball and other
indoor sports.

On Sunday 31 May, I participated in a Park Run to help raise funds for cancer support and the Royal Children’s
Hospital Foundation.