Manningham Councillor Jennifer Yang wins preselection for state seat of Mount Waverley

Posted to Waverley Leader (26/5/2014) on 26/5/2014 at 5:13 PM
Commenting on "Manningham Councillor Jennifer Yang wins preselection for state seat of Mount Waverley"
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/east/manningham-councillor-jennifer-yang-wins-preselection-for-state-seat-of-mount-waverley/story-fngnvlxu-1226931658685

Am I cynical or just being naïve? During election time, ordinary candidates can turn into super heroes, looking after the interest of people in more than one city. Those MP's who stand for re-election can suddenly promise things that could not be done during their time in office be accomplished the next time round. Out of the blue, party leaders are able to find millions or billions of dollars to lure voters to put them in government. Come to think of it, is this a form of bribery that ICAC may be called upon to investigate?

Unfortunately, I have not come across a candidate that either has vision or specific enough to tell the voters what his / her real skill sets are and how these can be utilised and benefit the people in the council, state or Australia.

Once elected, many are promoted to their incompetence. They are just apprentices or rookies, learning on the job. Owing to such, many make mistakes and incorrect decisions that affect the lives and livelihood of ordinary people like me and millions of Australians. Many also lack people skill, which is in fact more than just hugging and kissing babies.

Chinese family to auction off the contents of their Templestowe French-Chateau style mansion including Chinese vases worth $120,000

Posted to Waverley Leader (23/5/2014) on 26/5/2014 at 5:43 PM
Commenting on "Chinese family to auction off the contents of their Templestowe French-Chateau style mansion including Chinese vases worth $120,000"
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/east/chinese-family-to-auction-off-the-contents-of-their-templestowe-frenchchateau-style-mansion-including-chinese-vases-worth-120000/story-fngnvlxu-1226928984753

Money can't buy experience. It does not only apply to overseas or local buyers, Chinese or other races.

I have come across several bad agents who do not fill documents properly which can result in rescission of the authority or sales should the clients notice the inaccuracy and take advantage of it. Many buyers get too excited to sign on the dotted line without hesitation, which can end up buying a dud, or get into financial deep end.

Not all Victoria real estate laws are the same as interstate laws and international laws. The real sale contract is a legal document, and for a property transaction generally worth hundreds of thousands dollars, and in this case millions of dollars, buyers must either read through the faint (not fine) prints properly and understand the content, or consult a more professional agent or legal professional to go through the details. It is advisable NOT to let the salesperson to brush through any details and tell you that the "section" is irrelevant. The buyer decides whether it is relevant or otherwise. When in doubt, DO NOT sign there and then.

In recent days, there are agent representatives marketing residential property and commercial business who may not have been in the real estate industry long, but have the knack of communicating in the language of the buyers. They are achieving very good trade in the niche market. They provide extra services including how to get round loopholes for various reasons.

For some new rich, paying high price for a property is NOT for the property value - it is a status symbol, and show-off mentality.

Monash could become first metro council to ban smoking in outdoor dining areas

Posted to Herald Sun (Waverley Leader) 1/5/2014 on 6/5/2014 2:00 AM
Commenting on "Monash could become first metro council to ban smoking in outdoor dining areas"
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/east/monash-could-become-first-metro-council-to-ban-smoking-in-outdoor-dining-areas/story-fngnvlxu-1226902189470

So you think it is ok to dine outside cafe after smoking ban? Think again.

Many of the eating places, including those at Eaton Mall are close to roads for motor vehicles. The exhaust for these vehicles contains microscopic dangerous chemical particles harmful to the body. In addition to these is the filth and dust present in the air stirred up by the movement of vehicles and their frequent braking.

Many people suffer from various forms of illnesses without any known cause. They may be eating the so called healthy food, but may not be breathing in "healthy" air. I do not enjoy Alfresco dining as long as the surrounding is not enclosed. In fact, I choose not to dine at cafes or restaurants that leave their doors and external glass panel walls wide open.

Smoking ban will NOT kill businesses, but help prevent people from early death.

Glen Waverley trader Christo Christophidis criticises apartment balcony washing which Monash Mayor Geoff Lake says has benefits

Posted to Waverley Leader (22/4/2014) on 22/4/2014 at 11:30 AM
Commenting on "Glen Waverley trader Christo Christophidis criticises apartment balcony washing, which Monash Mayor Geoff Lake says has benefits"
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/east/glen-waverley-trader-christo-christophidis-criticises-apartment-balcony-washing-which-monash-mayor-geoff-lake-says-has-benefits/story-fngnvlxu-1226891111228

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly of multiculturalism. Oops, the culture of some who used to live in high density, high rise buildings overseas, who decorate the buildings with poles hanging multi-colour clothing including under garments.

I came to Australia many years ago in search of a better place to live with fresh air and a backyard of my own to grow plants and flowers. Times have changed; people spend mega bucks to live in shoe boxes, smelling the oily fume from surrounding restaurants; not that I don't like Char Siew or roast duck, but living in those apartments are like living in my kitchen.

Have you been inside the building? It is supposed to be new, but the cleanliness and some damage caused by selfish people moving into the premises are less than desirable. Oh yes, how can one sleep well with those announcement via the PA systems from the train stations and the school?

Security called at Clayton Street Festival after MP refused request to speak

Posted to Leader Newspaper (26/2/2014) on 26/2/2014 at 3:42 PM
Commenting on "Security called at Clayton Street Festival after MP refused request to speak"
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/east/security-called-at-clayton-street-festival-after-mp-refused-request-to-speak/story-fngnvlxu-1226837450798

Inga Peulich should not have assumed what was practised in the past would remain unchanged. The organiser was not a crystal ball gazer who could read her mind. In my unbiased opinion, Inga Peilich's RSVP did imply her giving a speech, no matter how short it was. If she wanted to address the crowd, she should have done the right way by being explicit in her reply, and no one including Geoff Lake could decline her request since she is "servant" of Victorians.

However, Geoff Lake's remark was appalling. He should not use the occasion to gain brownie points for the Labor Party. The festival was supposedly an apolitical event, and saying that Inga Peulich was not to speak at the festival because her government did not help fund the event was naïve to say the least.

Once a govenment is elected, in this case Victoria, whether you like it not Geoff, it is the government for all Victorians, and not only for you or Inga Peulich.

It's time to grow up, you two. Your behaviour in the public is unacceptable and despicable!

Monash Councillors get pay rise

Posted to Waverley Leader (26/12/12) on 29/12/2012 at 2:01 AM
Commenting on "Monash Councillors get pay rise"
http://waverley-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/monash-councillors-get-pay-rise/

Once upon a time, councillors were volunteers who had proven track records doing community work. I rest my case.

Wheelers Hill 'safe' suburb

Posted to Waverley Leader (26/12/12) on 27/12/2012 at 5:47 PM
Commenting on "Wheelers Hill 'safe' suburb"
http://waverley-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/wheelers-hill-a-safe-suburb/

It is important to understand the meaning of median price; it is NOT the average price of all the sold properties, which is calculated by adding the prices of all the sold properties and divided by the number of properties sold.

The median price is the "middle price", which requires little or no calculation. If you line up all the values of sold properties from the smallest to the largest, the middle number gives the median price. However, if the list of numbers is even, then there is not one exactly in the middle; you will have to take the two numbers closest to the middle, add the values together and then divide by 2.

The property values below the median price can be very much less, and the values above the median price can be sky-rocketed high. In short, you may overpay a property below the median price, or underestimate your property worth if it is above the median price.

Investing large sum of your hard-earn money requires doing a substantial amount of homework including attending auctions and keeping track of real estate activities in the targeted area. Wheelers Hill is no exception and so do take note and take care.

Household power bills to rise

Posted to Waverley Leader (28/11/12) on 3/12/2012 at 3:35 PM
Commenting on "Household power bills to rise"
http://frankston-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/comments/household-power-bills-to-rise/

For every $100 shown in the electricity bill, $9 is the carbon tax, or 10% of the actual usage. We must not forget than use of electricity incurs 10% GST too.

Since I am not on pension, and do not have any pay cheque, any tax cut will not benefit me. It seems that all the utility companies are taking a round robin approach in price increases, at a rate higher than the CPI.

Chisholm MP Anna Burke is new Speaker

Posted to Waverley Leader (10/10/2012) on 10/10/2012 at 12:52 PM
Commenting on "Chisholm MP Anna Burke is new Speaker"
http://waverley-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/chisholm-mp-becomes-new-speaker/

It has nothing to do with whether Anna Burke MP is a female or a Labor Party member; I am indeed very excited to see her occupying the seat as the Speaker of the House of Representatives. I have watched her performance on television parliamentary broadcast, and she has been doing a very good job. She has the firmness of Peter Slipper (politically speaking) and the gentile side of Harry Jenkins ("quietly" speaking).

PS I am not a member of any political party.

Think before you vote, urges council body

Posted to Waverley Leader (8/10/2012) on 9/10/2012 at 10:06 PM
Commenting on "Think before you vote, urges council body"
http://waverley-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/think-before-you-vote-urges-council-body/

I have been urging ratepayers to vote with their brain rather their heart. Helping a political mate to get into any government does not and will not benefit your wallet and wellbeing, unless the representative is genuine to get in there for the good of the people rather than his/her own ego and glory.

I don't just vote for the new contestants for the sake of change or their political stance. I vote for them if they can demonstrate to me, at least in their campaign literature or in person, that they have the desire to effect changes in the Council chambers in response to the needs of Monash ratepayers. They must have clear understanding about gambling, and unemployment issues and traders' concern in Monash, and continue to call for a safe solution for Clayton railway crossing.

Melbourne's suburban farmers

Posted to Waverley Leader (29/9/2012) on 4/10/2012 at 7:07 pm
Commenting on "Melbourne's suburban farmers"
span>
http://waverley-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/monash-ratepayers-association-confident-of-taking-seats/

For people living in suburbs like Glen Waverley, Springvale or Dandenong, prices for vegies and other food items are not as expensive as the inner city.

Hopping into a car to the shop for vegies is far more troublesome than going to own backyard or rooftop garden to harvest them.

Growing your own vegies and can be a pain if you are frequent interstate or overseas traveller. Who is going to water them while you are away? When you return, the soil will be hard like rock, even the soil is sandy loam or heavily mulched. Plants grown in the ground can seek out water from larger surround, but not in planter boxes or crates.

Growing on the concrete roof top can present a problem long term, because certain part may become water-logged due to water slippage from the planters and damage the concrete. Wooden crates can rot easily, and cost of replacement should be taken into consideration.

When you get a bumper harvest, it is also time for bumper harvest for the commercial vegies gardeners, which means the price will be at rock bottom.

What is the next move - cooking at home and not going out to the restaurants or food outlets, or making our own clothing?

Urged to contest Victorian elections

Posted to City of Waverley Leader (14/5/2012) on 4/7/2012 at 12:58 PM
Commenting on "STAND FOR COUNCIL: More urged to contest Victorian elections"
http://waverley-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/stand-for-council-more-urged-to-contest-polls/

In the City of Monash, 9 out of 11 are Labor members or associated with the party. If one is not specific partisan aligned, you have Buckley's chance. Need to say more?

Karaoke bar OK in Kingsway

Posted to Waverley Leader (3/7/2012) on 4/7/2012 at 12:19 PM
Posted to City of Moansh Facebook on 4/7/2012 at 12:20 PM
Commenting on " HAVE YOUR SAY: Karaoke bar OK in Kingsway"
http://waverley-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/have-your-say-karaoke-bar-ok-in-kingsway/

The City shopping precinct is not very large compared with some suburbs. Having three Karaoke bars seems far from excessive. I am not proud to live in a City which is second highest in contributing towards gambling loss, or in a State claiming highest binge drinking record.

With another karaoke site where alcohol is served till 1 am, more alcohol-fuel conflicts will occur and may even flow on to the street after the trading hours. A Google search provided the following historical karaoke brawls and stabbings:

28/4/2012 – a brawl over a girl outside a Railway Parade karaoke bar left one man in hospital and another with minor injuries
20/11/2011 - a large fight in front of the karaoke bar in Railway Parade about 3am, attackers were armed with baseball bats and metal poles, 10 were admitted to hospital with various injuries
17/4/2006 - a man stabbed three times in the back at a Melbourne karaoke bar in Church Street, Abbotsford died in hospital

Many Monash Councillors are too young and have no life experience to make such crucial decision, while the remainders are so isolated from the rest of the world to understand what is like beyond the long Australian coastline.

World comes calling to Chadstone Shopping Centre (Post 3 of 3)

Posted to Waveley Leader (28/2/2012) on 28/2/2012 at 12:19 PM
Commenting on "YOUR SAY: World comes calling to Chadstone Shopping Centre"
http://waverley-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/your-say-world-comes-calling-chadstone-shopping-centre/

Obesity has been a main concern for health authority. Unfortunately, there will be more people gorging down the unhealthy fat-laden fast foods in air-conditioned comfort food courts.

The amount of energy to heat up or cool the unused space and void is phenomenal. While the world is talking about going green, such humongous development does not fit into the scheme of energy conservation. Obviously, the cost is passed on to the retailers, whose profit will be cut by the expenses. Many hopeful business operators will be virtually working for the complex owners / shareholders.

As a courtesy, I had approached the Chadstone complex once requesting permission to photograph the beautiful palm trees and architecture, but was declined by the Security department for security reason. I am surprised that I can take photographs in the airport outside the custom area, and yet I cannot do so at Chadstone shopping Centre. Is it wise for anyone to take the risk to go to places like Chadstone Shopping Centre in light of security? In short, I did ask why there was no signage to say that taking photograph was not permitted, but no answer was given!

World comes calling to Chadstone Shopping Centre (Post 2 of 3)

Posted to Waveley Leader (28/2/2012) on 28/2/2012 at 12:18 PM
Commenting on "YOUR SAY: World comes calling to Chadstone Shopping Centre"
http://waverley-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/your-say-world-comes-calling-chadstone-shopping-centre/

The reasons why overseas investors particularly China are keen for project of this nature is more than just investing in the complex. One has been mentioned previously in regards to failed projects when shopping complexes enable to attract tenancy. Another reason is likely involves an hidden agenda of “investment migration”.

Most of stalls in many complexes these days are owned or operated mainly by Chinese nationals who come in as investment migrants, and they need to run a business as a condition for visa application. However, when permanent residency status is granted, which entitles them to apply for Australian passports, the business is sold to another “investment migrant”. Whether the business is making a profit is a non-issue, because another investment migrant will pay for the business. This is the cheapest way to get the Australian citizenship.

World comes calling to Chadstone Shopping Centre (Post 1 of 3)

Posted to Waveley Leader (28/2/2012) on 28/2/2012 at 12:18 PM
Commenting on "YOUR SAY: World comes calling to Chadstone Shopping Centre"
http://waverley-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/your-say-world-comes-calling-chadstone-shopping-centre/

If the infrastructure surrounding the complex can be drastically improved, then the development may justify consideration, but this is pie in the sky.

Such development also defies modern trend of purchasing, and with Goolge or YouTube search, we can find many abandoned ghost shopping centres or ghost malls around the world, including prosperous China. We all know the shop-front retailing is soon becoming things of the past, as online purchasing continues to increase by leaps and bounds.

It has been evident that many shops in shopping complexes, shopping strips and flea markets are selling low cost products mainly China, and therefore such development is perfect for China dumping all the 2-buck junks here. Having such a big complex is basically shifting the Caribbean or Wantirna flea markets to the new location, having new facades.

Yarra Council boss quits, takes Monash Council job

Posted to Waverley Leader (22/2/2012) on 24/2/2012 at 4:57 AM
Commenting on "Yarra Council boss quits, takes Monash Council job"
http://waverley-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/yarra-council-boss-quits-takes-monash-council-spot/

I wonder if City of Yarra were to offer the new CEO $360,000, will our "new" CEO take up the Yarra's attractive offer and quit City of Monash?

Curtailing on-call costs in Monash

Posted to Waverley Leader (21/2/2012) on 21/2/2012 at 10:03 PM
Commenting on “HAVE YOUR SAY: Curtailing on-call costs in Monash”
http://waverley-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/curtailing-on-call-costs-in-monash/

Ratepayers of City of Monash need more intelligent Councillors to represent their interests in the City.

Mayor Stefanie Perri is talking pure nonsense to say that “Councillors spend a large amount of time on the phone talking to ratepayers about local issues and concerns they may have." So far, as a keen follower of City of Monash's news and a frequent reader of the available local newspapers, I hardly read about what the Councillors have done or issues the Councillors have brought to the public attention!

As most ratepayers know, Councillors do not dedicate 100% of their time to represent the ratepayers, because they have other paid employment. I would be very surprised if the Councillors talk at length to ratepayers after hours.

If a Councillor spends a lot of their paid working hours talking to ratepayers, they are misusing their company's valuable resource namely time. If they operate their business, and have so much free time talking about other matters, I can imagine how dedicated they are in their business. What if it is true that they talk to ratepayers after hours? They probably value the ratepayers more than their family, honourable but plain stupid!

Pool curtain cost up in Clayton (Post 3 of 3)

Posted to Waverley Leader (7/2/2012) on 9/2/2012 at 10:50 AM
Commenting on "YOUR SAY: Pool curtain cost up in Clayton"
http://waverley-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/pool-curtain-cost-up-in-clayton/

Jack Davis said he believed the cost increase was “a waste of money”.

Jack, you're too kind, and very wrong. The whole lot of do-good Councillors are "a waste of money", sack them all. Don't forget to sack the one that comes out with the budget and writes the tender.

Pool curtain cost up in Clayton (Post 2 of 3)

Posted to Waverley Leader (7/2/2012) on 8/2/2012 at 4:15 AM
Commenting on "YOUR SAY: Pool curtain cost up in Clayton"
http://waverley-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/pool-curtain-cost-up-in-clayton/

The increase in cost should NOT have been approved.

It is an increase of 50% of the original budget. How much is the running cost in maintaining the curtain, and what's the life of this?

Can we trust the budget of the ongoing maintaining cost if the budget for the curtain is so disastrously off-target?