LAUREN
SHERSON
FOR ALBERT PARK WARD
New local policies
for a new Council
Lauren’s approach to local politics
Engage directly with locals
Turn local issues into initiatives
Community-driven outcomes
I’m Lauren Sherson, your Independent Liberal candidate for Albert Park Ward in the upcoming Local Government election.
I learned many things from locals across Albert Park, Middle Park and St Kilda West during the 2022 State Election, when I was the Liberal Candidate for Albert Park. The central theme was a desire to be heard - and to be a valued part of City of Port Phillip decision making.
I’m running in 2024 to bring political advocacy to our Albert Park Ward. I’m determined to work directly with locals and pro-actively turn issues into initiatives - before Council decisions are made.
My background is in entrepreneurial decision making - as a business owner, an early stage investment administrator, and as a community member.
When I’m not problem-solving, I’m usually with my Pomeranian,
Foster Angus, in local shopping strips or at the Middle Park Bowls Club.
Let's chat local and see what we can create,
lauren@laurensherson.com.au
0435 990 869
Community policies
for Albert Park Ward
Drive out crime
Read detailed policy report on crime at laurensherson.com.au/crime
Expand City Amenity teams to patrol Albert Park, Middle Park and St Kilda West at peak crime hours during darkness.
Subsidise home security cameras for residents with register of locations with Victoria Police.
Host dedicated crime virtual town halls in each of the nine new Council Wards.
Publish monthly crime statistics and initiatives in Divercity newsletter.
Explore establishment of Neighbourhood Watch Groups across Albert Park, Middle Park and St Kilda West.
Give dogs off-leash areas
Read TWiSK article at gdaystkilda.com.au/dogs-have-their-day/
I will ensure dog motions reflect our community’s health and well-being needs. Build on experience from being on the steering committee this year that saved our dog spaces, personally collecting 185 signatures.
Support Albert Park Reserve Sports Masterplan
Read the Sports Masterplan at parks.vic.gov.au/projects/albert-park-master-plan
Recognise the importance of Albert Park Reserve and pursue engagement in joint management arrangements.
Support the State Governments’ Sports Master Plan to invest in strategic and long-term improvements while continuing my multi-year advocacy for greater transparency and community involvement in sport.
Creative funding for the Arts
Read detailed policy report on the Arts at laurensherson.com.au/arts
We need three year funding cycles, shared service models for venues, Artist entrepreneurship initiatives, economic development strategies and to call upon the State Government for insurance, payroll and liquor licensing reviews.
Budget policies
for Albert Park Ward
A stronger budget gives community more
Read detailed policy report on finances at laurensherson.com.au/ratepayers
Sticking to Council matters that are not State or Federal responsibility.
What cost shifting from State Government responsibility can the City of Port Phillip put back into State hands?
What new ‘Other Revenue’ can be explored to bring net new revenue to the City of Port Phillip?
What underutilised assets in the City of Port Phillip can be leveraged?
What bureaucratic waste can be restructured to redirect resources to pressing community needs?
Rates freeze for 2025
Read detailed policy report on rates at laurensherson.com.au/ratepayers
Rate payers need reprieve with a rates freeze in 2025 and for rate capping to remain unchanged.
Amenity policies
for Albert Park Ward
Defend our heritage
Read detailed policy report on crime at laurensherson.com.au/heritage
This Council election is a choice between those who respect our heritage and embrace our diversity, and those who, driven by personal agendas, often focused on issues beyond the Council’s remit and which overshadow the needs of our community.
Restore Armstrong St parking
Read detailed decision making p.223 of Business Parklet Guidelines 2024
If elected, I will move a Council motion to require community consultation on new parklets and establish a sensible mechanism for removal of existing parklets.
Retain Gasworks brick wall
Read community petition response at change.org/p/save-gasworks-park-again
Gasworks is an inner city burst of bushland. Removing the brick wall constructed after 1950 to suit new buildings will take away its amenity.
Clean streets and beaches
Read detail about Beach Patrol at beachpatrol.com.au/beach-groups/3206/1
The foreshore along our ward is a distinguishing feature that we must care for in addition to drains, streets and lanes.
Pop-up bike lanes were a disaster
Read detail about community backlash in The Age
There is a candidate for Albert Park Ward strongly advocating for bike lanes and local action on climate change. If elected to council I will lean heavily on clear community views expressed around this topic during the recent pop up bike lane fiasco and the continued push by State Government for separated bike lanes on Kerferd Rd.
Managing Grand Prix impact on our villages
No Parking - despite parking restrictions, the fines are not acting as a deterrent to attendees of the GP. Instead temporary Clear Ways need to be established that tow vehicles away that are not compliant.
No beer tent - law and order and amenity are severely impacted by the street closure to sell alcohol for one designated venue in Armstrong St. A family-based street atmosphere is far more appropriate, inclusive of all traders and reflective of the culture of Middle Park.
No access - manned bollards need to be reinstated surrounding the main street in Middle Park, along with managed drop off and pick up flows.
In addition to these, I am acutely aware of the bump-in bump-out scenario, where weeks and indeed months pass before Albert Park Reserve and surrounding areas are fully restored. This affects the environment, grass, traffic, sports groups, amenities and is completely unnecessary. I have previously spoken with the State Government on this issue and inquired about the contracts in place. I further commit to leading a united Council front that seeks shorter deadlines for removal and restoration that is enforced.
State Advocacy
Port Phillip needs a Councillor who knows how to advocate on Victorian State Government matters.
State Government needs to stop putting State costs onto Local Councils
Cost Shifting
Inadequate police resourcing puts
our lives and
our property at risk
Policing
About Lauren
Lauren’s innate determination to increase quality of life began while growing up in public housing.
Encouraged by her mum, Lauren started her first business, aged 8, selling pressed four-leaf clovers to bring people opportunity.
At 11, Lauren invented the Nite-Collar to give cats ten lives. Investors swarmed and saw Lauren sitting on the floor of Melbourne’s patent office trawling designs until she found a reflective dog tag. Investors decided it was too easy to reverse-engineer and pulled the pin.
Lauren met her father for the first time when she was 20, discovering he lived in Hong Kong and was the inventor of the oscillating electric toothbrush and Australia’s favourite board game Test Match. Like two peas in a pod, Lauren spent the next nine years, before his passing from cancer, with him across Hong Kong, the Philippines and Melbourne.
At the same time Lauren launched her first company, had six partner offices across Asia and was twice finalist for Young Direct Marketer of the Year Award. Lauren completed a Master of Entrepreneurship & Innovation at Swinburne University and by 26 was Lecturing in Entrepreneurship.
Lauren learned how entrepreneurship was the fuel, throttle and engine of economic activity, and importantly, that it wasn’t just about access to opportunity - that people and communities need to be in a position to be able to seize opportunities.
After marrying in her Albert Park home, Lauren embarked on postgraduate Psychology at Melbourne Uni, specifically interested in society’s mental wellness to seize opportunity.
Starting her foray into politics, Lauren became the Liberal Federal Candidate for Melbourne in 2019 and in 2022 was the Liberal State Candidate for Albert Park. These experiences taught Lauren that she valued her entrepreneurial pursuits too greatly to sacrifice them for a seat in Parliament. But, what Lauren could do instead, is pursue both by being in Local Government.
And that brings us to today where Lauren runs an AI Agency to help businesses automate workflows and has developed an entrepreneurial set of herbal teas.
Prepared and passionate, Lauren is now running as an Independent for the Albert Park Ward in the City of Port Phillip where she can harness and leverage her worldly experiences, knowledge and networks to increase quality of life for locals in her own backyard.
lauren@laurensherson.com.au
0435 990 869
Let’s chat local
Authorised by L Sherson 60 Richardson St Albert Park VIC 3206
(c) Lauren Sherson 2024