Sundram Sivamali
BALLARAT City Council would better reflect the city’s growing multicultural community through the election of councillors with a more diverse range of backgrounds, according to South Ward candidate Sundram Sivamalai.
The Malaysian-born multicultural advocate is making his second run at local government in next month’s elections and is calling for protection of the environment and heritage and rate increases in line with the Consumer Price Index.
“I had a crack at local government eight years ago when I stood to represent Buninyong, but now I live in Mt Helen,” he said.
“Having been in Ballarat for 24 years and with my kids grown up and finished school and university, I feel it is time to try and give something back to the community.”
An adjunct professor at India’s Manipal University and former associate professor at the James Cook University School of Medicine, Dr Sivamalai is a chair of the Federation of Ethnic Communities Councils of Australia.
He describes himself as a “people’s person” and said he is committed to providing better aged care and disability services and opportunities for young people and migrants.
“Local businesses should be supported by the council and levies should be kept at reasonable levels,” he said yesterday.
“Roads and rubbish services need to be addressed, as always, and youth and recreational services should exist to nurture future generations.”
If elected, Dr Sivamalai said he would bring management and organisational experience from years of work and leadership and would help diversify the council chamber.
“Certainly it would add a little bit of flavour to Ballarat City Council,” he said.
