Lilydale Candidates Clash Over Community Services Funding Ahead of Local Election

Three candidates vying for the Lilydale ward seat have each placed community services at the centre of their platforms, setting up a clear choice for residents when ballots open later this month. The election, scheduled for 25 July, will determine who oversees a local government budget that currently allocates roughly 18 percent of discretionary spending to social support programs, according to the council's 2025-26 budget papers. For households relying on subsidised aged care transport, the early childhood centre on John Street, or the drop-in mental health clinic operating out of the Lilydale Community Hub, the outcome carries direct practical weight.

The timing matters. Demand for community services in the ward has risen sharply over the past two years, driven by cost-of-living pressures and an ageing residential population. Council data presented at a June public forum showed a 31 percent increase in calls to the after-hours welfare referral line since 2023, and a waiting list of 47 families for subsidised childcare places as of May this year. Local advocates note that without a firm budget commitment from the incoming councillor, several programs currently funded through a one-off grant from the Regional Development Fund face expiry before the 2027 financial year.

Where the Candidates Stand on Social Services

Candidate Elaine Forsyth, a former youth worker, has proposed redirecting 4 percent of the ward's road maintenance reserve toward a permanent mental health outreach position based at the Hub two days per week. The position does not currently exist in a funded form. Forsyth's campaign literature, reviewed by The Daily Lilydale, states the model would be modelled on a similar program operating in a neighbouring ward that reduced emergency service callouts by an estimated 22 percent over 18 months, citing a 2024 council evaluation report.

Candidate Derek Osman, a local small business owner, argues the priority should be stabilising existing services rather than creating new ones. His platform proposes locking in a three-year funding guarantee for the Lilydale Meals on Wheels service, which currently operates under annual contract renewal and serves approximately 140 households per week. Osman's submission to the candidate policy forum on 1 July noted that short-term contracting makes it difficult for service providers to hire or retain qualified staff, a problem local non-profit operators have raised repeatedly with the council since 2022.

The third candidate, Priya Nambiar, a community development officer, has focused on the gap between formal services and residents who do not engage with them. Her platform includes a proposed community connector role, a part-time funded position tasked with identifying isolated residents, particularly older adults living alone. According to Lilydale's most recent community profile, compiled in 2024, 19 percent of residents aged over 70 reported having no regular contact with a formal support service.

What Residents Can Expect After the Vote

Whichever candidate wins, the incoming councillor will face an immediate decision on the 2026-27 budget submission deadline, which falls in September. The Regional Development Fund grant underpinning the Hub's current staffing arrangement expires on 30 June 2027, leaving a funding gap that the council's finance team has estimated at approximately $112,000 per year. That figure was confirmed in a budget supplementary note tabled at the April ordinary council meeting.

The election also overlaps with a broader council review of its Social Wellbeing Strategy, a five-year plan due for renewal in late 2026. Local advocates note the incoming councillor's position on social spending will influence that review process, and by extension which programs are prioritised for ongoing funding versus those wound back. Residents can attend a candidates' forum at the Lilydale RSL hall on 15 July, where each candidate is expected to respond to questions submitted by community groups in advance. Pre-poll voting opens at the council's Lilydale office on 21 July.