Get to know Cr Sarah Branton
What is your connection to Brimbank?
I’ve been volunteering and working on native grasslands in Brimbank for 6 years, travelling from Geelong, and then Ferntree Gully to come work in my favourite ecosystem. I have a great passion to protect and restore the Victorian Volcanic Plains grasslands, and many grasslands and their endangered species are found in Brimbank. I moved to Deer Park a few years ago to fully dedicate myself to the work of protecting grasslands, and our extended natural areas along our river systems.
What do you think is the greatest strength of the Brimbank Community?
The people in Brimbank are tough, and connected. People are always talking over fences, down the street, in the kebab shop. It feels like the diversity of Brimbank brings an ability to get through anything, and that everyone knows everyone. People don’t ask for handouts, but they ask how they can help. I’ve experienced such generosity from across cultures and backgrounds, Brimbank approaches adversity with kindness.
What are your greatest concerns for Brimbank?
I’m concerned about the amount of money being generated in Brimbank that isn’t going back into the community. Gambling is taking money out of homes and into large companies, and to the State Government. Big developers are destroying green spaces, endangered ecosystems and trees, leaving us with fewer parks and wild spaces. Local jobs are going to outside sources, while our youth unemployment is extremely high. Meanwhile, more of our grasslands are being destroyed and replaced with inappropriate offsets, and existing, high quality grasslands aren’t being protecting.
What made you decide to run for Council?
I love my work, and I would happily work in grasslands all my life. It’s incredibly peaceful working in amongst the tiny flowers, under the sun. I went to a biodiversity conference a few years ago, where the scientists presented the horrifying facts of biodiversity loss across Australia, including on our grasslands. Each presenter lamented that we have known the science for 30 years, but policy makers still refuse to create meaningful policy and enforcement to protect our endangered plants and animals. It was then I realised, if I really want to save as many grasslands and endangered species as possible, I need to be involved in policy. There are so many opportunities for local government to protect and advocate for grassland protection. I ran for Council because having a grass-hugging, science based person in Council will boost the chances of an endangered species survival.
What do you hope to achieve in your term as a Brimbank City Councillor?
More mental health supports. More grasslands protected. More open green spaces. Lower the youth unemployment rate. These goals are interconnected, people’s mental health improves with better access to green open spaces, which supports finding work and training, which leads to even more improved mental wellbeing. I want to support these goals through more community connection, finding ways to engage with young people in enabling, exciting ways, creating more local job and training opportunities, ensuring there are mental health supports in multiple languages. I want to see that more people are able to walk or bike ride to work, along paths lined with native trees and gardens, through creating better bike networks and planting more.
What is your favourite thing to do in Brimbank?
I love soaking up the sun in the middle of a grassland, and the joy of finding an endangered orchid with my fellow grassland enthusiasts. It feels like finding hidden treasure, in a paddock surrounded by houses or factories. I love eating my Bahn-Mi from the Cairnlea shops, sitting under a tree, admiring the grasslands and pointing out peregrine falcons and black-shouldered kites flying overhead. I love exploring the wild places of Brimbank, walking under train bridges, along forgotten parts of Kororoit Creek and between the factories lining Stony Creek.