Parkville Gardens local runs for The Greens in Melbourne

Parkville Gardens resident Aaron Moon is a Greens candidate for the City of Melbourne, a bird watcher, an avid cyclist, and an orthoptist.

For those not in the know, this career may need some unpacking.

An orthoptist is key to diagnosing and treating diseases of the eye and is distinct from an optometrist because they study the work of the eye and the brain to create vision.

Aaron is Melbourne born and bred and now works at St Vincent’s Hospital, where he commutes from Parkville Gardens daily by bike.

Discussing Aaron’s bike riding awakens a deeply held passion: active transport.

“Streets don’t have to be just for cars,” Aaron told North West City News.

As a Greens candidate for local government, he is passionate about seeing out the City of Melbourne’s ambitious 2030 transport strategy.

The council spent almost $4 million last year in aid of the strategy which aims to streamline traffic in the CBD and reclaim what it calls “six MCGs worth” of roads into public spaces.

“I want to see more bike lanes in Melbourne, not less,” Aaron said.

Other [council] candidates are still debating and politicising the bike lanes which causes delays to the projects

“The goal has been committed to. Let it get done like other international cities.”

Aaron has lived in Parkville Gardens for six years.

Those lucky enough to call themselves local will know Parkville is a treasure trove of hidden natural gems, including the Trin Warren Tam Boore wetlands.

The area is a natural storm water filter for the Moonee Ponds catchment.

Since its completion in 2006, the wetland has become a biodiversity hotspot.

Aaron and his wife visit the wetlands regularly – “my favourite location in Parkville”, Aaron says – looking for the unique collection of birds that call Melbourne home.

“The amount of green space we have access to in Parkville Gardens is amazing,” he says.

“I love being able to step out my front door and into park lands. It feels like I am almost nowhere near the CBD.”

Aaron’s passion for birdwatching began thanks to the proximity of the suburb’s signature greenery and a board game: Wingspan.

The Friends of Royal Park also hold bi-monthly birdwatching surveys.

“They attract all different types of people, all ages. It’s a great way to meet people in the community.”

Find out more information about the Greens City of Mebourne candidates, including Aaron Moon .

Caption: Aaron Moon (pictured right) with Greens candidates Barry Berih and Dr Olivia Ball.