For too long the rural areas of Greater Shepparton City Council, including the Midland Ward, have not received their fair share of funding.
The last council was too Shepparton centric.
I want to ensure this lack of consideration by council is changed to secure an equitable distribution of funding to all the rural areas of Council.
The rural sectors of GSCC are desperately needed and I will do my best to see that their views are heard and appreciated within GSCC.
Also, I do believe the council needs to focus on appropriate council business first and foremost – rates, roads and rubbish.
What are the top three issues you believe our community faces, and how do you plan to address them?
My priorities are: Road maintenance/repair – advocate strongly and effectively to the relevant authorities.
Water – water is crucial to our region, we “protect” our water by maintaining strong connections and advocacy with the water authorities and levels of government development of industrial land – this will enhance local businesses and increase jobs.
Seek to understand and eliminate current red tape and the bureaucratic processes that stifle development while bringing local businesses’ expertise to the table.
Public Transport – expand public transport for the rural sectors of GSCC. Conduct a review of the public transport needs of all (rural) sectors of council.
How do you plan to involve community members in your decision-making process?
I want to increase community consultation through advisory groups.
I am available for all community planning meetings and attend as many community meetings/forums to hear and understand the issues affecting the ratepayers.
I understand that only a diverse range of communication forms, times and meetings can ensure that all people are heard, eg those at work or with carers’ duties.
What strategies do you propose to promote economic growth and support local businesses?
A comprehensive review needs to be completed as to benchmark ourselves against our (collaborative) competitors and also specifically why so many retail outlets throughout the council are ceasing to operate.
We cannot fix any of the above mentioned problems until we comprehensively understand what the problems are.
Once the review is completed, we can then set about rectifying the issues and providing the necessary support.
We are in a manufacturing area which we need to capitalise on, and we need to increase Industrial land.
Furthermore, we need additional focus on strengthening the visitor economy in the region.
How do you plan to address environmental concerns and promote sustainable practices in our community?
I am new to this role, so I will familiarise myself with the issues at hand when I commence my role.
However, I can promise that I will then understand if every tree council plants is also watered and be across the range of ecological activities GSCC undertakes and influences.
Advisory groups will be a good way of connecting our decisions with our communities’ expertise.
These advisory groups need to be representative of our community.
What solutions do you propose for the housing affordability crisis many communities are facing?
As can be seen in Tatura there are several affordable houses being built in Ross St.
Many of the residents are concerned as there was no consultation, however the consensus is such housing is required to rectify the issue.
So, Tatura is part of the solution and I will strive to find others.
How do you plan to support local schools and engage young people in the community?
There has been substantial criticism of the Greater Shepparton Secondary College and the closure of other secondary schools in our region.
We have over 150 students leaving Tatura every day to attend other secondary schools and the loss of Mooroopna Secondary College was particularly damaging to the local students.
I am a strong advocate of community cohesion and equity which means I will listen closely to the views of parents and young people before forming an opinion on how council can best serve them.
I know much more needs to be done and I know we have the expertise in the community to punch above our weight.
What initiatives will you support to ensure our community is inclusive and representative of all residents?
As mentioned above, there are many ratepayers who cannot attend community consultations or the way in which these consultations are conducted may need to improve.
We cannot divorce means from ends. I will ensure that the review of the council’s community consultation policy next year will be rigorous, and the new policy is all inclusive so council cannot operate disconnected from its many communities it serves.
We need to go where the people are.
What is your long-term vision for the community, and how do you plan to achieve it?
I want to use my best endeavours to ensure we are a unified and prosperous community.
Councillors are elected by the people for the people and we as councillors must have this thought foremost in our minds.
Always think about our community needs first and make every effort to meet the ratepayers’ expectations as far as we can discern them.
Have you got a final message for the community?
I will be a strong (and I hope) effective advocate as a councillor for the Greater Shepparton City Council and for the Midland Ward.
The rural sectors of council are not given the consideration they deserve.
I will make every effort to fix this.
