Over the past few weeks you have heard from many of the candidates in the local government election responding to key topics posed by our readers.
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Now it's their turn to make one final "pitch" to residents ahead of election day, December 4.
We allowed each candidate 250 words to outline why they feel they are the most worthy of your vote and why they believe they are your best representative on a new council.
Their responses are presented below, in ballot order.
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LABOR - HELEN O'NEIL and SIMON DALY
Our beautiful Bega Valley Shire faces many challenges in the years ahead, and we deserve a council that consults with the community, that is skilled and experienced, and that will collaborate - not divide - so it can make clear decisions for our future.
That's why we seek your support. We have strong local networks and wide experience in turning policy into action. We are proud of Labor's commitment to listen to communities in the shire, large and small, and develop local solutions.
Our shire faces a housing crisis. After the bushfires and the pandemic, we need action to make housing affordable, to provide the right housing for older residents and to rebuild. Nearly 500 homes were lost in Black Summer, with only 34 rebuilt so far. Council's draft housing strategy is a solid foundation for the long term, but more urgent responses are required.
We propose a Housing Crisis Roundtable, with public and private providers, plus state and federal government, to identify the short-term actions we can take. Dealing with the crisis this way will help us reboot tourism, staff our hospitals and schools, and keep young families in our shire.
We represent the northern and southern parts of the shire: I live near Bermagui and Simon in Pambula. In Bermagui, Tanja and Tathra, we need to make the wooden bridges part of our future; in Pambula, it's the Royal Willows Hotel. A cultural tourism strategy should honour our heritage while creating new jobs.
The council has hard decisions to make about its priorities and its finances and we will ensure decisions are based on robust information and research. We will act with respect towards councillors and council staff.
Most, but not all, candidates have spoken about our changing climate. Council will be part of the shift to cheaper, reliable renewable energy and as we upgrade our water and waste infrastructure, we will create new jobs, save on costs, and be better prepared for the climate challenges ahead.
GREENS - CATHY GRIFF
The Greens candidates offer both experience and a fresh perspective. Most issues facing councillors have a complex history so my strong track-record is an advantage. This election is likely my last council bid, because turnover is important. Our five dynamic candidates have been ready since mid-year.
Greens policies are relevant locally and polished over the long-term, not whipped out for elections. There has been a positive and collegiate Greens representative on Bega Valley Council for decades. Local Government is about grass-roots democracy, which is a fundamental Greens tenet. I attend all Local Government Association conferences - relating our shire's performance with others.
Over five years, I have initiated and contributed to key strategies, which hopefully will be implemented and prioritised next term. My achievements have arisen through collaboration with community groups, fellow progressive councillors, and key staff, covering a broad range of topics: climate resilience and action; FOGO, plastics, and recycling; affordable housing and youth refuge; shared paths and cycling; South East Arts, Sculpture Bermagui and the Regional Gallery; heritage from bridges to buildings; greater transparency in the DA process.
Sometimes my role is about prevention and calming a kerfuffle. Despite the pressures, my behaviour is professional, so no 'codes of conduct' received or issued.
Everyone who endured the Black Summer fires has undergone change. I was often at the evacuation centres spreading supplies and limp humour. The experience spurred my enthusiasm for our shire to be more climate safe and economically secure.
GREENS - VIVIAN HARRIS
I am running for council because when Greens councillor Cathy Griff put forward the Bega Valley Climate Emergency in 2019 we saw that four councillors didn't understand climate science. Since then we have experienced drought, Black Summer bushfires and floods just as scientists have been predicting.
I want us to act like it is an emergency. During Black Summer we saw the cascading effects of losing power, losing communications, people couldn't buy food or petrol which couldn't be pumped up from the tanks. Roads were blocked for weeks, food couldn't be refrigerated and water had to be boiled. We need to learn from this experience.
In the process of making our homes, infrastructure and community more resilient to the worsening climate and reducing our carbon emissions using Greens policies, the Bega Valley can become leaders in renewables, regenerative agriculture, retrofitting buildings, electric transport, rugged infrastructure and disaster management.
We can have jobs in regenerative farming putting carbon back into our soil and growing more food locally. We can have jobs in regenerating bushland, waterways and dunes. We can have jobs for tradies putting in insulation, double glazing, rainwater tanks, solar systems and batteries and building safer homes. We can have jobs in renewables, installing bike paths, electric chargers, and maintaining electric vehicles. We can use cultural burning to manage our forests and employ First Nations people to do it.
Climate action can make us safer, healthier and happier and our youth are relying on us to do it.
KAREN WRIGHT
I live in South Pambula with my two children. I am a foster carer assessor with Anglicare. I've been a board member of Sapphire Community Pantry and am currently a member of many community groups including SPAN, SJA and SWAMP. It is an honour to be of service to the community I love.
What I will advocate for:
Youth and Families - As a mum, I want a seat at the table when council makes decisions that will affect our young people, including providing youth infrastructure and employment pathways. I aim to re-establish the Bega Valley Youth Council.
Sustainability - Council can make better sustainable financial decisions, through better community consultation. We should not be reactive when making decisions and this includes decisions on roads, selling properties and 'trimming the fat' in terms of reducing debt. I will be a councillor that is representative of the wider community not just rate payers. Sustainable decisions to conserve our environment should be a key focus of council, and this includes protecting our oceans, investing in renewable energy and implementing good environmental and climate resilience policy.
A strong community - Our community is very resilient but we are still in recovery. We need strong support for local businesses, training and job creation, opportunities for migrant integration, better First Nations consultation, and more support for the arts. We need to remove red tape on community spaces, promote accessibility shire wide and above all, push for affordable housing and addressing the rental crisis.
NEIL BOURKE
How different would the local economy look if every asset the Bega Valley Shire controlled was contributing double to the shire's economy than it is now?
Lets take just one asset: Merimbula Airport.
Council is in the process of spending of millions of dollars of state and federal funding to add runway starter extensions at both ends of the runway. Further to that they received nearly $4million specifically dedicated to providing general aviation infrastructure.
Merimbula Airport, while ranking highly on RPT aircraft movements among regional airports, lags way behind many small regional airports in the economic contribution the airport makes to the shire. Temora Airport books out accommodation in surrounding towns 8 to 10 times a year. Lyn Grey at Cowra trains hundreds of commercial pilots every year. Parkes has a Historical Aircraft Restoration Society as does Shellharbour Airport. Moruya Airport leads to way with businesses at the airport nearing turnovers of a million dollars a year. Merimbula doesn't even have an aero club.
This is just one council controlled Asset not working to its full potential. How many more are there in the Bega Valley? Thank you.
NATHAN O'DONNELL
These local elections are the most important for the residents of the Bega Valley Shire since the 1990s. We face a difficult budget position and there are many local issues to be addressed by the new council.
I moved to Merimbula 30 years ago, my background is in small business and I have seen this community grow and change over decades. In my opinion what is missing is a common sense approach, the community would benefit greatly from a council made up of nine individuals with clear heads and responsible voices.
We live in a beautiful shire. Is it perfect? No. If it were, it wouldn't be any fun trying to fix it, trying to make sure that everyone gets a fair go. The industries in our shire must be supported, jobs for our kids into the future are so important. I want my kids to enjoy the same opportunities that I had growing up in the Bega Valley Shire.
A quick run through some issues: I am against the proposal for the sewerage outfall in Merimbula, I am for maintaining the integrity of Cuttagee Bridge, I am committed to the introduction of a hard rubbish service and I am committed to doing what I can in regards to affordable housing. Most importantly however I am committed to a council that spends your money wisely.
If elected, I commit to work every day as hard as I can for the people of the communities in the beautiful Bega Valley Shire.
TONY ALLEN
If re-elected to council my first priority will be to continue to support the efforts of council, staff and service providers to maintain their commitment to all of the people across the shire who have been so badly impacted by the recent fires. People from all over the shire will take to their graves the memory of these disastrous fires. However, in the meantime it is imperative that we collectively do whatever we can to help our fellow community members attempt to get some normality back into their lives.
Secondly my focus as always will remain firmly fixed on council finances which must be dealt with in a very disciplined and responsible manner. Council is slowly paying off past debts and must remain on course to return to a more sustainable financial position.
Thirdly, it is imperative that council completes the huge backlog of capital works (tens of millions of grant funded dollars) and that program of works must be followed to finalisation.
As a candidate completely devoid of political affiliations but with a proven track record of non-parochialism and a can do reputation, I would be very happy if returned to council and still be referred to as the "Roads, Roads, Roads" councillor.
DAVID PORTER
I was born in Bega and proud of it. I have a wife Eva and two children Daytona and Austin who attend Bega High.
I see myself as a community advocate, not a politician, I am not affiliated with any political party. I believe in community, common sense, sustainability, transparency, accountability and a high standard of ethics.
I am passionate about having a future council that exceeds the expectations of our community, a council that is accountable, service focused, financially viable and efficient in its operation. I am running for council to provide solutions. With my extensive business experience I possess the skills to be the catalyst of change, transforming council into an efficient services based organisation, that will improve satisfaction and take the pressure off of our rates.
At election time you hear the promise I want to be your voice, but I am not a promise I am proven. When dog walking was banned in parks, I lobbied council and had the motion overturned. When Kalaru boat ramp failed to meet expectations I lobbied for public consultation. I even lobbied council in 2016 that the 2013 LEP would cause a housing crisis, my predictions have come true. I have attended council meetings, researched laws and resolved issues for the community, so I don't just promise to do something, I do it! I have already been serving you as a community advocate for five years.
But I am not just a promise, I am your proven voice on council.
JOY ROBIN
There are many reasons for me standing for council elections, one of them being to have a voice at the table from the southern end of the shire. To me it is very important to listen, and work with community, involve community in the decision making of the council.
The lack of youth infrastructure in our area over many many years and the appalling state of Lake Curalo, is of great concern to me. However there are many good things happening in our area at the moment, one in particular is the Eden Mountain Bike Trails. This I believe will be a game changer for the whole of the Bega Valley Shire. This is a regional project. The committee has developed a strong relationship with Tathra and Narooma Mountain Bike Clubs, also have collaborated with Break O'Day Council and St Helens Mountain Bike Trails in Tasmania. The Derby Mountain Bike Trails inject over $30million to the Tasmanian economy each year.
One very important point is, it is not seasonal, the riders will be here all year, especially in winter when the Snowy Monaro trails are closed. We will be able to showcase our fabulous fare, from North Eden Gin to south of Eden Oysters, Bega cheese, Bermi fish, delicious Pambula and Merimbula eateries and so on, as well as our captivating natural beauty up and down the Sapphire Coast.
Other benefits include:
All and varied accommodation options throughout the Bega Valley Shire;
Small, and large business;
High spending clientele. Local and International. It is one of the fastest growing international and local sports;
Youth employment, general employment;
Health and general wellbeing; and many more.
Good luck to all candidates and be kind.
MICHAEL BRITTEN
I hope I've made it clear why I'm standing for this election - it's boring - it's finances. You can't achieve anything of substance if the finances aren't there.
Councillor Bain last Wednesday correctly commented that "Council earns less than half its income from rates and charges" - that's why it's mandatory to report general income without the imbalance of grants.
Council's quarterly Finance Budget Review tabled on Wednesday shows for the end of 2021/22 there is predicted a cashflow deficit of $13.984million. In 20/21 the deficit was $7.915million (covered by borrowing restricted funds to show a small profit. So it will nearly double in one year, and "borrowing" the balance of restricted funds of $6.684million next year won't work for the new council in June, it just continues the deficit.
IPART has recently increased rates across the board (which you haven't seen yet). There's more to come if you accept the retiring council's recommended increase of 25% over five years. You need to elect a financially competent council who understands the implications of financial failure and its effect on maintenance of the shire's assets.
The council report on Wednesday stated council's cash had not been wisely invested and cash was reducing from $100.2million to $51.5million. The staff recommendations to council were:
A review of fees and charges (up?)
Review of levels of service (down?)
Not accepting new grants that require a council contribution or increase maintenance.
Many candidates are making promises that can increase expenditure. If you want me there to represent you I need your vote.
JOSHUA SHOOBRIDGE
One thing that happens during a campaign is that candidates get to meet so many different people, listen to so many stories and see the vast differences that make up our shire. It is a privilege to be in this position and I hope that I get to continue it as a member of the next council.
I love this community and this is why I am running as a candidate - I want to give back to a community that I love! I want to see better trust between the community and council. We can do that by having a council that is more approachable, transparent and responsible. With a strong base, imagine what we can build. To me Right and Left mean a whole let less that what's right or what's wrong for our community, a council that can see this as a priority will succeed in working together.
We need a vision, a focus on what we can achieve. A focus on effective community representation. A focus on the needs of the community. A focus on financial accountability and responsibility. A focus on working together as a council and with the community. A focus on being transparent to those we serve.
Lastly, a focus on keeping our environment clean and pristine. Alexander Turing said "We can only see a short distance ahead, but we can see plenty that needs to be done". Never a truer word has been spoken, I know that I am up to the task.