IN THE lead-up to tomorrow's council elections, the NewsMail asked the candidates three questions:

1 Name three issues, specific to your division, that you will aim to fix during your term if elected and how you will do so?

2 One consistent complaint from residents is that rates are too high. Do you agree that rates are too high? If yes, what policies will you try introduce to keep rates at an affordable level? In your opinion, what percentage increase is fair?

3 Finish this sentence. Vote for me on March 19 because...

Ross Peddlesden

1 a) Comprehensively complete the Hughes Rd north-south connector link. At present council has plans to connect Back Windemere Rd to Hughes Rd, but no plans for flood-proofing the Moneys Creek floodway, or improving the dangerous Hughes and Bargara rds intersection. Have a strategic plan for the project, and do the job properly.

 b) Enable the community to make better use of the white elephant Bargara Cultural Centre, which at present is empty 90% of the time - reduce the hiring cost, improve the kitchen and survey the community to find out what it wants and what would help it use the centre.
c) Facilitate coastal weekend markets. Investigate Bauer St, Christensen Park or the Cultural Centre as locations and facilitate a coalition of community groups to run them.

2 Council has faced extreme financial pressure due to the withdrawal of State Government infrastructure money, so I understand things are tough. Residents would be less resentful of high rates if they thought council was spending money wisely, and I believe there needs to be a full organisational review to ensure maximum efficiency and strategic planning of council tasks. Rate rises should be kept to a minimum while this process is undertaken. Better vision would lead to more strategic decision-making and therefore more efficient use of available funds.

3 I have a vision of a better organised, more vibrant, more green, more positive and better off community. At present council is stuck in a cycle of doing what it's always done and expecting improved outcomes. That won't happen. The community needs leaders who can step back, evaluate the tasks that need to be undertaken and create new solutions to the problems we face. We need leaders who can think outside the square, who will say "why not?" and "let's make it happen" rather than "you can't do that". We need real change.
 

Greg Barnes

1 There are more than three issues but from a capital expenditure point of view, these would rate a priority:
 Completion of the Hughes Rd extension together with the rectification of the floodway issues near the child care centre and the issues with the sewage pump station.
 Completion of the missing links of the Turtle Trail between Bargara and Innes Park and Coral Cove and Elliott Heads.
 Construction of the Tidal Turtle Pool in front of the Turtle Playground.
These projects are capable of attracting state and federal funding, through various grant programs with projects one and two open to developer contributions through trunk infrastructure offsets. I have already secured the support for all three projects from some candidates and given the fact that there will likely be several new faces and opinions on the new council, I'm hoping that the economic and community benefits will be acknowledged and supported.
 

2 The level of rate increases is directly related to the needs and expectations of the community and tested by the council's ability to adequately prioritise both its Capital and Operational budgets. To my mind, projects such as the Barolin St upgrade failed to meet that test and the funds expended on it (together with a proposed further $3m-plus) is the type of issue that really makes residents angry. It's impossible to say what increase is a "fair increase" because that's determined by the community's expectations of the services that it demands. A 0% increase would undoubtably result in a decrease of services unless the council finds efficiencies and/or re-defines its priorities.

3 Of my proven track record of community service and achievements over the past 20 years, including 16 years as your elected representative. I'm not coming up with unfunded "ideas" within weeks of an election. I am staunchly independent and not afraid to stand up for what I believe in or what my community expects. By adopting my own communications strategy and establishing my weekly Community Consultation Desk during the past term, I believe Division 5 is the most connected and engaged community in the region. Most of all, I remain committed to protecting the lifestyle which is treasured by so many residents.