In the lead-up to Saturday'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...

Tony Castro

1 Division 6 is made up of coastal communities, rural production areas and a valuable asset for the whole region, the Port of Bundaberg. We need to stimulate development in our coastal communities which in turn generates jobs and increases the rates base as well as work with Port management in tandem with state and federal government agencies to increase output by the establishment of new industries and businesses at the Port and elsewhere either in the Port's precinct or elsewhere. Roads and drainage maintenance needs to be implemented throughout the whole Division 6 area  to improve the standard of the roads to a reasonable level. I will commit to getting council to review the retro-fit of houses with sewage connections to the new Rubyanna system that currently are not planned for connection in its future budgets.

2 Rates rises is the one topic that generates the most debate and It would be fair to say that people by and large believe that rates have increased at a rate that is proving to be unsustainable for many ratepayers. Rates have to increase by the CPI at a minimum so that council can continue to provide essential services. The best way to minimise the impact on ratepayers is to increase the rates base, and to do that new industries, businesses providing employment and new housing and commercial development will achieve this goal. Council will also have to look at restructuring its operations in order to make savings without cutting back on the delivery of basic essential services.

3 I am Bundaberg born and bred and lived here all my life and I am committed to driving the future prosperity for Bundaberg. I have the necessary governance and business skills to be an effective councillor and due to my roles on representative companies and organisations I have the ability to lobby governments effectively as part of the council team. I will use my involvement in different community organisations to keep abreast of the issues that are of the most concern to the region's residents and ratepayers.
 

Scott Rowleson

1 I have three issues that I would like to fix during my first term as councillor. One immediate and two as soon as I possibly can. Firstly, I would like to make sure that our drinking water is totally safe for residents to consume and to bathe in. Recently there have been some complaints about its quality and I will get to the bottom of those issues residents face. I will even seek independent advice if needed. Secondly, I will liaise with residents regarding drainage. We can no longer accept water inundation into their homes. Work must be started on critical areas that need immediate attention. Lastly, mosquito and midge control plans. I will be involved in an audit of current policy and practice, to make the council more proactive in areas of Division 6 that need attention. People should not feel trapped in their home by these flying pests.
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2 My contact with locals tells me that rates are too high. The current unimproved land value rating system is flawed. The state and council needs to work out how this can be made fairer. I will meet with state members to start this process. Rates may increase each year, however ratepayers must not be used as cash cows to cover poor economic management. If rates increase, I believe CPI level increases are acceptable. However through efficiencies, we can see this reduced as often as possible to stem the tide we currently face.
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3  You deserve a councillor who actually lives in the division and one that already understands the division and the issues we face. You deserve a councillor who will not just go through the motions, but also act to change the direction of council as a whole, all the while communicating their actions with you. Don't let your voice be diminished on March 19.

Raymond Duffy

1 There is a very common complaint among the residents of Division 6: that is the neglect of maintenance; whether it is roads, drainage or general maintenance. This issue certainly needs urgent review and an action plan put in place, as we had done in the old Burnett Shire Council. Once you construct an asset, if you let it fall into disrepair because of the lack of maintenance that is absolute neglect. We had a water and sewerage study for all of Division 6. Where is this report and why has it not been implemented? All costings had been done, and future budgets would have seen its implementation. Likewise the drainage studies had been carried out and a plan for its future implementation was in place. Where did it go?
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2 Our community is very astute when it comes to their rate increases. If they see value for their money, they are happy. However the current councillors have in some cases rated people virtually out of their homes and businesses, with no communications as to why. It has been reported in the NewsMail that sewerage rates could closely double. That is what to expect if rates are not kept under control. We must immediately have an independent external financial review that will clearly identify areas of savings that can be achieved.

3 With years of experience as a councillor and the last mayor of the Burnett Shire Council, I know that I can start work for my community from the minute that I am elected. I have done my apprenticeship, I will work for you and I will deliver. Let me work for you to get Division 6 back on top and work for the council area as a whole to make us truly great once again.

May Mitchell

1 Going house to house in Division 6, since 11/1/16 it's obvious to me from conversations with residents, with the lack of footpaths, poor road quality, soggy front yards and drains not doing the intended job, that prioritising the maintenance/upgrade of existing infrastructure and budgeting for corrective drainage works is a must; along with finishing half-completed projects i.e. designated bus stops with no seating or shelter. As a councillor I would prefer to see fewer projects, but those projects finished entirely, to the best standard, proving that council is a competent organisation which is spending their money on evidential worthwhile projects to provide residents with good quality infrastructure, rather than the current practice of piecemeal attempts to partly address issues but which to date are proving to not be pleasing very many residents at all.

2 I lean towards fairness and assistance wherever practicable. In the case of Urban Residential properties; those affected by flooding still have general rates comparable to unaffected land, although their valuations may have been halved, building is more complicated/expensive or it's difficult to on-sell their land. Water access and sewerage charges could be reassessed for them as well. In the case of Rural Residential properties many of the benefits paid for by general rates may not be provided in their area or are far less accessible compared to urban areas. Long-term owner-occupiers of coastal properties may experience large valuation increases due to major interest in their area and find it difficult to remain in their homes. Let's protect them by introducing a new general rate category if needed. Sporting groups often struggle to pay rates. I'd like to provide a concession on their sewerage charges. First pedestal at full price and less for subsequent pedestals.

3 There'd be less resentment from ratepayers if they could see where the money goes in their community; if they could see work being done properly instead of the need for rework within short time frames. Back to basics. Do it once - do it well. Build it - maintain it. That's what I'll be pushing for.