Paul McCarragher

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? 

  One of the issues is the availability of the Councillor to the public. The Councillor should make time to be in his or her division at least once a week if possible to so that members of the public can bring their complaints and wants directly to their Councillor.. Add to this a direct line to the Childers Council chambers so that members of the Public can deal with their own Division and not the convoluted bureaucracy of the Regional Council.

  Second is the downgrading of the Service centre in Childers and outlying areas which now entails workers travelling from Bundaberg. I would make sure that Childers maintains a permanent workforce to do the myriad of jobs required around the area and to value add make it possible for that unit to tender out for outside work.

   And third a Hydro Therapy Pool is a must for this area with its increasing aging population and special needs people who require the advantage of using a local pool for their exercise and health. I would make it a priority to see that the funds were made available to construct such a pool.

 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?

I agree that rates are too high and seeing the angst on the faces of many at this time tells its own story. The problem is the large amounts of borrowings the current Council has on its books and the projected borrowings plus the huge wages bill for Council. Savings must be made across the board from trimming the workforce to make it meaner and leaner to making sure that every cent is adding to the value of this Region even if that means scaling back some of the proposed works in the pipeline until the deficit we now have is under control. Rate rises should as far as possible be kept to the CPI as should fees and charges.

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

  Vote for me on March the 19^th because I will take your wants and needs to Council without fear or favour. I will not make promises that I can't keep but I would endeavour to make sure that each and every member of the Public has their say and is kept abreast of the latest from the Council proper. I have no political affiliations, no business to protect but I would be there for the people of this Division to do the best not only for them but as a Councillor for the Bundaberg Regional Council what is best for the region.

Stan Edwards

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?

A. Speed limit on Coonarr Rd, contact the Roads & Traffic.

B. Rubbish tips to be opened for longer times in the outlying areas; find out where all the money has been spent, definitely not in these areas.

C. Hopefully to see the highway around Childers. Again this has to be in conjunction with the Main Roads Authority.

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?

The rates are way too high... the rate hike does not correspond with the CPI. No bloody over seas trips is one way of keeping them down.

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

You don't have to vote for me, I'm not making you. The decision is up to you. If it's change this area needs, have a think.

P.S. I do not drag on about speeches ... straight to the point.

Bill Trevor

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?

the first issue that I will address is the feeling by the division that they do not see their council representative out and about enough. I will be present in many places every week to ensure that I keep up with the issues within the community. I also intend from time to time to hold  community meetings across the division .

The second issue is that many of the smaller communities feel that they are neglected without many of their problems attended too on a regular basis. They are long distances from many of the regular council provides services and need a little attention to their local needs.. I will make sure that their voice is heard and acted upon. Many of their needs are small but important to their community.

The third issue within the division 2 is that there are a number of drainage jobs that need attending to. I will advocate for council to allocate for some of the savings to be added to the drainage budget.

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?

Rates too high I believe that rates have risen too high too quickly. Council needs to identify better practices and service delivery methods to save up to 5% saving in the first year. Management methods need to improve to allow those savings to be made. If  20% of the stories circulating about wasteful practices are true that then that should not be too hard to do. I have always believed that inflation plus a little bit is the right mix to allow maitenence and some growth .The layers of management should also be investigated to make sure that we are not only good at due process but also the delivery of services.

3 Vote for me on March 19^th because...

I will champion Division 2 to make your voice is heard and acted upon. I am approachable and you will see me around as I make every effort to speak with as many people as possible to keep abreast of your concerns. I have a common sense approach and will get things done. I will be a tireless worker and a strong voice for you on Council. I will work with the rest of the elected members to make our region prosper and create jobs for our children.

Jim Nilon

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?

If only the challenges we face were limited to three specific issues! Out and about during this campaign, talking to locals in Division Two it is clear:

• There is a disconnect between our community and the amalgamated Bundaberg Regional Council
• People feel that amalgamation has centralised services, resources and forward thinking.
• People feel that the beauty of our region and the opportunities it presents, have been lost to "Bundaberg centric thinking"

I have a plan to engage the many communities across in an area of over 2000 square kilometres that comprise Division Two. A councillor engaging with community members through routine and regular office days in Childers and mobile offices in all communities across Division Two can identify and address issues that directly affect residents.

We must embrace the wisdom and passion locals possess to grow our economy and grow our community. We need to adopt such a strategy right across Bundaberg Regional Council.

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?

Rates have increased markedly right across the state since amalgamation. Amalgamation was supposed to deliver better economies of scale and better efficiencies. However we have seen increases rates and charges and lower service standards. Rates should not increase beyond CPI. I think the problem stems from elected councillors letting go of the bureaucratic tiller. I think current "silo" management systems are not working efficiently in the enlarged council area. Small regional communities are missing out on basic day to day service delivery and also in future planning of infrastructure.

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

I believe we desperately need to address the centralised thinking, amalgamation has delivered across Bundaberg Region. The enlarged region offers economic opportunities, but those opportunities should be spread across the whole of council not centralised in Bundaberg. We need to embrace new ideas that will grow our economies in all the small communities across Bundaberg Region. Pining wistfully for the past has cost us dearly in the 8 years of amalgamation. We must embrace new strategies that work for Division Two in the context of a regional council. My aim is to become Division Two's voice in Bundaberg-not Bundaberg's voice in Division Two.

Julie Green

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? The two issues I believe are paramount:

Firstly, growth of our local economies and supporting local jobs.

Our lifestyle and climate is envied by many.

We need to promote our region and its advantages.

Our farmers are the backbone of our region and we need to support them as much as possible while encouraging our young people to seek work and qualifications in agriculture.

Secondly, encouraging new business and enterprise to establish in our region and promote tourism in our area which is rich with opportunities for visitors.

Our location offers ease of access to other regional areas and city locations.

We have the room to welcome and support large industry expansion and we have job seekers keen to work in these businesses. Small businesses add the colour and vibrancy to our communities.

Shopping locally is the key to maintaining a flourishing business community. Lifestyle, climate, family and prosperity.

Bundaberg region is the whole package.

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?

Rates are a contentious issue and one that is not easily solved. I believe that residents would be happier to pay their rates if they saw them being used in more "value for money" manner. The rates dollar needs to go further and has to go further. Council spending has to be reined in to enable the budget to be more efficient and more realistic. As a wife, mother and a banker, I know that you can't live beyond your means.

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

Your vote will not be wasted.

In the past our council was all about helping the people who lived here, making it a better and safer place to live. Being accessible to everyone. We need to get back to the days of being able to trust and look to the council for help and guidance. Residents in our region are tired of being told and not asked. Its time for our region to be united in our call for change. Let's elect a new council. A united council. Lets work together to make this region even better.