In the lead-up to Saturday's council elections, the NewsMail is running a series of question and answers:

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...

Helen Blackburn

1 Drainage, CBD parking in and recreational areas for youth. As division 4 has many vulnerable flood areas, it would be my highest priority funding for drainage is provided. I would endeavour to have Council focus on examine all possibilities to alleviate CBD parking congestion - specifically a multi-storey carpark (not necessarily wholly owned by council) which might provide the first 2 hours free and a charge thereafter. In order to address the final issue, I would work to make best use of our current assets (parks around the division) and examine how upgrades might be able to be facilitated.

2 Rates are too high in our region. I believe we can ease the stress of rates by applying commonsense decision making to seek other means of raising revenue. One simple idea I would propose would be to use existing infrastructure such as bus shelters to lease advertising space, increasing our revenue by hundreds of thousands of dollars over a term of council. Ideally a freeze on rates would be what most residents would welcome and by sensibly reducing costs and raising revenue in other areas this is something I would strive for.

3 I've served our country in the army, worked in national and state level roles for technology companies, was born and raised in our beautiful region, raised a family here and am a business owner. If elected on March 19 I will be putting my business to the side and focusing solely on helping shape the future of our region so that we can all enjoy a bigger, better Bundaberg. I'm here to make a difference, council is not just a job. Division 4 needs a representative that is willing to stand up and be heard. Vote for me on March 19 for you to have a voice in me on Council.
 

Vince Habermann

1. Completion of major flood mitigation projects to better protect the most vulnerable areas of North, South, East, West and Central Bundaberg. I hope to achieve these by continuing to support the advancement of the State Government's Bundaberg Flood Protection Study and pursue Federal Funding opportunities and provision of a Council funds contribution.

 Completion of stage 3 of the Hanbury Street roads and drainage project in 2016-17, on-going repairs and upgrade to urban streets and drainage and the installation of traffic lights and other control devices at "problem intersections", to be provided through budget allocations and pursuit of any available funding, and removal of traffic island on corner Barolin/Ruddell Streets.

  Construct concreted footpaths from The Lakes Retirement Village to the shops in Mt Perry Road, significantly annual increased funds allocation to the footpaths and bicycle pathways program and improve street lighting throughout Division

2.  Rates have been driven up by the loss of government subsidies that supported the general rate and the cost of flood repairs following the events on 2011 and 2013 but levels of general rates and service charges are comparable to other major regional councils in Queensland.

I will seek further efficiencies and further review of Council service levels to keep them affordable. Keeping rates as close as possible to CPI would be ideal but given community expectations of service levels, setting rates charges is a delicate balancing act and we must also remain mindful of Council's financial sustainability.

 3. Vote for me because : I received an Order of Australia Medal for Service to Sport and Service to the Community of Bundaberg and I continue to give my heart and soul to not only Division 4 but also the whole Region, which I love.

After completing a Diploma of Local Government Administration during my first term in Council and learning all the time, I have the knowledge, experience and passion to be an even better Councillor. I will continue to be a full-time hard-working Councillor who is always available to help and serve in any way I can and be your strong advocate. .

Peter Macklin

1 Wide streets that have been paved kerb to kerb can be difficult for infirm people to cross quickly and avoid traffic. Key crossing points must be identified and pedestrian crossings installed. Broken gutters and pool water and mud due to improper drainage angles must be fixed. This is important for health and aesthetic reasons. Focusing on repairing this infrastructure will be one of my first priorities. I already have a long list of sites for immediate work. Parking on grassed road verges near busy commercial areas is frustrating residents and could be fixed by either sealing the verges in high traffic areas. Other areas could have cellular reinforcement installed to aid supporting vehicular weight while maintaining adequate soil percolation and runoff control.
All the above must be funded by new and innovated projects Council could implement without affecting further rate increases.
 

2 Based on unimproved land values, rates are higher than expected. Since the 2013 floods many blocks are valued at half of their previous valuation. Council could alleviate rate and fee hikes through innovative streams of revenue that only marginally compete with local firms. Projects may include data centre management, environmentally friendly power generation or operating an internet service provider. Council could then provide services with less reliance on grants and rates, which should be in the vicinity of 2-3% p.a.
 

3 I will act swiftly to curb the decline of basic services of recent years. With current experience in business and governance, I will act with integrity and be accountable for my actions; not pass the buck. My strong commitment for council to employ locals first and foremost will provide more job opportunities for locals, keeping people and skills in our region and I will encourage business to follow suit. As your Division 4 Councillor I will do the work I am hired to do and help our great community forge a stronger future for us all.
 

Rachael Antrobus

1. I know that there are many issues that I could addressed for myself, I as a running Candidate will be put into a position to Listen to the Community of Bundaberg on the issues they see, to be the voice to be able to advocate their words to the correct departments, importantly all issues need to be addressed then followed up. It is not about me. I do know being a local business owner how hard it is to fight to keep our doors open for the community to come, my vision is to bring the community back together as with numbers as the community we will have the power to get our words heard. It all starts with one then two then we become strong.

2. Our family as rate payers find it very difficult to keep up with the rising of the rates, firstly I can not enforce policies at this stage. People are finding it hard enough to pay for their rates and survive on a weekly bases. it is about finding solutions to try and to stop the rates increasing in the up coming future.

3.  Being a local lady walking the street as a child holding onto my dads hand (Robin Antrobus) I have seen the town of Bundaberg grow on eye level bases. This Community has looked after me and our family for 40 years, it is your choice, if you think I can help and assist with maintaining today and creating the future grounds for your children and their children to come, is time for US to come together as one commuinity. Vote 1 for Rachael Antrobus 4 division 4

Mike Edgar

1 BECAUSE my division includes the CBD and North Bundaberg - the areas so devastated by the floods - there are three priorities for my division:
i. The flood overlay maps must ensure that properties affected by the floods are separated from those where the habitable areas were not affected. Currently they are all classed as flood affected. That needs to be changed.
ii. Riverside Management Plans must be revisited and embedded as part of the City-Coast-Country Tourist Trail, the existing architecture of the main street needs to be protected and promoted and this division needs to be reunited with a cycle/walkway over the Tallon Bridge.
ii Parking must be addressed with a multi-storey car park
I will address these issues by advocating for a council subsidised CBD Manager working out of the CBD uniting existing community groups, business, investors - ensuring a collective voice through to decision makers at all levels. The bare bones of this work was done some years ago but was never progressed. It needs to be expedited.

2 i. Yes rate increases have been too high - and that increase has been far too quick
ii. We can't separate rate costs from revenue, so the two must be reviewed together. Public reports indicate that attracting grants and subsidies from other levels of government has been poorly handled, some wasteful practices exist and the layers of middle management appear bloated.
iii From my own personal business experience CPI plus a little more is acceptable. In the real world you go out of business if your product is overpriced. Our rates appear higher than similar Councils, so I am committed to working as part of a team to make them fairer.

3 I have spent the greater part of my life in this Division. As a business-man with 17 years of council experience, I understand the need for this division to remain the heart of the region. Amalgamation and natural disasters have robbed this division - and others - of a collective and united voice.. I have common sense, and I am committed to Bundaberg. I have a plan. A vote for me places this division and the region in an experienced and safe pair of hands, and that's a skill-set needed in the new council.