Introduction: I have been a resident for nearly 13 years and in that time have been on the Bathurst Regional Vignerons Association committee, National Cool Climate Wine Show committee (promoting Bathurst as a wine and food centre), and the Bathurst Relay for Life Committee. I have supervised many students over the past 11 years who have worked with mainly not for profit organisations in Bathurst to develop new communication strategies for them. I am supporting Monica Morse and her ticket as I strongly believe the Council needs a range of views and voices that represent the whole Bathurst community. Also there some aspects of the town infrastructure that require attention such as the very poor footpaths that prevent the growing elderly population from getting around the city.
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Popularly-elected mayor: I am off the opinion that the Council should elect the Mayor from their number as there is the potential for special interests to interfere with the democratic process if an individual is on Council under a different mandate.
Water sale: Asolutely not. Our water resources are becoming too precious to sell to commercial operations. Water needs to be better managed for the health of our rivers and the rural communities and villages.
Roundabout: A traffic engineering report is required to look at all the options for redeveloping this intersection, but this needs to be done very soon and the Council commit to funding a redevelopment in the current financial year.
Australia Day: This is becoming a divisive issue across the nation. What is needed first is a treaty with the indigenous people ( similar to the Treaty of Waitangi in New Zealand) where every Australian can feel they belong to one nation, and part of those discussion can be a date that everyone can celebrate (i.e. the signing of the treaty).
TAFE building: This grand building has the potential to be an arts centre for the city, with a range of small galleries, food and coffee outlets, a specific small performing space, a small cinema and a specific space for digital art.
Rates cap: I am of the opinion the Council has done reasonably well living within its means over the past 2-3 years; with a stringent review of forward estimates the Council should not have to raise rates.
Christmas decorations: Although most other Councils in the state (i.e. City of Sydney) do some funding for this purpose, I believe that local businesses and individuals can pay for this themselves and the Council concentrate on the events that bring visitors ( Winterfest, wine show, car races).
CCTV: From all I have heard this should be a priority to protect people and businesses. It seems it does diminish criminal activities.
Demolition by neglect: Interesting question which has been raised at forums I have attended. If the Council had a more stringent, but supportive policy, for older houses, that encouraged owners to reconsider neglecting them, then I would support such a move. This would require a register of homes deemed vital to the streetscape and with strong historical values Your editorial of 2-3 weeks ago I thought was a rational argument for how this issue needed to be managed.
Attendance: Two, but have had meetings with various Council staff over projects I am involved with, such as getting the Council to agree on Bathurst being a child-friendly city under United Nations conventions.
