Introduction: Jess Jennings. Born at Bathurst Base, partly lived here as a kid growing up, personally built my own house at Lagoon in 2003 and been living here permanently since 2007. My grandparents were WW2 refugees from Latvia and built our first family home in Kefford St in the 1950s, still standing. I’m running to make Bathurst better with tourism reform, deliver a ‘Central Park’ Masterplan for our growing population & protect our heritage, better relations between council and the business community, grow trade links domestic and overseas, amongst other items.
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Popularly-elected mayor: Yes
Water sale: Only if satisfied with the results of a science-based Environmental Impact Statement – which has still not been established in the last scenario. As such, no-one knows or can credibly claim what the specific, actual environmental impact would have been from the last proposal. But we do now know Regis will now likely access water by overland transfer from Lithgow and groundwater sources, both of which are more likely to have dire environmental impacts than controlled releases from a physically closer, above ground, and highly transparent source, ie, Ben Chifley dam.
Roundabout: Council could easily change the current road arrangements to remove the current risks, if black spot funding not provided soon. I want to see the full current council budget and projections from council staff before making a large financial commitment, but my sense is ‘yes’ we have to get this problem solved once and for all and soon.
Australia Day: Yes, keep current Australia Day where it is because it is based on factual historical dates. Considering an alternative additional day of celebration that recognises 60,000 years of Aboriginal heritage should be considered at a national level and decided at the national level.
TAFE building: Re-developed with respect to its heritage and as part of a new Town Square precinct that opens up the back of the TAFE building area, and gives Bathurst back its central public space. TAFE building should have multiple commercial and community-based uses and be commercially viable.
Rates cap: No not at this stage, need to see latest council budgets and projections.
Christmas decorations: Yes, but with a limit on the funding provided, say $10,000, if the budget can comfortably afford it. The local community should be engaged more actively by council – not just putting up a few lights.
CCTV: Yes council should support CCTV but it does NOT have to be the highly expensive ‘back to base’ model to get the same result. Instead we need a smartly designed and council facilitated ‘electronic neighbourhood watch’ system that council brokers between the police, businesses, and residents. This does not have to be expensive but would be highly effective when known ‘hot spots’ are properly covered and the strategic location of cameras and their operation by businesses is established across the CBD and areas of interest.
Demolition by neglect: No.
Attendance: Three in the last 12 months and more than I’d care to mention – actually couldn’t count them - in the last 5 years.
