Palerang Bulletin September 2008 Issue Special QUESTIONS FOR CANDIDATES 

The following documents have been released for community comment:

a) Palerang rural residential discussion paper 2008
b) Sydney Canberra Corridor strategy 2008

What is your understanding of these strategic outlines for the future of our area and directives to Council?

a) Palerang rural residential discussion paper 2008

The May 2008 version of the Discussion Paper introduced principles that arose from the Central West Rural Lands Enquiry and the subsequent Rural SEPP.  Inherent in the paper was still a conflict between principles seeking to be applied by the Department of Primary Industry and the Department of Planning. It asserted that minimum large block sizes would assure the viability of agriculture, when in fact it would make it more unviable, especially after the introduction of ETS. 

b) Sydney Canberra Corridor strategy 2008

The Strategy is the product of the State’s forward planning outlook for controlled population development and economic growth in this area of the state. It designates hierarchies of commercial and residential development seeking outcomes that balance development opportunities with infrastructure and services management.  Utilising the road and train transport infrastructure, creating local employment and reducing commuting also figure centrally in the strategy.

Bulletin
Question:

In your view, what are the priority local items to be addressed in the LEP or the accompanying Development Control Plans (DCPs) for: your locality and Palerang as a whole?

I think the fundamental questions we’ll face as a community in defining the goals we want our next LEP to record, are more social than environmental.  I say that because the State has good legislation and authorities to safeguard the environment.   Our real issue is to define just how willing are we to share our lifestyle and on what terms.  This will most notably translate into locality zoning and dwelling lot size definitions.

As Councillors what are your responsibilities towards the natural environment that sustains our rural lifestyles and also for native species protection?

Councillors are bound to uphold State legislation that has given delegated authority to Council to represent or enforce.  This includes numerous Acts dealing with vegetation, water, waterways, pollution, weeds, and noxious annoyances to name a few.  Presently, Council staff considers such regulations in the preparation of DA conditions and general daily occurrences throughout the LGA.

What are Council’s realistic options to deal with the heavy cost of infrastructure maintenance (roads, bridges, sewers, water systems)? e.g current thinking: continue raising rates, encourage more people to settle to broaden the rate base….comment with detailed ideas?

This will be a multifaceted approach. 

On the revenue side it will for the most part be comprised of: 

a) a greater contribution from the higher spheres of government,
b) more settlement, and
c) council enterprise endeavours. 

On the cost optimisation side it will the most part be comprised of:

a) improved long-term asset and financial planning,
b) sharper purchasing of inputs, and
c) engineering life-extension strategies.

Will sustainability limits and lifestyle amenity for existing residents or market demand drive future residential development in Palerang? How do you define/know market demand?

Community consultation will determine this. If facilitated well we will progress the discussion from being driven by fear of climate change at one end, and laisser faire development at the other.   Palerang is not an island and is part of the larger State, National and Global communities.  Because of this, the store we put in our Palerang uniqueness is likely to be tempered by the State's need for sustainable population accommodation and economic development.   The interest of the Residents is to be at the front of the agenda of how, rather than if, we are going to share our Palerang lifestyle with others.

Do you make a commitment to record all Councillor final votes? 

I have no objection of doing this, providing as in all governance teamwork, that once a decision is determined it is then the group’s decision, even if some voted against it.  To do otherwise would be tantamount to saying that any non-unanimous issue is left open, not legally but in the mind(s) of the dissenters.  This would soon make Council unworkable.

Other priorities for you/your team with some detail on how Council could achieve them?

I have proposed eight community-building initiatives which centre on local employment creation, and branching out from that, community prosperity and the reward of lifestyle amenities.  I believe with council’s leadership, rather then its treasury, all the initiatives can be done at no meaningful cost to ratepayers, including Fresh Food Farmers Markets, Commuter-level Public Transportation and making the town centres more inviting.