COUNCIL ELECTIONS Focus on a vital area of growth
CRITICAL decisions about Cairns Regional Council’s most important population growth corridor will be made by one of these three faces over the coming four years.
When it comes to passion for their community, Division 1 candidates Cr Brett Moller, Sue Bertuch and Jan Sobotka all have it in spades.
However, their views on infrastructure priorities are poles apart.
Incumbent Cr Brett Moller, back for a second tilt under Mayor Bob Manning’s Unity Team banner, said he was committed to overseeing the $8.5 million transformation of Kenrick Park in Gordonvale into an attraction that drew people from near and far.
“Importantly, with the activities there – the arboreum, the interactive tower and playground, the lake – it’s not only going to draw people, it’s really going to activate that park,” he said.
“With juvenile crime and children that need to be kept busy and enjoying recreational pursuits, Kenrick Park is a must.”
The successful lawyer pledged to do just that while maintaining a program of new footpaths, playgrounds, kerb and channelling works while keeping rates at CPI or less.
Independent Sue Bertuch is no stranger to elections, having run previous state and federal races for One Nation and the United Australia Party, but one of her true passions lies in her cake business Sue’s Sweet Delights.
She was passionate about council’s ability to help small business and provide outlying communities with the bare essentials – like finally bringing water up to a drinking standard in Russell Heads.
“I’ve been asked about the potability of water down at Russell Heads, and that is number one,” she said. “Number two is footpaths. “I’ve walked more than 108km over the past two weeks, only five of which have been on footpaths.”
Ms Bertuch said there were water pressure issues in Goldsborough Valley, bike lanes needed on Petersen Rd in Edmonton, and a lack of safe footpaths for students at MacKillop Catholic College and Hambledon State School.
Cairns NQSA Team candidate Jan Sobotka arrived in
Australia in 1982 and previously ran a successful smallgoods business.
Since retiring he has focused on community work but has pledged to be a full-time councillor if elected.
Mr Sobotka said residents wanted basic infrastructure to work properly.
“When you have problems with rates and the road in front of your home, you don’t care about the other things,” he said.
“First take care of the basic things and the needs of the community, then you can move more deeply into other things.”
Division 1 extends from Bramston Beach and Eubanangee in the south to the southern part of Edmonton in the north, taking in the communities of Mirriwinni, Babinda, Gordonvale, East Trinity and Fitzroy Island.