Candidates support business growth

Ensuring economic development, business growth and infrastructure to meet a growing community are common platforms that many of the central ward candidates are supporting in Warragul.

One candidate has even suggested development of the old butter factory site needs to be a priority for the new council.

Central ward candidates in ballot paper order are: Mikaela Power, Remi Yusef, Teresa Mitchell, Dale Bainbridge, Justin Cooper, Danny Goss, Duncan McNeil, Joe Gauci and Annemarie McCabe.

With the exception of one, all central ward candidates live in Warragul. Ms McCabe lives in Drouin.

After one term on council, Cr Power said she felt there was unfinished business and she had received strong support from the community during her term.

“At times it felt like I was a lone voice in council, but people have valued my contribution to community debate and want me to stand again,” she said.

Ms Yusef said she wanted to give back to her community and help make a difference.

“I do it through my job (clinical counsellor and teacher) so I’d like to do it for the broader community,” she said.

Ms Mitchell said she advocates for Gippsland at a federal and state level so wanted to take the opportunity to connect to local government.

She said a priority for her would be engaging with youth and connecting them with industry and business.

Mr Bainbridge said he wanted to see common sense decision making.

“I have always been a strong believer in the potential of Warragul and the Baw Baw Shire.

“I think we are heading into exciting times with both growth and development in the area and I am keen to become involved to ensure the best outcomes for our residents and ratepayers,” he said.

Mr Cooper said he believed he could contribute to sound financial management and economic development of the shire.

He said with increasing growth and development in the shire, careful management was needed.

“I would like to ensure there is some action with the butter factory – if nothing else than to just get rid of the eyesore,” he said.

Mr Goss said instead of whinging about the current council, he decided he should have a go himself.

He said he was committed to a no rate rise policy and ensuring ratepayers’ money was spent responsibly, adding that decision making by the current council had been terrible.

Mr McNeil said he was concerned about infrastructure and some of the decisions that had been made by council.

He said council, after limited consultation, began Queen St streetscape works, paid contractors to dig holes in the road and then paid contractors to fill in the holes was bad decision making. “These issues strike a chord with me,” he said.

Current mayor, Cr Gauci said a lot of progress had been made in the past four years but there was still more to be done to keep the shire moving forward.

“I want to continue what we have started. We have put the processes in place to move forward but we have to continue to keep working on those processes,” he said.

Ms McCabe said she wanted to be a voice of the people.

She said she has been involved in many committees and standing for council was a natural progression.

“I have listened to others in the community and hear their frustrations regarding few retail choices along with limited parking available, sending shoppers to other municipalities to shop which has flow on effects taking money out of the community,” she said.