Putting the community first

Glenorchy City needs more public health services. Resources must be allocated to enable our health system cope with the demands of an ageing population, 

with greater investment  in prevention and early intervention to reduce the incidence of chronic disease. 

I will push for better health facilities in Glenorchy City to take the pressure off our residents having to travel further afield which is also  putting pressure on existing RHH facilities.

We must have programs to increase literacy and numeracy.  It's unacceptable that more than 50% of our communities can’t read and write. 

We also need better access to lifelong learning opportunities. Bring back night school and increase on-the job-training are some of the ways this can be achieved. 

Wherever possible I will advocate for greater learning facilities to increasing these opportunities in our City.

We call this the lucky country yet more than one-third of Tasmanians live below the poverty line. Some are in our own City of Glenorchy and many are suffering in silence.

It’s time we worked together across governments, businesses, and community organisations to identify and address the root cause of generational poverty and help people to escape the poverty cycle.  I will continue that work if elected as Mayor and Alderman/Councillor of Glenorchy City Council. 

The cost of housing is creating huge stress for many home buyers and renters, more so for people on low incomes, families and the elderly. People need certainty they will have a safe, secure and affordable place to live.

For example, the land along the proposed transit corridor in Glenorchy is flat and already has services. Instead of waiting for more years for the State Government to declare our public transport options, the land could be re-zoned to build desperately needed homes, improve the rating income for Glenorchy City and the housing that our community needs. Then we can make the case for the most appropriate and importantly, affordable form of transportation which may be a non-stop bus service along the corridor.

I am committed to encouraging more affordable homes for today and for the future of our community's families. 

As a modern city, Glenorchy needs safer footpaths, modern sports facilities, potholes fixed, a safer bus mall, better infrastructure, and more improved streetscapes. 

I am committed to helping our community, by prioritising: 

• Aesthetically pleasing public facilities for community groups and individuals, 
• Supporting the greening of our city and suburbs, 
• Improving sporting and park facilities 
• Ensuring  our roads and footpaths are useable and safe.
• Prioritising road repairs and making sure they are completed in a timely fashion

 
Ratepayers rightly want to see value for their annual rates with on-the-ground improvements in amenities and services.

We all want to see a clean, safe and sustainable community for everyone to be able to enjoy.

People want and deserve more accountability from their Council.  We need less behind-the-doors workshops and decision-making and more meetings open to the public where people can see how the Council spends ratepayers’ money.

The Council has long struggled with its finances and to provide all the basic services the community deserves. It’s time to seriously pursue resource-sharing opportunities with neighbouring councils on everything from sharing the costs of a planning hub to landfill, rubbish collection, dog management and recreation and sporting grounds’ management. For example, do cities with a common border need two workshop depots and two fleets of cars? 

Ratepayers rightly demand value for their annual rates and the opportunities for cost savings and service improvements are significant. Glenorchy just needs the leadership and the will to grasp those opportunities.

Traffic congestion and solutions to public transport  are a massive issue for all of us, no less in Glenorchy City. 

I have been calling this out since I started in public life. The time for talk is over. 

No more of your taxpayer or ratepayer money should be wasted on workshops and feasibility studies. 

We need action to fix the traffic issues and to introduce affordable public transport systems so everyone can get from A to B easily and without the  frustrations we're continually experiencing.

Looking after people in our community is incredibly important, whether they’re old, young, or somewhere in between. 

Mental ill-health, alcohol, and drug use affect us all, either directly or through someone we know and care for. 

I have advocated for purpose-built facilities to ensure people can access timely support to help them manage or recover from mental health, alcohol, and drug issues. I am committed to making sure families and friends get appropriate help and support.

There is also no reason why those purpose-built health facilities can't be housed in our City of Glenorchy. I advocated for this and will continue to do so.

Small business is at the heart of any city and ensuring we have a vibrant small business sector in Glenorchy City helps everyone from those (often family businesses) who invest in the community by opening up businesses locally right through to the jobs they provide and the products they offer their customers.  

We need our small business sector to flourish and to want to invest in our city.

A strong and sustainable business sector is important for everyone. The sector will help our city thrive. As a former small business owner.I am determined to encourage great businesses to consider Glenorchy City their home.