Why I’m Running

Why I’m running — and why I think we need to be realistic about our future.

Over the years I’ve had plenty of dealings with Council as a resident.

And if I’m being honest, not all of those experiences have been particularly positive.

At times, simply trying to get an answer to a question can feel harder than it should. You can feel like you’re having to justify why you’re calling before you’ve even had the opportunity to speak with the person who can help.

I understand Council staff have processes they need to follow, and I don’t doubt that the people working there have difficult jobs. This isn’t about having a go at individual staff members.

But I do think we should ask ourselves:

Does our Council feel accessible and approachable to the people it represents?

I’ve also watched Council go through significant financial pressure and leadership changes. We’ve seen reductions in areas including maintenance, and difficult decisions have been made about services and facilities.

I want to be clear about something here. I’m not currently on Council, so I don’t have access to all the information or the full picture when it comes to Council’s financial position. What I’m sharing is my observation from the outside looking in, along with my personal view.

The Bushy Park pool is a good example.

I understand why people are frustrated about its closure, and I understand why candidates might want to promise its return. But Council has now established that the pool cannot simply reopen in its current form because of significant regulatory, infrastructure and planning issues.

I don’t think it’s responsible to promise the reopening of a service without being upfront about what it would cost, whether it is legally and practically possible, and where the money would come from.

That doesn’t mean we should simply accept every cut.

It means we need to be prepared to make difficult decisions, look at the numbers, pursue other levels of government for funding where appropriate, and focus our limited resources on projects that can genuinely improve the future of our valley.

For me, that’s where the opportunity lies.

Rather than promising to bring everything back exactly as it was, what can we build that is better and more sustainable for the future?

That’s the conversation I want to have.

I want to be part of a Council that listens, communicates openly and works with its community — but also one that is prepared to be honest about the challenges we face.

I’m not running because I think everything Council does is wrong.

I’m running because I think we can do better.

Our Valley. Our Future.