Wayne Sachs is committed to:
* Enhancing the public image of the Gympie Region
* Transparency and accountability in local government
* Upgrading of the Bruce Highway around Gympie as far to the east as possible
* Reintroduction of the divisional representation system of local government
* The continued development of the Gympie Hospital to its full potential
* Keeping rates affordable
* Objective allocation of Financial Assistance Grants to local community organisations
* Exploration of suitable infrastructure measures to preserve water needs of the area, for example, raising Borumba Dam; Amamoor Creek
* Recognising the needs of local farmers and providing the necesary representation to Government
* Recognition of the needs of our valued Senior Citizens, including adequate hostel-type accommodation
* Recognition of the needs and issues of local small business with respect to competitive multi-national forces
* Continued support for Gympie Roadcraft Driver Education Centre
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Proposed Traveston Dam
This non-sensical proposal will continue to be a priority with respect to having this decision overturned.
To wreck families’ lives and destroy good quality agricultural land, not to mention the destruction of the beautiful and scenic Mary Valley as we know it, is nothing short of disgraceful. The science also does not weigh up, in addition to several environmental concerns. There are better options out there that need to be explored, for example, raising of Borumba Dam, and Amamoor Creek, a site that was earmarked for a dam years ago, that is much more palatable to the community for a host of reasons.
Keeping rates affordable
It has always been my belief that rates should be kept as low as they possibly can to maintain services and provide the required infrastructure that a growing community needs.
If rates are kept affordable, then the region will continue to grow, with development a natural follow-on from the growth itself. This region is experiencing unprecedented growth, which should allow the incoming Council the ability to keep rates as low as possible due to the increase in rate base.
This growth in rate base will spread the cost burden to residents. Keeping rate rises at or close to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) will enable the Gympie Regional Council to still provide budgets that will be able to progress the region in a sensible and sustainable way.
Financial Assistance Grants
Provision of financial assistance grants to community groups and charities is an essential part of the fabric of this community, continuing to build the social capital that we have enjoyed so much in the past.
However, in past years the process that is involved in the allocation of these grants has been subjective, without criteria, and without equity and merit in some cases. There is no doubt that these grants need to be provided on a much more transparent and accountable basis to ensure the rationale is much more objectively based.
Divisional Representation
One of the first priorities that I will be striving for, if elected to the new Gympie Regional Council, will be to pursue the re-introduction of divisional representation for the Gympie Region.
The community has indicated very clearly that they oppose a system where there is no divisional representation within local government. The Gympie Regional Council will encompass a huge geographical area, with specific areas having their own “community of interest”.
This community of interest can best be served by councillors residing in the locality, thereby overcoming the current system that has been placed upon us.
Bruce Highway (Gympie Bypass)
My position on the Gympie (Cooroy to Curra) bypass is that it should proceed as an urgent priority of Government. The road toll north and south of Gympie has always been exceedingly shocking. However, the current Federal Government has announced that it is now withdrawing $500 million of Auslink funding which was previously allocated to this project, and reallocating it to other areas.
The remaining $200 million will be allocated to the Cooroy to Curra stretch between now and up until 2013 and includes maintenance.
The new Council needs to pursue all avenues to ensure full funding and insist that this project remains on course. With the growth of the Gympie region, Gympie will become more and more a bottleneck for highway traffic with more and more lives being lost. This is clearly not acceptable.
Another important issue with respect to this bypass is the need to ensure that the bypass, when constructed, is located as far east as possible to allow coastal residents ease of access and to overcome a situation whereby the highway cuts through properties and divides the city in half.
