This is the last week of voting in the Victorian local government election.
Ballots need to be mailed, or hand-delivered to the Victorian Electoral Commission, 154 Deakin Avenue, by 6pm on Friday.
Each of the 18 candidates give us the last word on their biggest priority if they are elected to Mildura Rural City Council next month.
Candidates are in ballot order
***Liam Wood
“My biggest priority is helping the hospitality and tourism sector through COVID-19 and with post-COVID recovery.
“Things like kick-starting summer off with some outdoor events, whether it be in Feast Street or any other location.
“I’d like to bring tourism back to Mildura, but I would also like to reward residents.
“We’ve all been through a tough time and everyone needs a pat on the back, and what better way to do it than with some open-air festivals or shutting the street for outdoor dining.”
***Ian Arney
“Community representation is my biggest interest with regard to getting on council.
“I will to try to make individuals and groups feel like they are part of the decisions being made by council, on their behalf and for their best interests.
“The community should have a greater role in how council works.
“And, when a ratepayer walks into a council building, the processes are made clear and easier for them to understand.”
***Kym Kingdon
“My priority, if elected, will be to make sure all protocols and responsibilities are in place to ensure good, democratic governance.
“Then, I believe, a major priority is to look for and identify better pathways of communication from MRCC to the public and vice versa.
“To break down the ‘them and us’ attitude; to be proactive, not reactive and to change the question from ‘Why won’t it work?’ to ‘How can we make it work?’ The dream works when the team works.”
***Mark Eckel
“It’s so important that we get some sort of decent contribution from the State Government for South Mildura sporting precinct, because coming out of COVID-19 we need projects happening in the area that are going to keep up the employment situation.
“The other issue is I’d like to see the money that has been held from the festivals and events that haven’t been able to be held this year, that January was going to be the time that we were going to stimulate all that money back out there.
“The best way of getting those cash registers going is getting visitation to the area.”
***Paul O’Neill
“My biggest priority if I am elected to council is our post COVID-19 recovery.
“As we are living in a new COVID-19 normal, the decisions we make will affect our ability to move forward.
“In the council I will advocate with our state and federal members of parliament to maintain focus on the importance of opening up borders and allowing freedom of movement.
“I would also advocate for tourism and hospitality sectors as we transition following the easing of restrictions.
“Our region should be visited and enjoyed — for its food, golf courses, river, sports and camping — and I want to be part of the council that enables this.”
***Jason Modica
“With the voters’ support, I would be honoured to represent our community and MRCC for a second term, alongside councillors prepared to say ‘yes’, and ‘how’ by exploring the possibilities and opportunities in local government, with a willingness to be proactive and embrace dynamic change.
“I would continue to engage with ratepayers from diverse experiences and backgrounds, gathering our community’s knowledge and opinions to support the direction of the council. I don’t take the easy option.
“I always come to the table prepared to listen. I will ask the awkward, difficult questions and argue tough and heavily debated topics with my fellow councillors and council officers.
“I will continue to champion our community, uphold transparency and good governance and always conduct myself with integrity and honesty.”
***Domenico Capogreco
“There are numerous priorities that need to be addressed by the council, ranging from infrastructure to tourism.
“I am particularly passionate about the establishment of the Ouyen Intermodal Export Freight Facility.
“This project will be hugely beneficial for all our primary industries, allowing freight to be imported directly into our region.
“I am passionate about this project because it has the potential to bring prosperity to not just Ouyen, but also to Sunraysia.”
***Stefano de Pieri
“If elected, I would like to work to create strong connections between people and business in the areas of agriculture-horticulture, manufacturing and tourism.
“Tourism is especially important to me. It has been my bread and butter for the last 20 years.
“To cope with influx of visitors, we must train now our front of house-counter staff to make them advocate and ambassadors for the entire area.
“This requires collaboration between business, residents, our economic development board, TAFE and the council, which can use a little of the State Government money allocated for the recovery.
“This requires speed and determination and everyone putting their shoulder to the wheel now.”
***Gavin Sedgmen
“The first priority is to come out of COVID as fast as we can and try to get the community and town up and going again and that’s going to be a tough ask because it’s an ever-evolving boundary.
“Council has got a huge role to play there, trying to get events up and going, to get people access into places so that we can start to get some people moving around and moving into the district and try to get some tourism going.
“And then, a major goal of mine is to scrutinise council spending.”
***Katie Clements
“I have a suite of ideas and plans to improve the MRCC local government area including short-term and long-term priorities.
“My short-term priority will be to review the operating times of the international flying school to bring some relief to the residents and environment affected by the air and noise pollution.
“My long-term priorities will be to provide a homeless shelter, ensure solar power is prioritised above fossil fuels and to ensure the MRCC runs as efficiently as possible while providing quality services.”
***Troy Bailey
“My biggest priority if I am elected to council is a zero rate rise.
“In the past, the people of Sunraysia have been unfairly burdened with underwriting the rising expenses of the Mildura Rural City Council.
“Locals in this region already have to deal with low incomes, high rental prices, high levels of unemployment and social unrest.
“We cannot continue to unfairly increase the already inflated capital improvement value of properties and council rates.”
***Cyndi Power
“If elected, my priority is to be a force of fair, ethical governance.
“I’m not interested in political games and will hold firm to my commitment to be an open ear for community members who have been under-represented.
“Your council should work for all of the community, not just those who are privileged or well-connected. As a long-time local business owner and vocal health advocate, I believe there is a place for my skills on your council.”
***Glenn Milne
“I’m still determined on trying to minimise the rate rise — a nil rise for the next budget, at least, because our community is going to be hurting for a long time and we need to give something back to the whole community.
“We also need to sort the mall out — that really does need some work and it is getting traction; and to get the rail line fixed.
“That’s an advocacy one, but it still really does need to be done.
“There are also some problems around planning issues and there’s more that can be done because that will generate jobs — the easier it is to get subdivisions up and running, then the quicker they develop.”
***Angy Fikaris
“My biggest priority if I am elected to council is the continuous development of all industries in the area.
“As someone who has lived in Mildura most of my life, owning and operating a vineyard for more than 30 years, I believe I have the experience and knowledge required to represent this region.
“I would like to improve employment opportunities, provide assistance to community members in need and be a voice for people’s concerns.”
***Julie Waters
“My biggest priority is to start engaging with the community and not just Sunrysia, but people all over our region, on a weekly basis.
“To listen to their concerns and their solutions, to always respond to contact with me on a daily basis and to give the people of our region the respect they so rightfully deserve, as I strongly state that this has been lacking for quite some years, hence why some of our communities have given up on responding to surveys and the like.
“The figures at present answer that — we have roughly 40,720 voters and are lucky to get a response back of between 400 and 700 — that just tells you why.
“There are many matters I would prioritise, but to understand the problems you have to understand the people would be my first action.”
***Helen Healy
“I’m standing for re-election because I bring good values and integrity to the position and have a proven track record of tackling big issues and putting people first.
“I believe that councillors should treat the position as a privilege and work together committed to the best possible outcomes for everyone, because we are only as strong as our weakest link.
“If elected, my attention will be directed towards future-proofing the region, driven by a community-owned and activated vision, with a focus on new energies, new economies and new jobs.
“Most particularly I am interested in building civic pride, not only in city council and the office of the mayor, but in the connections to each other and the place we are lucky enough to call home.”
***Dean Wickham
“If elected as an MRCC councillor, my priority will be to be an open and transparent advocate for all members of our community.
“We are a socially, ethnically and geographically diverse LGA and the council is tasked with providing the environment where the community can thrive.”
***Jodi Reynolds
“Economic recovery should be our main priority as a council. People are worried about their jobs and it is causing serious anxiety and grief.
“Getting people’s jobs back and getting money in the economy will help reduce demand in other areas, such as mental health and family support services.
“New thinking and action around tourism, arts, retail, projects, childcare, aged care, renewable energy, agricultural research, new industries, transport, training and education will kick-start us.
“Women and young people lost their jobs first as COVID-19 hit, so approaches that target helping them will get us back on track.”
