Gavin Gasnier stands as an independent in Queanbeyan-Palerang council elections

And top of the list for the 42-year-old is to see Queanbeyan get rid of the “struggle town” tag. 

The Karabar resident of 17 years said the beauty of standing as an independent was that if elected he could make decisions that were right for the region without consideration of a party position.

“Unfortunately for Queanbeyan it is still viewed by people as struggle town,” he said. 

“People that live there know that’s not the case and that needs to be promoted a lot more.” 

He is keen on council supporting more whole of community events and thinking laterally about how to see the centre of town thrive. 

“The biggest problem for business on the main street is the parking,” he said. 

He felt it was worth exploring pedestrian focused street planning for certain areas, just as Canberra’s Civic hub had done, to encourage shopping, cafe culture and dining on the main streets.

“If you can attract the restaurants and cafes and then people come through and see other people out on the streets it creates a friendly atmosphere,” he said.

“I think that would go a long way to getting rid of the stigma some people have about Queanbeyan.” 

The electrical contracting company worker is often out beyond the city limits and heard from many rural residents they didn’t feel they were getting value for the rates they paid.

“A big thing they say is you pay rates in town and you get your garbage collected, a clean up once a year, this that and water,” he said. 

“Out there they pay the same rates and get none of that. So that’s something that’s a fair argument and one that needs some attention brought to it.”