First time candidate Maria Taylor is standing for council on the Group F ticket with “the fearless Kenrick Winchester group”.
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The editor of the District Bulletin has spent close to a decade observing Queanbeyan and Palerang councils in a professional capacity.
She has taken note of financial and planning challenges placed on both local councils, pressures that will carry over to the new council.
“Some concerns I have observed involve the administration process and financial borrowing associated with green-lighting a major project like the Ellerton Drive Extension,” she said.
“The new council needs to review on behalf of ratepayers current plans for extensive future borrowing for Queanbeyan city projects.”
She said the basic question for the new council was how to make two councils judged to be “financially unfit” by the NSW government into one “fit” entity.
And how this process worked when “the ‘carrot’ for amalgamation, the one-off millions in state funding for community projects and roads, has run out.”
Her goal is to help achieve a representative and progressive council that is tuned into the wider community and resists pressure from special interests.
She describes herself as “an advocate for conserving our natural environment including our wildlife” and will look to conserve the built environment as the community wants “in the face of great destructive pressure statewide”.
“I support a plan for a rail trail from Bungendore to Captains Flat, and extending the unique green ways network we have,” she said.
“Also consultation and support for our new multicultural citizens and for seniors, young people and families.”
“I’d also like to see more independent women on council.”
