INDEPENDENT
Gail Copping
(Customer service call centre consultant)
Where do you stand on:
Rates: I would reduce the size of the annual increase. Also I would like to see some incentive put in place that if people pay their rates on time they should be given a reward. Maybe a voucher booklet where they can get five free family admissions passes to the Aquatic Centre for their family. Or allowed to take 10 free trailer loads of rubbish to the tip. I would never vote for an increase above the cap.
Conservation versus development: I am not up-to-date on this but I believe we need to release more land to build houses.
Macquarie pipeline: No, too expensive but have to look at other cheaper options.
Major capital works: Roads and footpaths need to be resurfaced properly. Not just patch-up jobs. Upgrade and revamp Orange Showground and keep it at its present site. Build a museum in the next four years to showcase Orange and district history. You can build a future but you need to recognise Orange’s past.
Projects or facilities: Would have to weigh up all the pros and cons on any projects that need doing. It would come down to a first needs basis or priority basis.
Successes of previous council:
Aquatic centre
The Northern Distributor
Failures of previous council:
Depends what you call a failure. The past council has tried their best but you can’t please everyone.
Full-time mayor - direct election:
I used to be in favour of voters voting for mayor but what happens if the popularly-elected mayor is not a team leader or team builder and is a political party member, here for their party but not the Orange community. I firmly believe it should be the councillors who vote in the mayor.
