Candidates and the issues
Group A: Glenn Taylor and Jeff Whitton
Glenn Taylor
Businessman
Jeff Whitton
Company director
Peter Edwards
Intensive care nurse manager
Charlie Ginty
Andrew McDougall
Jim Finn
Where do you stand on:
Rates: Taylor and Whitton will be working to ensure the ratepayer dollar is managed back into the basic services and amenities within city of Orange with an undertaking to return to value outcomes to the city and its ratepayers.
Would you ever vote for a a special rate increase above the cap set by the state government? We do not support rate increases above the cap.
Conservation versus development: Getting the balance right between appropriate development and conservation is one of the most important roles of local government. Taylor and Whitton pride ourselves on the mixture of streetscape and gardens in our home, Orange. We will to continue to show leadership to achieve the right balance, particularly in the city’s conservation area and heritage precincts.
Macquarie pipeline: Would you vote to halt the pipeline project? (yes or no) We believe there are other more sustainable and more reliable solutions to the city's water requirements. The stormwater harvesting collection has the potential to fulfil this requirement, storage (that is also required should the pipeline project go ahead) should be constructed first. This would allow for the stormwater collection to be increased and stored ready to be pumped into Suma Park. As this water is pumped into Suma Park the excess will go over the wall and into the Macquarie. Remember, either way this storage facility is to be constructed for the pipeline. Why not build it now and use it for stormwater harvesting collection. It is our concern that the pipeline project has the potential to go over budget and the ongoing cost to run this facility will impact/burden the city’ ratepayers forever. Why wait for our water to run into the Macquarie then pump it back. Why don't we use the stormwater harvesting to collect it and store it now and allow excess to flow over the wall and into the river.
What major capital works do you think Orange needs?
We believe the Orange City Council should have a hot mix plant in the city and use this to repair and build any new roads/streets to higher standards. This cost would repay itself in better roads and less maintenance. Increase stormwater harvesting collection licence and build increased storage.
What projects or facilities would you forego to fund them if necessary? The Macquarie River pipeline.
Successes of the previous council? (list no more than four) Moving forward with the raising of the Suma Park wall; stormwater harvesting; The Northern Distributor Road (stage two); return of the pensioner rate rebates.
Failures of the previous council? (list no more than four)
Failure to develop a sustainable road maintenance plan; failure to develop a safe pedestrian plan for the movement of pedestrians within the CBD/roundabouts; failure to secure 100 per cent licensing for stormwater harvesting in Orange; only returning the pensioner rate rebate to 5 per cent rather than 10 per cent.
What are your policy priorities? Always listen to the people; consolidation (move council away from capital works programs and focus on getting back to maintaining roads, footpaths, parks and gardens); fix the roads; a road sealing policy that requires hot mix as mandatory.
Are you in favour of: (yes or no)
A full-time mayor - Not addressed
Direct election of the mayor by voters - Not addressed