Name: Gail Copping.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Name of ticket or Independent: Independent.
Are you a mayoral candidate? No.
Are you currently an Orange councillor? No.
Age: 59 years young.
Family: Single with three adult daughters and one son, along with four energetic grandsons.
What do you do for a living? I am a customer contact consultant.
How long have you lived in Orange? 46 years.
What is the best part of living in Orange? We are a very warm and friendly community and the diversity of our weather is great.
Why are you running for Orange City Council? I want to represent the everyday person who needs their concerns raised and heard at council. It isn’t because of my gender, as council needs a wider variety of the community to be represented.
How would you assess the performance of the current council? They have done the best they can do and can walk away knowing that as a collective group they have served their community well. You will never please everyone, as every person or group has individual demands or needs. It will be good to see who will sit on the new council. Hopefully we will have a wider variety of people who bring some realistic ideas to the table. You still do need the more experience ones to guide the newbies.
If elected, would you lobby to reduce, maintain or raise rates? If you would reduce them, which services or council undertakings would you eliminate to do so? If possible I would try to keep them at the sustainable level that as a governing body is allowed to have them, but also make sure that people get the services that they pay for. People in the community want to know where their hard-earned rates money is going to. I would try to make sure that there are not too many rate hikes that can’t be justified.
Council has budgeted $17 million for roadworks in the next road-building season. Is this enough? Which roads should get priority? The ones that need urgent repairs but not just a patch-up job. We need to do it right and get it right the first time. I’m not a road builder or engineer but my question is why aren’t the roads holding up when re-sealed or built?
I want to represent the everyday person who needs their concerns raised and heard at council.
- Gail Copping
What is your plan for the Northern Distributor Road? Once again: why isn’t this road holding up and didn’t anyone factor in that it would be heavily used? Is it the quality of the material they use that isn’t right for that particular road?
Do you agree with the industrial re-zoning at Orange airport? What should the space be used for in the future? I believe we should leave this village alone, as well as the surrounding farm land. If elected I would have to declare an interest due to working for our regional airline.
What specific uses for the former Electrolux factory will you pursue or support? I would like to see this turn into a drop-off depot for heavy shipping containers that then could be loaded onto our rail system and be transported. This way it would ease the heavy usage on our roads.
Do you agree with real estate agents and property developers being on council? Why or why not? You have 12 councillors who would receive all that information on new land to be released and if they were dodgy and wanted to take advantage of that, well, they shouldn’t be there. Why assume that if your profession is either that of a real estate agent or property developer that you are guilty of said offence?
What are the best ways council can help businesses prosper in the city? Both sides should work on a plan that benefits both, but not by giving financial help. Sadly a lot of people find the convenience of shopping online easier than going into a shop.
Is there enough parking in Orange? If not, where should additional car parks be constructed? A two-storey car park on the site where the existing council one is in Kite Street and at the council car park in Lords Place. Make the time limit on parking at least four hours so people have more time to shop or visit our town.
Do you support the proposed purpose-built sporting complex council has acquired land for to the north of the city? With obesity on the rise any sporting facilities is welcome, but if it’s too far away for people without transport, it will be difficult.
Are there any major projects you would champion if you elected? As I said before I am not going to support any promises that I cannot deliver. I will not give the voters false hope.