Name of ticket or independent: Ron Gander’s ticket as an ‘interdependent’.

Are you a mayoral candidate? No.

Are you currently an Orange councillor? No.

Age: baby boomer.

Family: Married with three children and six grandchildren.

What do you do for a living? Company director, inventor, Work Health and Safety risk management consultant and business improvement auditor. Currently a part-time Work, Health and Safety coordinator at Orange Ex-Services’ Club.

How long have you lived in Orange? 34 years.

What is the best part of living in Orange? The cool climate and the people.

Why are you running for Orange City Council? To help council best use limited resources: time, money, people, technology, etc.

How would you assess the performance of the current council? It’s a bit hard to answer this, outside of being in or on council, but what’s the ‘performance measure’ that you are asking about? Do you mean this council against its own performance over, say, the last five years? Or against the other 130 or so local government bodies in the state? We commonly hear about Orange City Coun cil v Bathurst v Dubbo, but how good are we or do we need to be? Then if one digs into the council operations department or division by division, we could get some indication of overall and internal performances. One measure we can apply, from an external point of view, is the number of complaints against council (both internal and external) and how well such ‘mishaps’ have been handled.

There is information needed on the current crop of councillors. For example: what committees have these re-applicants been on, and what were the outcomes of programs run by such committees? Who was the code of conduct ‘breaker’ that Glen Taylor writes about Who’s a good ‘team player’? Who was the Councillor that recommended a certain developer should sue council? We need a report card on those re-applying: attendances, team-player or not, achievements, etc. I have heard some of the goss on those re-applying, including for mayor’s job, and that a couple are questionable bets because of previous behaviour. From those who are ‘exiting’: did council do an ‘exit-interview’ to find out what the particular councillor gave as the reason/s for stepping down and any gripes about performance? If this information is available, where is it?

My overall answer on council’s performance: Seems reasonable, but I’d want to do some more digging before I’d rate the recent performances of council and the majority of its councillors who are stepping down or re-applying.

If elected, would you lobby to reduce, maintain or raise rates? Consolidation is part of our platform, so in line with above assessment of where we are at, how can one go into such an election saying we are going to reduce/peg/ lift rates. Especially, when one looks at the basic role of councillors: what power do they really have? For those who don’t know, maybe check out the NSW Local Government legislation. I’d be looking for expert advice from Orange City Council-state Government-local government staff to help me make up my mind.

If you would reduce them, which services or council undertakings would you eliminate to do so? Answered above, as per priority.

Council has budgeted $17 million for roadworks in the next road-building season. Is this enough? Which roads should get priority? Answered above, but ideally managed through associated risk/s.

What is your plan for the Northern Distributor Road? Get it fixed and get big or log trucks out of the main street and onto the distributor/s.

Do you agree with the industrial re-zoning at Orange airport? Has it been re-zoned, already? More info please.

What should the space be used for in the future? Probably only aero-related activities.

What specific uses for the former Electrolux factory will you pursue or support? More info, please. Is the site de-contaminated yet, i.e. ready for an investor? How much is council expected to spend? Is the building integrity such that it will support use as is or will it need money spent on modification.

Do you agree with real estate agents and property developers being on council? Why or why not? There’s plenty of evidence around the state that such persons can be self-focused and not working for the benefit of the community they are supposed to be serving. So for me to agree I’d want to see what councillors’ records were like before I’d say no. For aspiring councillors I’d want to know what real estate interests they have around the town, what developments are coming up, etc, and then providing the rules or code of conduct are followed, maybe such individuals could be tolerated. ‘Two strikes and you’re out’ should apply.

What are the best ways council can help businesses prosper in the city? Within the role of a council: Keep them up to date with local government laws that are likely to impact their business, with as much notice as possible; make set time available for ‘consultation’ about proposed changes or developments with those businesses likely to be affected; explore opportunities and ideas that could be transplanted into Orange if warranted; and provide best-possible resources that the particular organisation and business need to succeed and possibly grow.

Is there enough parking in Orange? If not, where should additional car parks be constructed? No. I agree with the idea of such being tagged onto Orange Ex-Services’ Club, with entry from Sale Street. Consideration should be given to expanding up the parking at the corner of Kite Street and Lords Place. I like the idea of the old netball courts on Anson Street as a ‘walk to work’ car park. It should have some spaces for caravaners, too. Where do tourists/caravaners park within reasonable distance of CBD and then spend some money? Some free grey nomad parking spots could be made and advertised in national caravaning magazines. I have an idea for improving caravan parking, but much closer to CBD than Moulder Park. I am not against idea of the Woolies car park being upgraded. On show days, there’s a major parking problem around that precinct and areas nearby should be investigated.

Do you support the proposed purpose-built sporting complex council has acquired land for to the north of the city? Yes, I don’t know all the details yet, but am a great supporter of outdoor/sporting activity. Our sporting facilities will need constant attention and upgrades.

Are there any major projects you would champion if you elected? Find out why we are paying such high rates; further re-development of Scout Camp at Lake Canobolas for its tourism/accommodation potential; keep big and log trucks out of Summer Street; better cat management, as there’s too many kittys out at night time, causing mayhem. – poor birds; council trees risks; traffic flow around the city; and reduce speed through roundabouts.