Name of ticket or independent: No. 3 candidate on Greens ticket.

Are you a mayoral candidate? No.

Are you currently an Orange councillor? No.

Age: 21.

Family: Single mum to a beautiful toddler, Lily.

What do you do for a living? Studying to be a teacher at Charles Sturt University.

How long have you lived in Orange? Most of my life.

What is the best part of living in Orange? The music, arts and other cultural facilities and events make Orange a very special regional city.

Why are you running for Orange City Council? To give Orange youth a voice and to ensure they have access to all the resources, support and recognition they need to reach their full potential, and to enjoy themselves while getting there.

How would you assess the performance of the current council? There are some good youth programs in Orange but I think council could be doing more to create dedicated youth facilities and to lead the way in creating entry-level employment opportunities for young people. I’d also like to hear councillors talking more about the issues that are important to young people.

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? I hear people talking about the high rates in Orange and I think it would be good if further rate increases could be put on hold for a while. But I wouldn’t want to see services reduced especially those for young people, so council should be looking at ways to cut costs and do things more efficiently.

Council has budgeted $17 million for roadworks in the next road-building season. Is this enough? It sounds like a lot of money and there are certainly some roads in Orange that need a bit of work, but the most important thing to me is that council gets the balance right between the basics like roads and rubbish, and the other important council functions like community and cultural services.

Which roads should get priority? The Northern Distributor Road and the southern feeder roads are important and should be a priority, mainly to get traffic out of the middle of the city. I have a young daughter and I like to walk around the city when I can, so making that as safe and easy as possible is a priority for me.

What is your plan for the Northern Distributor Road? Our team would like to see an agreement facilitated with the State Government on a shared maintenance arrangement and then get on with the job of fixing the Northern Distributor Road once and for all.

Do you agree with the industrial re-zoning at Orange airport? What should the space be used for in the future? No I don’t agree with the re-zoning on environmental and social grounds. I want to live in a city that I can be proud of and I want my daughter growing up in a city that listens to all its residents, including those in surrounding villages. A large industrial estate at one of the gateways to our city and right beside one of those villages doesn’t make sense to me, especially when there is other industrial land already available.

What specific uses for the former Electrolux factory will you pursue or support? Our team would like to see council take a leading role in negotiating with the owner and planning for innovative uses of this site such as new, sustainable industries, including clean energy, digital technologies and creative industries. I think this would help put Orange on the map for something other than food and wine and would also provide employment opportunities for young people in Orange.

Do you agree with real estate agents and property developers being on council? Why or why not? In my experience of Orange City Council, I’d have to say that I don’t agree with them being on council. I want councillors who have the best interests of the community at heart with no vested interests, and who come from a wide variety of professions. There are not many councillors at present from the community services and health sectors, and not many who are in touch with the needs of young people.

What are the best ways council can help businesses prosper in the city? Council needs to provide high quality services to its residents and promote Orange as a great place to live with a range of cultural, sporting and recreational events and facilities. This will bring people to the city to live, as well as tourists and travellers. I’d also like to see council do something about making the CBD more vibrant and inviting for people and businesses, and that should include places for young people to meet and spend time together.

Is there enough parking in Orange? If not, where should additional car parks be constructed? When I come into the CBD, I generally drive due to the distance I live from the centre of town and the challenges of walking or riding with a toddler. I generally don’t have a problem with parking, but then I don’t need to park all day. So in my experience, there is enough parking, but people who work in the CBD might not agree. It’s something that council should look at and part of the answer is to make better use of the parking that is already available.

Do you support the proposed purpose-built sporting complex council has acquired land for to the north of the city? A lot of young people play sport and a purpose-built sporting complex in the northern part of the city would provide easier access to sporting facilities in that part of the city. But it comes down to the cost and weighing up the need for that complex against other community facilities in other parts of the city.

Are there any major projects you would champion if you elected? I would champion projects that provided additional services and facilities for young people. As the youngest candidate in the field, I want to give the young people of Orange a voice. I want Orange’s youth to feel like there is plenty for them to do, as well as entry level jobs to get them started in their working life. Young people shouldn’t feel they have to leave Orange to live a good life.