The Central Western Daily today features outgoing councillor Kevin Duffy in the fourth of our profiles on the seven candidates standing for Orange mayor at the December 4 local government elections.
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Name: Kevin Duffy
Affiliation: Independent.
What is your family situation: Married to Sandra Duffy, we have nine grandchildren.
How long have you lived in Orange: I have lived in the Orange district all my life. My family has been in the district since the mid 1800s.
Why you should vote for me: I have the experience and the time necessary for the position.
I have been mayor of a council with eight new councillors - there will be at least seven new councillors on Orange City Council.
Most important issues: I am focused on roads, footpaths, major projects, planning, parking facilities, street beautification, clean energy renewables, heritage and cemetery restoration, parks and gardens, tourism, water storage and licenses.
I will continue to support council's policy on renewable energy and its central business district street beautification program FutureCity, and also the rejuvenation of our parks and gardens.
It's now time to concentrate on asset renewal, specifically, the complete repair of some of our internal roads and rural roads, some of which are an absolute disgrace. Examples are Winter Street, the northern end of McLachlan Street, sections of Wentworth lane, Nile Street, Rutherford Street, the Intersection of March and Spring St and many others.
I also support preservation of our heritage buildings and now that COVID-19 restrictions have been eased, we will be able to access professional help from Sydney councils who have Heritage grave sites and seek their knowledge and skill for repair and restoration which will include a budget Process.
I support the building of the The Planetarium and the Conservatorium which will be huge assets to the city not only in tourism but the enhancement of our culture within the music industry.
The Southern Distributor will be the completion of the ring-road around Orange and will be a huge boost to economic development and employment. It will also ease the traffic burden on Peisley and Anson Streets.
I intend to push for a review parking space sizes in line with the Australian standards. Vehicle sizes are far greater now. I will also push for multi-storey carpark. The Ophir car park is an ideal location for this and must have an overpass to the city centre
With adequate consultation I support the draft housing strategy that will continue to let our city grow and prosper. But in doing so I will try to eradicate narrow streets such as Pearl Court.
I will also push for the Human Powered Vehicle event to come to our city.
As Mayor I will continue to work with state and federal government, support our community committees, and work with peak bodies such as Local Government NSW, which is important when matters like rail crossings, crime prevention, domestic violence and affordable housing arise.
Local government is about improving your quality of life at a grassroots level. I am committed to maintaining and improving your quality of life.
The sporting precinct: The extension of the Jack Brabham sports precinct will be a huge asset to our city, not only will it provide employment and further economic development but the athletics track is something that will benefit all schools in the region.
The redevelopment of Mount Canobolas: I support in principle but there is a definite need for a lot more open consultation. The mountain bike complex will not happen In the term of this council or even the next as it will be relying on government grants to proceed. The project will be at least $15 million and would be expected to blow out further. The governments of the day have to have the will to make this happen and I am not sure either side of politics at a federal or state level have that.
Water security: Council has almost 27,000 megalitres of water which equates to six years' supply if there's no rain, it also now has the connecting pipelines to Lake Rowlands and Carcoar Dam for emergencies.
The New South Wales Government is responsible for dam approvals and water licenses. I will continue to support the Ulmurrah Dam at Dixons Longpoint on the Macquarie River.
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