Claire Braund - Group B Next Generation Independents

Running with: Diane Bull and Danielle Habib

Q. What do you consider to be the most important issue facing the Ward you would be elected to represent?

A. Aside from the major centre of Gosford, East Ward is comprised of many 'villages' who all have different local issues.

Many of these are specific to their waterfront / public land areas such as development versus preservation of the natural environment, maintenance of public facilities and services, and accessibility and transport.

If you take this up a level, the big issue is around how the views, expertise and knowledge of residents and ratepayers to address the many small problems which over-time can become a giant headache, are heard, understood and acted on in Council.

Q. What do you consider to be the most important issue facing the Central Coast Local Government Area?

A. The Central Coast is sandwiched between Newcastle and Sydney and lacks a clear identify both internally and externally.

We also compete for services and facilities between the north (Wyong) and south (Gosford) and lack strong advocates into the state and federal government systems.

This means we are often disadvantage by poor planning and policy decisions.

Good examples are the rail facility at flood prone Kangy Angy (rather than Warnervale) and the ATO and NSW Finance Office on the former waterfront public school site (rather than in Gosford CBD).

Q. How would you, if elected to Council, set about addressing that issue for (a) your Ward, (b) the region?

A. Local Government is about putting people first.

Here are some ideas that combine the resources of Council and the ingenuity of local people that don't cost the earth or take years to deliver.

Establish ward or precinct committees fed by local groups; Progress Associations, sports and member clubs and cultural and arts groups to inform on multiple issues.

Invest in ICT infrastructure, smart mobile Apps and web -based systems so councillors and council staff have access to the right technologies to manage interactions with thousands of residents and ratepayers.

Advocate strongly for the Central Coast as a region in its own right.

SOURCE:

Statement, 31 Aug 2017

Claire Braund, Next Generation Independent