RIDDELLS Creek resident Annette Death hopes to invest in local services, infrastructure and businesses if she is elected as a councillor for Macedon Ranges Shire.
The mother of two will contest the east ward and said council should focus on spending that creates secure local jobs so the community can recover from COVID-19.
“We need to ensure everyone in the community is supported through a pandemic recovery,” she said.
“Good, secure jobs allow people to spend money, which means local businesses recover faster.
“We need to invest in education, childcare facilities, community care services, traffic management planning and infrastructure development.
“Now is not the time to hold back on spending. Now is certainly not the time for cuts to programs and services the community relies on.
“I believe in the importance of getting the basics right – including ensuring our footpaths, roads, maintenance and street lights are all up to scratch.”
Ms Death said she wanted to see a holistic approach to town planning to balance population growth with the preservation of the rural character of the shire.
“As our population grows, we need to make sure that any development puts the community first and preserves the character of the country towns we love,” she said.
“This council election is incredibly important for our community. The decisions we make in the next four years will have an impact for generations. We need a council that wants to invest in our future.”
Ms Death said she had spoken with residents during her campaign, because it was important that she prioritised the community’s voice.
“For me, this campaign has been about listening. As I said, throughout my campaign I’ve spoken to hundreds of residents and I’m getting a really clear picture of what matters to the people in our community,” she said.
“I know that as councillors, our first priority is to get the basics right. We need to prioritise genuine community consultation, so that the innovative ideas and voices of residents are heard on council.
“We need to help support businesses that are doing it tough and drive local employment.
“We need to make sure that the groups that keep our community connected receive the support they need and that our sporting facilities receive the funding they need for important improvements.
“Finally, while we all understand that population growth is inevitable, we must balance that with the preservation of the country towns that we love.”
To contact Annette Death, email her at annettedeathforeastward@gmail.com
