The fourth and final meet-the-candidate event for QPRC was held at Bungendore on Sunday, 21 November. Now it’s over to electors as early voting opens on Monday, 22 November.
We’ve had four candidate forums over the past three weeks at Braidwood, Queanbeyan and Wamboin in addition to Bungendore.
These grassroots gatherings are a mainstay of elections as voters get to hear a pitch from aspiring councillors and to quiz them on issues close to their hearts.
Across the four forums, some issues have been constant like the condition of country roads, the lack of representation for smaller communities as well as other legacies of the forced council merger in 2016, the time it takes to get decisions from council staff, and the pressures of growth.
Other issues have been unique to each community, such as local zoning regulations, support for local business, contentious developments like the site of the proposed Bungendore High School on the Town Park and Common, and the impact of heavy vehicles on Braidwood’s historic main street buildings and lack of state government funding to support local heritage sites.
People often say that governments don’t listen to the ordinary voter or that their voice isn’t heard, that they can’t make a difference.
Yet it is only when people participate — as candidates and as voters – that there is a chance for change.
At this election, every vote counts because we have an opportunity for genuine and positive change, a chance to elect a council that can make a real difference. So make sure you vote on or before 4 December.
Katrina
Authorised by D. Hayden for The Greens NSW. Suite D, 263-279 Broadway, GLEBE NSW 2037.