Rate Levies - Rate payers are being loaded up with additional levies on top of the standard rate charges e.g. the rural water users charge. If elected I would push for a review into this additional charge and will personally move a motion for the removal of this unfair impost.

Our antiquated sewerage system - Sewerage was supplied to East Innisfail in 1973. This antiquated system urgently needs updating and outlying centers such as Mourilyan brought into consideration with this upgrade. The longer we put this off the more these will costs blow out. If elected I will push for additional funding for the much needed refurbishment and expansion of our sewerage system. To do this we would need to reestablish strong relationships with our state government.

Major development for Division 6 - A large canal estate has been approved for the area of land between Howe St and the Coquette Point Range. It is critical that, prior to developers commencing with this project, the contracted Engineers "get it right" and there will be no adverse effects felt by existing residents adjacent to this area such as increased flooding, loss of amenity, extended road closures and ongoing maintenance of this canal development at ratepayers expense.

Degraded arterial roads – Funding permitting I would, if elected, recommend that Mourilyan Rd and Etty Bay Rd are in need of urgent upgrade /repair. Both are heavy use egress roads and both have been sadly ignored for many years.

Secure Etty Bay for our future use - I was appalled at the actions of the last council in regard suggestions that Etty Bay was prime real estate and council owned land forming the backdrop of this unique location could be sold off to developers for unit development. Etty Bay has always been enjoyed as the premier swimming, picnic and camping locations for Innisfail and has been enjoyed by families for generations. Etty Bay is not just unique to our division or our region but to all of Australia and precious assets such as this need to be permanently protected.

Flood coded poles - 2007 saw the introduction of colour-coded flood markings on electricity poles throughout this division. Much of the data and information used to calculate these levels would now be considered outdated due to improved drainage schemes servicing much of the lower lying areas. As such I feel these levels pose a financial impost on landowners living adjacent to these poles. If elected I would move for the removal of these levels from all of these poles. The flooding information opinion correlated in this study could still be made available to prospective property buyers and investors.

Open accessible council - Our new council needs to be accessible and the democratic processes need to be open and readily available to the public. Council meetings should be amplified so that all debate can be heard by the public gallery. A new Council website should be developed with all meeting agendas being posted on that site in PDF format. These agendas could then be archived on this site for ease of public scrutiny.

Regional Town Plan - The new Council would commence operations utilizing the Town Plans of the old Johnstone and Cardwell Shires. It is critical that one new Town Plan is formalized covering the entire region and this plan standardizes many of the anomalies in governance’s that currently exist between the two existing plans. If elected I would support this process.

Rate standardization -There needs to be standardization in rating throughout the new regional Council. It is fair to assume a resident living in Cardwell, for example, and enjoying the same level of council provided amenity, as a resident of Innisfail should be expected to provide a similar remuneration for these services. This equity needs to be achieved within the first four-year term of the new regional Council.

No bulk fuel tanks for Mourilyan Harbour –Take a drive through the Cairns South Side Access Rd and count the bulk fuel storage tanks. There is a strong push from Cairns City to move these tanks out of that city and Mourilyan Harbour is one of the preferred options. If elected I will lead a regional council lobby to the Ports Corporation and State Members against this undesirable option.

Council support for the Sugar Industry – All sectors of our Sugar Industry are struggling with low sugar prices, skyrocketing production costs, industry divisiveness and job insecurity. Council needs to be sympathetic to all sectors of this essential regional industry and to work with leaders to help stabilize this industry upon which much of the foundation of the Cassowary Coast Region was built.

Tree Plantations – I cannot see the long term returns from plantation tree farming being as attractive to the region as other cropping ventures however in the short term it is giving our aging cane farming population an option to exit this industry at reasonable land values. I do not think any Council has the right to place a moratorium on a perfectly legal agricultural venture of this type.