1. Where do you live?
Wonthaggi
2. How long have you lived in Bass Coast?
8 years
3. What is your previous community involvement (voluntary work or membership), either in Bass Coast or another area?
Wonthaggi
2. How long have you lived in Bass Coast?
8 years
3. What is your previous community involvement (voluntary work or membership), either in Bass Coast or another area?
- Wonthaggi Primary School Fundraising Committee - current
- Wonthaggi United Soccer Club (soccer mum) - current
- Bass Coast Climate Action Network member 2019 - 2021
- Cape Paterson Surf Life Saving Club (communications committee 2018-2021)
4. What experience or attributes do you bring that will help you in the role of shire councillor?
Bass Coast Shire Councillor and deputy mayor for a term. In that time I have completed my legal qualifications and am locally employed as a solicitor. I have completed cultural awareness training and courses through the Municipal Association of Victoria to improve my knowledge as a councillor.
As deputy mayor I supported the mayor in Council’s advocacy work at both state and federal levels to secure funding for several council projects.
Formerly a journalist, I have always been out in the community learning what makes it tick and how to help make it better. This has also assisted me with strong communication and engagement skills.
I live permanently in the Shire raising my three young children here who attend the local state schools. Raising a young family here, I experience personally what our growing community faces: the cost of living and the challenges of living regionally.
5. Have you stood for election before in local, state or federal government?
Yes in the 2020 Council elections.
6. Do you belong to a political party?
I am a member of the Australian Labor Party. I am running as an un-endorsed candidate. I have to raise my own funds and do not receive any support from the party to run.
7. Are you directing preferences?
Yes
8. Name up to five local issues that you consider most important and explain how you believe the council should tackle them.
Issue 1: New Regional Aquatic Facility: For too long, the Island has demanded a new pool while Wonthaggi’s pool is only about 4 years from its use-by date. It’s old, small and rundown. I will fight for a single-pool strategy directed for Wonthaggi to have a major renewal for our regional facility.
Issue 2: Develop the old McBride Secondary School site: I have a bold vision for this site to become a centre for arts, culture, education and housing. Wonthaggi needs a civic precinct that reflects its growth, creativity and energy. I have the skills to advocate for and build funding partnerships to develop this site for our community’s future.
Issue 3: Inverloch Activity Centre upgrades: Inverloch is bursting at the seams as the second-largest town in the Shire. It’s activity centre needs revitalising. It is no longer just a town full of beach-houses, many people call Inverloch home, and they need an activity centre that is accessible and vibrant.
Issue 4: Coastal Erosion: Since the commencement of my term as a councillor I have called for more action on coastal erosion affecting Inverloch Surf Beach. It has taken years and it is not enough for the State to release the Cape-to-Cape Resilience Plan for public consultation. We need a full commitment from the State to fund the Plan and listen to the community in their calls for protecting their beach.
Issue 5: Protecting our town boundaries and environment. I worked hard to change Council’s position to restrict Cape Paterson’s town boundary to Seaward Drive, but without the State’s Distinctive Area Landscapes (DAL) plan finalised, we remain vulnerable. The DAL includes Council’s recommendations for the protection of the Westernport Woodlands. The fight continues.
9. Name the one thing you would most like to achieve if you are elected a Bass Coast Shire councillor.
This is a really hard question because there’s so much to do. But if it was one thing it would be developing the old secondary college site and building on what has been achieved during this term.
Bass Coast Shire Councillor and deputy mayor for a term. In that time I have completed my legal qualifications and am locally employed as a solicitor. I have completed cultural awareness training and courses through the Municipal Association of Victoria to improve my knowledge as a councillor.
As deputy mayor I supported the mayor in Council’s advocacy work at both state and federal levels to secure funding for several council projects.
Formerly a journalist, I have always been out in the community learning what makes it tick and how to help make it better. This has also assisted me with strong communication and engagement skills.
I live permanently in the Shire raising my three young children here who attend the local state schools. Raising a young family here, I experience personally what our growing community faces: the cost of living and the challenges of living regionally.
5. Have you stood for election before in local, state or federal government?
Yes in the 2020 Council elections.
6. Do you belong to a political party?
I am a member of the Australian Labor Party. I am running as an un-endorsed candidate. I have to raise my own funds and do not receive any support from the party to run.
7. Are you directing preferences?
Yes
8. Name up to five local issues that you consider most important and explain how you believe the council should tackle them.
Issue 1: New Regional Aquatic Facility: For too long, the Island has demanded a new pool while Wonthaggi’s pool is only about 4 years from its use-by date. It’s old, small and rundown. I will fight for a single-pool strategy directed for Wonthaggi to have a major renewal for our regional facility.
Issue 2: Develop the old McBride Secondary School site: I have a bold vision for this site to become a centre for arts, culture, education and housing. Wonthaggi needs a civic precinct that reflects its growth, creativity and energy. I have the skills to advocate for and build funding partnerships to develop this site for our community’s future.
Issue 3: Inverloch Activity Centre upgrades: Inverloch is bursting at the seams as the second-largest town in the Shire. It’s activity centre needs revitalising. It is no longer just a town full of beach-houses, many people call Inverloch home, and they need an activity centre that is accessible and vibrant.
Issue 4: Coastal Erosion: Since the commencement of my term as a councillor I have called for more action on coastal erosion affecting Inverloch Surf Beach. It has taken years and it is not enough for the State to release the Cape-to-Cape Resilience Plan for public consultation. We need a full commitment from the State to fund the Plan and listen to the community in their calls for protecting their beach.
Issue 5: Protecting our town boundaries and environment. I worked hard to change Council’s position to restrict Cape Paterson’s town boundary to Seaward Drive, but without the State’s Distinctive Area Landscapes (DAL) plan finalised, we remain vulnerable. The DAL includes Council’s recommendations for the protection of the Westernport Woodlands. The fight continues.
9. Name the one thing you would most like to achieve if you are elected a Bass Coast Shire councillor.
This is a really hard question because there’s so much to do. But if it was one thing it would be developing the old secondary college site and building on what has been achieved during this term.