Using the Toowoomba Chronicle Newspaper, a group of Toowoomba Business Leaders challenge the TRC candidates with 5 questions! Below was my response:
1. Currently future commercial
construction development plans for Toowoomba City well progressed, the closure
and destruction of existing budget accommodation is likely to occur. For many
disadvantaged, low-income and often transient individuals, budget short-term
accommodation is critical.
As
an existing TRC councillor or TRC candidate, what actions do you believe need
to occur in relation to affordable housing?
I believe anything can be solved with a
negotiated and open process involving key stakeholders (State & Federal
Government, property developers, real estate experts, business and charitable
organisations) as well as interested citizens. Evidently, we need that process
to develop an affordable housing program that offers incentive for quality but
affordable housing. Ideally, additional housing should be nearer to work
opportunities, shopping facilities, improve the residents’ quality of life,
create socially mixed neighbourhoods and support economic development. The
low-cost housing should be supervised by a registered housing association or
perhaps not for profit organisation (depending our negotiated plan). Obviously
the plan will need to advantageous to investors, business and developers
without destroying existing resident's lifestyle or damaging our environment or
regional image as a green place. The housing should be ‘tenure blind’ where
affordable housing and private market housing are indistinguishable from one
another in terms of design quality, appearance or location within a situation. I
believe housing could be grown in areas where an economic boost to business is
desirable. In other cities, infill housing strategy is used, that is where new
developments constructed on vacant, under utilised lots interspersed among
older, existing properties in established urban neighborhoods. In the past,
infill housing in our area has been done poorly, essentially because only a
circumscribed scope of stakeholders (the developers) has been taken. Any plan
with infill housing as a result should be transparent and consultative to
existing residents. Anything is potential, as long as it is balanced growth
that keeps long term economic and environmental sustainability, and of course supports
the resident’s welfare. I acknowledge that is difficult, but not inconceivable
if we consult property experts, the broad range of stakeholders and interested residents and most importantly
the charitable organisations that currently support our homeless and less
well-off residents. Ultimately, we need to help break their poverty cycle by
enlisting other parties to help retrain and reskill occupants so most are able
relocate into ‘regular’ accommodation.
2. The Toowoomba Regional Council is a
major service and infrastructure business with $4.5 billion in assets, $450m in
annual turnover and is the largest employer in the Region. The councillors have
ultimate financial governance and personal responsibility for this business.
Understanding this, what relevant experience and skills do you have to
safeguard and grow this enterprise?
I have 20 years experience in education
and government management and leadership roles. These roles have included
involvement and collective management of statewide education projects exceeding
many multiples of million of dollars. I’m presently responsible for ICT service
delivery to over 212 sites across a geographic area greater than Victoria and a
quarter. I have worked in partnerships with multiple stakeholders including
government and provide entities. I know I can apply my management and
leadership skills to TRC.
3. In recent years the region has seen
significant infrastructure and construction projects and supply contracts
awarded to companies from outside the city or the region. Clearly, in many
instances there were local suppliers and contractors who could have been
awarded the contracts or at the very least allowed to tender for the business
but were left out of the process and or their local status not considered.
As
a current or potential councillor, in your opinion, what key components should
be included in a policy that is weighted to ensure local content in all council
projects and supply contracts?
Simply, we should always attempt to buy
locally in the first instance, as that should support the local economy. TRC
has a moral responsibility to help stimulate local business, but not at the
expense of the non-business owning residents. Once again, it is about
transparent dealings that support the common good of all residents. Clearly, we need to develop purchasing policy
that is transparent, but gives local businesses a competitive edge in a tender
process.
4. Toowoomba has seen unprecedented growth
and investment attraction resulting in one of the lowest youth unemployment
rates in the country. TSBE has been an integral part of promoting the region,
bringing in new investment and opportunities.
As
a current councillor or a candidate for election, do you support the current
level of funding to continue for the Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise and
would you please outline your reasons for your position?
We need a presence as part of the TSBE
but from my current understanding maybe not the same level of funding. I would
like be convinced by TSBE that current funding is appropriate. The ultimate
test in my judgement, is would it pass
the local “The Chronicle” test of readers? From my observation the TSBE has
been productive in our Region but I would not support it with projects that are
not in the long term interest of our local environment, transparent town
planning projects or the resident’s well being in general.
5. The development and building sector in
Toowoomba is one of the biggest employers and income generators in the city.
However, council red tape causes some frustration to the building and
development sectors.
As
a current councillor or a candidate for election, what will you do to reduce
red tape and enhance Toowoomba as a more competitive place to invest?
Sometimes “too much red tape” is code
for ”I can’t do it my way” or “make as much money as I like because they want
me to… (fill in the blanks with some quality control measures) ”. We call for
“sensible” regulation because in my experience self-regulation usually means
cutting corners to be more competitive, which commonly ends up in the consumer
receiving an inferior product or service. However, doing red tape for red tape
sake is crazy, and good governance requires regular reviews to ensure that just
enough and appropriate amount of bureaucratic process is in place to ensure the
best products and services are in place. From my experience, too much “red
tape” leads to under-productive projects, cost over-runs and time delays. Again,
it is about transparency and balance, which means a review would be conducted involving
the stakeholders (producers and the customers) to ensure just the minimum
amount of regulation is in place to protect the common good.
Authorised C Marendy 11 Burnell Crt,
Toowoomba, QLD, 4350
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