2024 Murrindindi Shire Council Elections
Every four years, Murrindindi Shire residents and ratepayers vote to elect Councillors to represent our community.
The next Council elections will be held on Saturday 26 October 2024.
Sue Carpenter
for Cheviot Ward
Independent candidate
Cheviot Ward
Independent
Candidate
Returning councillor
Served 2020-2024, most recently as Deputy Mayor.
ADTTA Interview Question Responses
Q.
What inspired you to run for council, and how do you see yourself making a difference for the Shire of Murrindindi?
A.
I have lived in Yea for over 30 years. I raised my 4 children here and developed a productive orchard and vegetable garden that feeds our family and friends. I'm a qualified gardener and landscape designer and have professionally cared for many gardens around the community.
I have always been involved with a range of community volunteering, including Yea Preschool, Sacred Heart school board, St Luke’s Parish council and Yea Rotary club, including being President. These roles have involved fundraising, advocacy and support for local, grass roots activities.
I am inspired to continue to serve my community, and to help to make a difference through my role as a Councillor. As a local Councillor I have an opportunity to help shape Murrindindi Shire and create positive changes.
I have derived great satisfaction over the past 4 years in my Council roles, particularly as Mayor and Deputy Mayor, which are roles voted by the collective Councillors. I am patient, a good listener, and a strategic thinker. In my role as Mayor, Deputy Mayor twice, and as a board member of the Central Ranges Local Learning and Employment Network (CRLLEN), I understand the governance role of a Councillor and I am familiar with the procedures and protocols of Council.
As a local of 30 years, I know my community well and I am keen to represent Cheviot Ward to the best of my abilities over the next 4 years.
Q.
What do you see as the most pressing challenges facing local businesses, and how would you address them if elected?
A.
A major challenge facing local business is recruiting adequate staff. The lack of affordable housing is a barrier to attracting staff to rural areas. Providing key worker housing is a priority issue for Council. This will include advocating for increased investment by developers to provide affordable housing across the Shire. I will support and advocate for innovative solutions to address this barrier. This may include partnerships with both Government and private investors.
I will promote the use of the Business Concierge as a contact point for local business, to receive support with the administrative responsibilities, which are within the Council domain. This support includes assistance with development plans, permits and registrations.
Q.
Tourism plays a big role in our local economy. How would you support and grow tourism in the Shire, particularly through community events?
A.
Murrindindi Shire has an abundance of natural beauty including National Parks, public spaces, water ways and mountains which attract a wide variety of visitors to the region. We are ideally located in proximity to Melbourne which attracts both day visitors and longer-term holidaymakers.
I will support Council to work in partnership with Regional Tourism boards to market and promote Murrindindi Shire as a destination. I will encourage Council to support community groups by providing grants and sponsorship for a range of innovative community events.
I will explore further avenues of support and continue to encourage local investment in projects and community events. Council has supported successful events such as the Alexandra Truck, Ute and Rod show.
Q.
What are your priorities for improving infrastructure and services within the shire, particularly across our many individual towns/villages like Alexandra?
A.
I support sensitive, appropriate growth and development of our towns that allows our unique character and rural ambience to continue, and productive farmland to be retained. I want our communities to be increasingly resilient and connected. I want adequate services to be available for our residents, businesses, and communities.
I will support strong advocacy to State and Federal Government to ensure that Murrindindi Shire receives fair and equitable funding to provide adequate infrastructure and services for our residents. This includes appropriate funding to restore assets and infrastructure damaged by recent natural disasters, which must be built back better to resist future incidents that may occur.
Q.
If elected, how do you plan to engage with residents and business owners to ensure their voices are heard in council decisions?
A.
As a local resident with strong links within the community, and affiliation with a number of local groups, I am in a strong position to engage, listen and advocate for local issues. I am a well-known and available community member. As an experienced Councillor I have demonstrated my dedication to the community and have provided transparent and enthusiastic representation. I believe that I have good communication and listening skills, and lived experience within the Shire, which allows me to connect and engage actively with other residents and ratepayers.
We must listen to our diverse communities including long-term residents, newer arrivals, families, our young people, older and retired residents, and our business and commercial sector and ensure that we can provide adequate services to address their needs.
I fully support ongoing, robust community consultation. An example of this is Deliberative Engagement, which is a great initiative of council, bringing together council officers and community members from across the shire. Hearing the communities’ views and experiences and giving the community a deeper understanding of the issues being deliberated on leads to valuable insights that informs future decision making. It helps to strike the right balance between the quality of council services and affordability and ensuring equity across the Shire.
Q.
What do you see as the biggest challenges facing the Shire of Murrindindi over the next four years, and how do you plan to address them?
A.
Population growth and the changing demographics of residents pose a challenge for small Rural Shires such as Murrindindi. We need to ensure that we are promoting Increasingly resilient and connected communities.
I will support and promote –
- Innovative projects such as the provision of key-worker housing that will support the business workforce.
- Increased Services to support our aging population.
- Strategies that support our fragile environment and effective response to natural disasters.
- Provision of adequate child-care and children’s services.
- Support for residents wanting to undertake training and further education.
As a Council we must engage in meaningful dialogue with the community to ensure that strategies and decisions can be made that have had robust community consultation.
I welcome an opportunity to be part of a cohesive council that is committed to working together for the best interests of our communities.
Candidates were provided twelve (12) questions, and invited to respond to six (6) of their choosing. As such, responses will be different from one candidate to another.
The candidate's responses have been published exactly as submitted. The Alexandra and District Traders and Tourism Association (ADTTA) has not altered or edited the content for spelling, accuracy, or tone.
NOTE: This post does not imply that ADTTA endorses any of the candidates in the upcoming elections