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.
Anita Carr
for Eildon Ward
Independent candidate
Eildon Ward
Independent
Candidate
New councillor
Not represented Murrindindi previously
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 was born and raised in Eildon also spending a large chunk of my childhood/adolescence living in Alexandra before finding my way back to Eildon 15 or so years ago. Living in Murrindindi Shire my entire life one would agree that I am a true local. From a young age I have been involved in community groups/organisations/committees and was taught how important community is and how important helping/volunteering is where possible. I am heavily involved in the community and decided to take the next step and stand for council to try and make a difference in a larger capacity. I always put my heart and soul into everything I do whether it be personally or in the multiple committees/groups I am apart of; I promise I will put my heart and soul into my role as councillor (if elected). I will be a strong voice for all and want to build on what we have and continue advancing our amazing part of the world.
Q.
What are your priorities for improving infrastructure and services within the shire, particularly across our many individual towns/villages like Alexandra?
A.
A main priority must be our roads. We have many unsatisfactory and unsafe roads throughout Murrindindi Shire and these need attention as a priority. I understand local council is responsible for the repairs of our roads, but State Government are responsible for funding these repairs. It is tough as majority of Victoria is in the same situation with their roads - we all need our roads repaired and there is only so much funding to go around; I will advocate strongly for Murrindindi Shire to be a priority.
We have some amazing assets throughout Murrindindi Shire, and I will look at our most utilised facilities and advocate to modernise these and bring them into the new era. I think we should also look at assets that are underutilized and work on whether forgoing something that is underutilized can free up funds for something that is needed in that same area. Why throw money at something that is not used when that money could be going towards something the community is desperate for.
Q.
If elected, how do you plan to engage with residents and business owners to ensure their voices are heard in council decisions?
A.
I am a very approachable person, always up for a chat and pride myself on listening and chatting to everyone (It can sometimes take me an hour to pop down the street to pick up something quickly from the supermarket as I just like talking). I am a strong believer in Inclusion – everybody deserves a voice and nobody is to be left behind. I promise to listen to everyone and take all ideas/visions on board. I believe strong communication is a must between council and residents/ratepayers. Whether a simple reply to an email, a phone call or a face-to-face meeting (one on one, small group or town meeting). I will be a strong voice between the residents/ratepayers and the council and will aim to lift the communication standards between council and residents/ratepayers. One way I believe will improve communication between council and residents/ratepayers is offering more community engagement. Give people more opportunities to catch up and talk about things that affect them, more opportunities for people to tell council about the things they would like to see happen/change in their area. Strong communication is key.
Q.
What do you see as the most pressing challenges facing local businesses, and how would you address them if elected?
A.
Small business is the backbone of our community. Personally, I have been managing my family business in Eildon for over 14 years and our main problem over the years has been staff. Ours along with many other small businesses are struggling to get staff. Whether looking for qualified professionals or for people where no qualifications are required - the struggle is real and the people are not there. I will advocate for a Shire wide approach to encourage workers to move to the area. One way to do this is to work on the key workers housing strategy which I believe is well underway with current council. If we can get more people/families moving to the area it will open a whole other world of opportunity for small business. More people = more staff, more people = growth for local small business, more people = need for new business development, which I will be a strong supporter of. More people is a win for Murrindindi.
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.
Without tourism Murrindindi Shire businesses would not survive. Small business relies heavily on tourists in all wards of Murrindindi Shire. If elected I believe council should play a role in helping grow tourism - through grant funding. supplying community groups with professional training/assistance (internally or through grant funding to get external help), reaching out and pairing with other nearby councils to give us a bigger voice with State/Federal Government to attract more grant opportunities. Murrindindi Shire has a strong volunteer base and these people all work tirelessly for their groups/committees but can only do so much. Lets try and put Murrindindi on a bigger tourism scale, help these groups/committees to build on their events and bring more visitors to our towns year-round.
Q.
Who do you admire or look up to as a political “hero”, and how has that influenced your approach to leadership?
A.
I will be honest and say I don’t have a political hero, I do not follow any political party or political person. (I will learn a lot through training and throughout my term as councillor if elected and by the end of 4 years I will have a lot more political knowledge, that’s for sure!)
I have 3 personal hero’s that have shaped me into the person I am today and encouraged me to take this leap and stand for council. My parents – Mum, Dad and Stepdad. These 3 amazing humans have taught me leadership, respect, honesty and integrity. They have all worked hard their entire lives, all been on multiple committees/groups/boards and have all made a massive difference in this community and further afield. I pride myself on having these values instilled in me from a young age and no matter what at the end of every day I can go to sleep with my head held high knowing that I have done all I can that day to make this place I call home better (whether as a councillor or in my general day-to-day life).
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