4 — Centralian Advocate, Friday, March 9, 2012

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/12

NEWS

What we’ll do for you

Charlie Dick Eli Melky Dave Douglas Vince Jeisman Matt Campbell

Jade Kudrenko Steve Brown Samih Habib-Bitar Chansey Paech Dianne Logan

Brendan Heenan Liz Martin Edan Baxter John Reid Geoff BoothJohn Reid: ‘‘The operations of theASTC in areas such as policy,planning and development ofinfrastructure can be achieved in amore respectful and collaborativeway if a social inclusion policy wasadopted.

‘‘Thankfully, this objective hasbeen achieved, with the develop-ment and implementation of theCommunity Action Plan which isabout delivering real evidence-based outcomes to the town’seconomic and social issues.

‘‘If this process can realise thesame results as the Port AugustaTown Council’s Social Vision andAction Plan, I believe it canbecome the new policy, the newmodel, the new respectful ap-proach to working together.’’

Dianne Logan: ‘‘If I amelected I want a united effortbetween fellow councillors andboth levels of government so wecan work towards a safe andvibrant environment with ongo-ing fun experiences for localsand visitors.’’

Bring the CBD alive — have anactive role in working with busi-ness, industry and the commun-ity to rejuvenate the CBD byincorporating solar energy pro-grams; Work together with tour-ism and local business to get ourtown stimulated to increasetourism opportunities; I will workhard for the Alice Springs YouthCentre to obtain grants to en-able them to prosper in theirproposed project; Adopt a Park;Beautifying the Todd Riverbanks.

Eli Melky: ‘‘Hello Alice Springs,I am a family man raising two boyswith my wife of 22 years (local girl).I coach young athletes and bas-ketball. Gianna and I operate asmall business in finance and realestate.

‘‘My hope is no different toyours — a safer, cleaner town forus all to live in. I support action forlower rates and lower dumpingfees, graffiti removal by counciland better facilities and mainten-ance of our parks.

‘‘Let’s bring back confidence intourism and for doing business inAlice. Together with your support,we can make change for thebetter.’’

Edan Baxter: ‘‘I’ve nominatedas a councillor candidate tobring some fresh thinking intothe discussion. I want to focuson longer-term strategies for

Alice Springs, including: Sup-port for a regular law and culturegathering; A solar-thermal array;Making Alice a bike-friendlytown; A ‘safe roads, fair ratesand more recycling’ approach;Numerous art and tourism in-itiatives (e.g. CBD street-scapegalleries.); A yearly youth forumand community dance event.

‘‘If elected, I’ll work hard tosee the 12th Alice Springs TownCouncil support realistic andresponsible initiatives that willmake our town an even betterplace to live, work and visit.’’

Jade Kudrenko: ‘‘I am proud tobe a born and raised Alice Springslocal. I went to school here and amnow making meaningful contribut-ions to the town through my workand role as a foster parent.

‘‘I believe we need a positiveapproach to youth services,reinvestment in the Todd Riverand Charles Creek ManagementPlans, smart planning for our CBDto be the heart of the ‘AliceExperience’ and reintroduction ofa tree register to protect thetown’s mature trees.

‘‘I want to give back to Aliceand I am committed to workingcollaboratively with others oncouncil to achieve progressiveoutcomes for all town residents.’’

Chansey Paech: ‘‘I will workas part of a council team to puta positive voice forward tocontinue developing our town.

‘‘We need to focus on what isachievable and financially re-sponsible. I’d like to see ourpublic places such as parks andareas in the CBD become morewelcoming and family-friendly,

with more watering points alongour bike paths.

‘‘Local government has a roleto play in the provision of qualitychildcare and I will work toensure there are more places tomeet the needs of parents.

‘‘I want to give somethingback to the town that has beenso supportive of me and myfamily over many generations.’’

Geoff Booth: ‘‘I have been aresident of Alice Springs for 13years. During this time I have beeninvolved in several businesses andvarious community organisations.

‘‘My commitment, if elected, isto ensure council responsibilitiesare addressed and delivered andguarantee that people’s voices areheard.’’

Other commitments: Zero toler-ance on law and order; Investigatereducing the increasing costs i.e.rates and dump fees; Work to-gether with local business foreconomic development; Investig-ate increasing CBD car parkingand improve public transportation;Clean up the town; Have a robustrelationship with tourism oper-ators to offset the challengesahead; Lobbying governments fora second airline, police presenceand sporting events.

Matt Campbell: ‘‘I have twobroad goals that will underpinmy work on council if elected.

‘‘The first is that council takesseriously its role in promotingsocial cohesion, the second is toensure that council engages ingood decision-making practices.

‘‘I am confident that a councilthat commits itself to these twothings will not just ‘talk the talk’

but ‘walk the walk’ of creatingthe Alice Springs we all want.

‘‘Working cooperatively, evenin the face of disagreement,gives council the best chance offulfilling its role of being an‘informed and responsible de-cision maker in the interests ofits constituency’.’’

Dave Douglas: ‘‘A long-termresident and successful business-man with a demonstrated recordof giving generously to the AliceSprings community is committedto working vigorously towardsaddressing the confronting socialissues facing our town whileensuring traditional council re-sponsibilities are maintained to thehighest standard.

‘‘Let’s improve our town’s im-age, making it pleasing and at-tractive to both visitors and locals,enforcing our bylaws, particularlyaddressing litter issues, while sup-porting initiatives to improve ournational and international imageworking towards increasing visi-tation rates. We are a town withboth a strong sense of communityand one that provides opportunit-ies for those with vision andenergy. We must preserve this.’’

Liz Martin: ‘‘I know it’s not thepopular position but roads, ratesand rubbish are the core busi-ness of council and should notbe minimised.

‘‘We need to continue tolobby for increased funding forour local roads, to ensure thatrates are commensurate withthe real cost of service provisionand ensure that our new re-gional waste facility maximisesits potential for resource recov-

ery. I’d like to see increasedresources for our ranger depart-ment, Alice Solar Cities con-tinued, an increased focus ontourism and programs for youthcoupled with better utilisation ofour library, aquatic centre andsporting grounds.’’

Samih Habib-Bitar: ‘‘As timechanges, the needs of our townchange with it, and I am deter-mined to continue to address allthe issues that must be dealt withto make our town safe.’’

These include: More police inAlice Springs with increasedpower and resources and our owncall center; A youth policy whichwill remove our children on thestreet to a safe house; Graffitiremoved by council and treated asa budget item; A landfill policy toremove charges from recyclablematerials and green waste; Ad-dress the issues around decentral-isation; Flood mitigation; AliceSprings needs a second airline;Beautification program for thetown inviting community involve-ment.

Vince Jeisman: ‘‘If elected onMarch 24 as councillor, I willwork with the mayor and theother elected councillorsthrough the established commit-tee system to protect and in-crease the wealth and wellbeingof our community.

‘‘I am interested that councilbe open. The best way for this tohappen is for the community totake an active interest and haveinformation and evidence to givetheir ideas an opportunity indiscussions. Rumour and‘shooting from the lip’ is not a

good thing for the town.

‘‘I am also concerned thatregulation and rates be moni-tored compared to other similarjurisdictions so as not to be aburden on the town’s future.’’

Brendan Heenan: ‘‘The majorresponsibilities for the ASTC arethe care of roads, rates andrubbish.

‘‘I want council to deal withgraffiti and work with the YouthHub and youth to find a solution tostop graffiti vandalism and visualpollution: To keep supportingtourism in encouraging largegroups and visitors to come to theAlice to help with the economyand jobs: Encourage the NTGovernment to bring on theKilgariff subdivision as fast aspossible and to make at least 150blocks available in the first releaseand land available for first-homebuyers at a reasonable rate. Iwould like council to pressureboth levels of government toemploy more social workers tohelp youth and families in towncamps.’’

Steve Brown: ‘‘There are afew who continue to arguevehemently that council has norole in addressing law and order.I say, yes they have!

‘‘As the voice of Alice, it isabsolutely the place of electedcouncillors to speak up. Thisweek’s spike in crime shouldsee an immediate, indignantresponse from our mayor, whoshould be banging on the ChiefMinister’s door demandingproper law enforcement, lookingat direct action using bylaws andrangers and, if necessary, call-ing on community assistance.

‘‘Proper law enforcement isthe structural base that Aliceneeds to turn its economyaround.’’

Aaron ‘‘Charlie’’ Dick: ‘‘I standfor improved community relation-ships, stronger outcomes for thetourism industry and investment ina cultural and historical centrelocated at Kilgariff.

‘‘I will provide the largest out-door ampitheatre in the southernhemisphere to be located near theFinke track and catering for musicevents, plays and outdoor confer-ences. I will highlight positivestories in the community andprovide solutions to issues divid-ing us. I advocate innovativeinfrastructure development target-ing tourism by council workingwith other layers of government. Idon’t support a youth curfew; Isupport take-away-free days andrecognition of the Todd River.

THE Centralian Advocate

asked the councillor candi-

dates in the upcoming Alice

Springs Town Council elec-

tion to outline their platform.