General News
16 November, 2022
Your forum questions
Last week’s Ripon candidate forum presented by the Loddon Herald was attended by major party candidates Louise Staley and Martha Haylett. Here are their answers to some audience questionsLoddon Mayor Dan Straub asked candidates their views on...
Last week’s Ripon candidate forum presented by the Loddon Herald was attended by major party candidates Louise Staley and Martha Haylett. Here are their answers to some audience questions
Loddon Mayor Dan Straub asked candidates their views on roads, freight and population growth.
Ms Haylett: Roads had been struggling before the floods and it was necessary to look at how roads were maintained longer term. Said she would advocate for ripping up road bases and starting again. On freight, said it would be to important look at having roads able to handle B-doubles. On population, said housing would be important, was passionate about meeting future needs and would meet with council to discuss its housing strategy for private rentals and social housing.
Ms Staley said: A Coalition government would invest $10 billion in roads over 10 years and return the country roads and bridges program with $1.5 million every year for local councils. Said condition of bridges and bridge loads was a pinchpoint for freight, would revisit the Murray Darling Rail project to work out “what is to be done” with the botched transformational project. On population growth, spoke of Coalition commitment to connect Newbridge to water and sewerage.
Victorian Farmers’ Federation Wedderburn branch president Graham Nesbit also questioned candidates on the state of the freight network with rail freight halved since 2013, and the effort needed to combat wheel cactus on public land with the urgent need for a management plan.
Ms Haylett: Spoke of programs for the supply chain created by the Government in partnership with VFF. Said the Government supported a range of initiatives and now had 300 biodiversity officers. Said more to be done on weed control.
Ms Staley: Again connected freight with need to revisit Murray Basin Rail project. Said had written to Government on wheel cactus and received unsatisfactory replies. Spoken with Nationals leader Peter Walsh and if elected “will do something about it”.
On behalf of Wedderburn Lions, candidates were asked whether governments had still to arrive at the right policies to enable ageing rural residents some choice in remaining in their local town
Ms Staley: Said provision of aged care was a challenge still not solved in many small rural communities. Any model would need significant investment by state and federal governments. The right model would then become a model for all rural areas.
Ms Haylett: Need to work on options that are viable and involving all three levels of government. Had met with Wedderburn Lions and would take its business case to federal and state governments for what could be a pilot program for supported residential care.
Michele Mizzi asked about plans to improve telecommunications in the shire.
Ms Staley: Said Coalition had promised an additional $150 million to existing government programs for a mix of new towers and subsidies for boosters. Cannot have economic development without connectivity.
Ms Haylett: Government has announced Connecting Victoria program that will include multiple new towers across the Loddon. Would be a game-changer for Newbridge and other towns.
Michele also asked about water management leading up to October’s flood emergency
Ms Haylett: Said the Governmented was currently focused on recovery. Needed to sit down soon with communities, water authorities and emergency services to review.
Ms Staley: SES as lead agency in emergency management did not have right to communicate and instruct water authorities on management. A clear gap in framework to address.
The full recording of last week’s forum can be viewed on the Loddon Shire facebook page. The shire is thanked for making livestream facilities available for the forum.