Wagga council election candidates Belinda Coleman and Robyn Kirk

Belinda Coleman on the Pascoe ticket was a police officer with expertise in crime scene examination in the Major Crime Response Unit and helped identify victims of the devastating tsunami that hit Thailand in 2004.

The mother of two with four step-children started her own personal training business before taking over Wagga Scrap Metals to help a friend suffering from cancer.

Robyn Kirk on the Next Generation ticket spent the past two years at Charles Sturt University helping researchers access technology, while running her own business analysis service.

Ms Kirk has a passion for social justice and spent years volunteering to help refugees, including those within the Villawood immigration detention centre.

As a former Detective Sergent with 14 years service to the NSW Police Force, what can council do about Wagga’s youth crime scourge?

Everybody has a role in preventing and reducing crime and council absolutely has a responsibility to look out for businesses and residents. 

CCTV in the CBD and the Ashmont Community Resource Centre outreach program are good examples of where council can assist policing. 

A lot of people are scared to talk to police and provide evidence, so could could liaise between police and the community.

It’s important council provides facilities to keep kids busy, like skate parks.

Are Wagga’s footpaths good enough?

Not at all, our footpaths are not up to scratch, if they even exist. 

Gregadoo Road is an example of an important road for kids getting to school – Mater Dei and Lake Albert Public School –  but there’s nowhere to walk safely. 

You can't even push a pram unless you're on the road because it's all grass and boggy land. 

I tried going for walks with my toddler in a pram and it's near impossible.

What are the biggest issues Wagga faces?

Firstly, the levee bank needs to be pushed ahead as priority to protect businesses and residents alike.

Secondly, council needs to entice more businesses and jobs to town, which might include dangling carrots like free rates until they are established.

Finally, council needs to make sure roads are repaired properly with the right surface to protect against the elements, especially with changing conditions in climate.

What can council do to improve access to the Murrumbidgee River?

Visitors coming through Wagga for a day or two don't even realise there's a river because it's hard to access and not visible from any of the main thoroughfares. 

We should have a cafe down on the water where people can go and enjoy lunch and have time with their families. 

There should be a decent pathway to link areas along the waterway, not just for walking, but for kids on bikes and roller-blades.

How important is gender diversity on council?

It’s important in terms of equal representation of our community.

It’s not just important to have more women on council, it would be nice to have an Aboriginal councillor and other representatives from significant groups within the community. 

At seventh on mayor Rod Kendall’s ticket, do you stand any chance of winning?

Everyone, in theory, is an independent and I encourage people to vote below the line.

I could have run as independent, but I believe in values of Next Generation; doing things differently and leaving a positive legacy for the next generation.

Do you support the proposed drug drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility on Gurwood Street?

I was at the Australian Drug Foundation’s Breaking the Ice forum last week and someone involved in Aboriginal health said there’s been a needle exchange in Wagga for years and it’s been a really effective program, providing counselling and clean needles to give them a chance to get off drugs.

The Riverina Recovery House is not a new model, they exist elsewhere and have been shown to be effective.

It’s not just about dealing with drugs, also bringing people into supportive environment to talk about decent nutrition and connection with support networks.

What are the biggest issues facing Wagga?

People are expecting to have a say, so there's no need for council staff to make all the decisions, we can share that responsibility.

Council needs to empower community groups – suburbs, villages and businesses – take on the issues affecting them.

It’s about devolving council responsibilities, so community groups decide whether to prioritise council funds for a new skate park, bicycle track or better roads; they decide.

The role of councillors becomes supporting that process by involving the community, managing the projects and financial management and reporting. 

How would you reduce waiting times for council services?

Council needs to be more flexible in their processes, so there's not lengthy delays if someone's application differs from the norm.

Things like online chat would allow residents to get straight in and talk to someone instead of waiting on the phone. 

Could council foster more social cohesion?

When the community changes from what people knew as children, they start to feel nervous about new people coming in.

Council has a role in social harmony by providing opportunities for people to meet each other and realise we have more in common than differences.

We should have more multicultural events, especially those with food, which is a great way to connect people.

As Rod Kendall says, Wagga’s large enough to count but small enough to care.