The Daily Advertiser continues its series of questions and answers with council candidate Tina Gavel.
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What can be done about the increasing prevalence of graffiti in Wagga?
I would urge council to back a free app call VandalTrak, which allows anyone to take a photo and forward it to council and police.
A council in Western Australia started a program with a car, trailer and volunteers – mainly from Men’s Shed – travelling around removing graffiti to the point they've even waited for someone to finish a tag so they could remove it.
Cobar Council is doing 24 hour removal of graffiti, which works well because it stifles vandals’ ability to show off.
How can council boost tourism?
I'm on board with the Rail Trail; it will be a long-term project but it has the potential to bring in millions.
The average spend from each person who stays in Wagga overnight is $242 per person and the rail trail could help us carve out a larger slice of the $33 million spent by tourists in the Riverina last year.
What are the biggest issues Wagga faces?
Small businesses do it damn tough in Wagga, you only have to look at all the empty shops down the main street, and council’s parking policies are making it worse.
If you park on the main street and move your car within the same block you would be fined because the rules say you must move to another block.
The policy is on the council website but that's hardly transparent enough, why isn’t there more signage and why does that rule exist in the first place?
The Wagga Business Chamber is the biggest in NSW and I want council working with the chamber more to see what council can do to support local businesses.
Why does council need change?
Council needs more transparency and accountability.
I don't think councillors should have vested property development interests or any political affiliation.
There's a disconnect between community and councillors; we need to get back to basics and grassroots community engagement.
I look at the money being spent on art around the city and there are so many things I'd like to see instead of reckless spending.
Could you stand up to outspoken councillor Paul Funnell if you had to?
Very much so, I am a strong woman.
No doubt Paul and I will disagree down the track, but I will do whatever the community wants.