As lead Greens candidate, I wish all candidates the very best on behalf of our team, and hope to see a campaign that is positive and focussed on the future.

In this way, Wagga and village residents have the best chance of finding out what each candidate stands for and their vision for our local government area, as well as their skills and leadership attributes.

The voices of local residents will be important to inform candidates of their concerns and the changes they'd like to see.

So, here's to a fair and respectful election campaign that includes everyone that has something to say, listened to carefully by those who wish to have a place at the council table.

I am convinced by the believers in the future of hydrogen as a fuel.

They seem to think there is plenty of alternative power available for its manufacture, but what concerns me is the source of their water.

It must involve considerable supply, so what amount and where does it come from?

Gundagai must be one of the unluckiest towns in the country.

The first of two catastrophes that has befallen our town was in 1852. This was, undoubtedly, the darkest day in our history when the disastrous floodwaters swept the original township off the map with the loss of some 89 lives.

Fast forward to May 12, 2016. This again, was the second darkest day in Gundagai's history when another catastrophe occurred. However, this time it had nothing to do with surging floodwaters. It was at the hands of a NSW Liberal-National Party government.

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This government had duped the electorate by reneging on a pre-election promise (in writing) that there would be no forced council amalgamations.

Like the surging floodwaters in 1852, the government has swept away the democratic rights of our citizens along with their democratically elected council.

And, for a time, we were placed in the hands of an administrator.

The forced merger with Cootamundra has turned into a disaster. We have recently had a rate rise of a whopping 53.5 per cent! With rates going through the roof, and the likelihood of a cutback in services and the shedding of staff, the future of our little town can only be described as grim, bleak and depressing.

Let's hope that the new Premier, Mr Dominic Perrottet, can show a bit of common sense and compassion.

He must by now realise the hopeless position that his government has put our town in. His Minister for Local Government, Ms Shelley Handcock, is obviously just not up to the task.

He must also take into account that the former Gundagai Shire Council, since its inception, was regarded as one of the most successful councils in country NSW.

So come on Mr Premier, let's see what you are made of. We want out of this farcical forced marriage with Cootamundra and we want out now!

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