He and others are advocating for electing councillors to stick to local issues only, but surely the COVID pandemic and the bushfires should have shown them local communities are not isolated from the impacts further afield.

Ask anyone in the construction industry about supplies issues, or other members of the community having to wait for months, possibly longer, for overseas items. We need councillors that can understand and critically review complex issues.

Let's take potholes for example, is it poor construction of the roads or has the type and volume of traffic contributed to the problem?

The population of Wagga continues to grow and hence the volume of traffic, but I venture to say that the biggest cause of road destruction is the increase in the number of much larger trucks, various B-double configurations, compared to the "lighter weight" semi-trailers of 10 or 20 years ago.

Having been a community member on a number of Wagga council committees, with councillors volunteering to be on, there is a large volume of complex information to read and consider.

For the councillors this is in addition to the other information they need to read for other meetings and committees. Are all candidates up to this level of commitment?

One councillor, who is running again, resigned from the committees they were on because they didn't have time with work to devote to that level of commitment. Why are they standing again?

The level of work will not be less. We need councillors who are committed, not focused on one issue, objective, and open to new approaches.

Contrary to what a lot of people have said about the present council, it has not been the worst, but there have been disruptive members that made it less effective.

READ MORE LETTERS:

At the council election I expect to vote for candidates representative of Wagga ratepayers and who have the interests and progress of Wagga at heart.

We seem to have some candidates who love to voice their personal opinion on state and federal matters, and to promote their personal political leanings.

Group voting should be banned as these people are using local government as a stepping stone to seek selection to state or federal government..

We have streets full of large potholes, pavements broken and crumbling where old tree roots have cracked them.

The council solution is to toss a shovelful of coarse bitumen, which makes it even more dangerous for pedestrians and users of walking aids. (Concrete and bitumen do not marry well).

Church Street is an area council repaired some weeks ago but the repair work lasted about three weeks before falling apart.

Think carefully and vote for true Wagga carers.

My vote in the upcoming council election will go to a councillor who cares about our little villages in the council area.

I urge people in small villages to vote this mob out now. Cheers and good luck to all the new nominations

HAVE YOUR SAY: Do you have something to get off your chest? Simply click here to send a letter to the editor.