This is the speech I gave to Cairns City Forum that was held in 'City Place'
"Direction Forward” For Division 9
Would like to
acknowledge past, present and future traditional owners.
Thanks to
Cairns City Forum for facilitating this event and a special thank you to the
moderator and to all candidates that have put themselves on display in this ‘fish
bowl’.
A Westminster
styled democracy has at its core events called elections. Forums like this are
the electorate's festivals. And like all
festivals there are stalls with items on display.
The stall holders of course would like you to
be impressed by their product. And so it is that today, I am the product and I
want you to be impressed by my package ‘Brand Parisi’.
Forums likes
this are the perfect opportunity for the voters to unwrap the product and see
if it is to their liking.
On the 28th
of April you will be voting to elect a Mayor for Cairns Regional Council ( CRC
) and a Councillor for Division 9. Every
election is an important event because it is the time that the elector takes
stock of their City. You have the
opportunity to have more of the same or to change direction.
Since the
amalgamation in 1995 of the Mulgrave Shire Council and Cairns City Council,
Division 9 has been represented by Councillor Sno Bonneau. I wish to acknowledge his service to our
community.
There are a
number of reasons why I have nominated for Council, not the least of which is
my passion to represent the area where I was born and raised. In a colloquial way I am a true local.
Following
numerous requests from community leaders, indigenous elders and residents, I am
offering myself as your representative for Division 9. It is an area that I
know so well.
In these
troubled financial times and political disillusionment we have to be mindful
that it’s not only the imposts of Governments both Federal and State but also the
workings of Council like rates and charges that affect our cost of living.
With an
effective and efficient Council administration, these charges can be kept to a minimum
if not in check. With my civic
experience, if elected, I will bring to Council, trustworthiness, experience, efficiency
and no nonsense representation. I will hit the ground running and I will have
no need to be on training wheels.
We need to
operate a very lean Council without waste or inefficiency, but with improved
quality and delivery of front services.
There are a
number of Departments within Council’s bureaucratic structure where I believe savings
can be made.
If elected, I will move that Council appoint
a leading Accountancy agency specialising in Local Government to do a full audit to
identify areas where savings can be made and delivery of services improved.
The Cairns
Entertainment Precinct (CEP) concerns me.
I am mindful that it may be too late to reverse. I am also mindful of the
construction and operational costs, and the social disharmony which has divided
our community. A Council should be an entity that breeds harmony and needs to
take the community with it.
If elected, I
will call for a financial and legal audit on the CEP to establish if it is not
too late to revisit the location of the proposal (my preference being west of
the Convention Centre) This location would obviate the need and save millions
on the decontamination of the site and the inclusion and restoration of Whites
Shed.
Other big ticket
issues, both short and long-term, that I will be directing my focus and
energies towards during my 4 year tenure are as follows:-
1. The upgrading of the Cpt. Cook Highway
from the current 1: 5 flood immunity, to 1: 25 year immunity. Both the Barron
River bridge and Thomatis Creek bridge have such immunity;
2. The dual laning of the Western Arterial road
from Freshwater Creek Bridge to the Caravonica roundabout;
3. The augmentation of the Kamerunga water
treatment plant to process water from the Barron River thereby obviating the
need to pump 10million litres daily from the Mulgrave River Aquifer with
potential environmental concerns;
4. Caravonica State school off street
parking;
5. Financial accountability and transparency
through the introduction of inter Divisional financial equity.
If elected, I
will pledge to work with the community in an inclusive manner. My Plan proposes to set up various channels
of communication where ratepayers and residents will not feel excluded from the
decision making process.
Mindful of my
responsibility, I would be happy to work with your choice of Mayor. While much
good has been achieved by Val Scheir’ Council, there is a perception of
dysfunction. I believe that teams create a “them and us” mentality. In my opinion, teams = party politics. All
through my previous Council tenure I strived successfully to keep party politics
out of the Mulgrave Shire.
During the course
of the next 4 weeks, I will be releasing and fleshing out further policies that
will drive Cairns and Division 9 forward.
Please feel free
to contact me. I look forward to your
participation and support.
I ask for your
trust. Together we can make this happen.
Ross Parisi
01.04.2010
Office :
40381005
Mbl: 0419645818
Email:
ross@rossparisi.com
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