Policy
Infrastructure
As a 5 day old baby I had to be taken home on a ferry in 1975 due to the Tasmanian Bridge Disaster. Transport Infrastructure concerns still impact on the quality of life for Clarence residents and businesses. That is why I strongly back an Eastern Shore Link between the Tasman and East Derwent Highways.
This will improve utilisation of traffic on the Bowen Bridge. It will also remove the need for many Clarence residents to undertake one of the states most difficult transport maneuvers (the two lane criss-cross for traffic going from the East Derwent Highway onto the Tasman Highway.
Health
The Local Government Act requires councils to provide for the health, safety and welfare of the community. With a career history spanning over 10 years in the health sector (as a clinician and senior workforce planner), I believe that this has provided me with the skill set to ensure Clarence Council best meets these obligations.
As Tasmania’s second biggest municipal area, does Clarence get a fair allocation of community based resources, such as Community Nursing, Physiotherapy and Podiatry, from State Government? If elected to Alderman I will work to ensure the Clarence Community receives our allocation of these services
Development
Section 20 of the Local Government Act also requires Council to represent and promote the interests of the community. As someone who grew up in Clarence and who is now raising a family in Clarence, I take this responsibility very seriously. Poor decisions and poor planning affect all of us. There have been far too many decisions taken for short term expediency that leave a longer term legacy. The Mornington roundabout springs immediately to mind.
NO IFS NO BUTS, THIS WALKER OPPOSES A CANAL ESTATE AT RALPHS BAY
Council should welcome and facilitate development that will add value to the residents and rate payers. Equally developments that are not a natural fit for Clarence should be clearly and unambiguously opposed by Council. I OPPOSE the Ralphs Bay Canal Estate development project. The Clarence Community is not the same as the Gold Coast’s (thankfully) and even putting aside the potential long term environmental and economic concerns a canal estate just does not belong anywhere along our 191 kilometres of coastline. You can make up your mind at the Save Ralphs Bay website here http://www.saveralphsbay.org/ or Walker Corp’s site http://www.walkercorp.com.au/residential/ralphsbay.asp (again no relation to me, James Walker)
