Survey responses to Community Alliance - ACE

Susie Gallagher
Sun 8/03/2020 11:00 PM

• Community Alliance - ACE

Hi John

thank you for your email.  Please see my replies below in green, should you like to discuss any of these points further - please let me know.

Are you now or have you ever been a member of a political party? Which party?
No

What organisations are you a member of?

• National Disability Services
• Amerginhub
• Southport Chamber of Commerce (Board Member 2017)
• Career Industry Council of Australia (CICA)
• Queensland Guidance and Counselling Association Inc (QGCA)
• Queensland Teachers College
• Business Educators Association of Queensland
• Golden Key Honour Society (Admitted 2006) 
• Gold Coast Business Network

What is your track record in advocating in the public interest?
I have worked with families for positive outcomes in matters concerning Centrelink, NDIS, Education Queensland and DOCS. 

How is your campaign being funded and staffed?
By myself, my family and a few close friends who believe in me and know I can make a difference.  I have had some members of the public offer to volunteer also which has been very humbling.

How do you envision fostering two-way communication with your constituents?
Whatever why the individual constituent needs ...some may need interpreter support, some may need a home visit due to illness, disability or mobility issues, some may need a visit to their clubs or associations but in general

• Open door policy and set hours in the office
• Regular email newsletter
• I would also like to create community based reference groups to meet with regularly to keep me informed of what is going on in certain areas so I can report back the findings/happenings/decisions in council that may affect them directly in a timely manner to allow them to form opinions or create the paperwork to lodge for/against a potential decision

Where do you stand on:

The Spit cruise ship terminal proposal? Do you support spending ratepayers’ money on an environmental impact assessment for the CST proposal?
No 

Do you support spending over $1 million of ratepayers’ money on a cableway environmental impact assessment?
No

What are your top priorities for improvements to the City Plan?

• follow the guidelines ALWAYS
• create more green/open space and parking
• bushfire preparedness 
• ensure all developments are suitable for the area and match the atmosphere and character of the area and complement the surrounding suburbs

Coomera Connector/M2 impact on northern suburbs?
This is a state/federal government issue. 
This is outside the purview of council and councillors so any promises should be taken with a grain of salt.  
I believe it is GCCC's job to ensure that local roads are up to the job of handling any deviations/detours that need to be created to enable the upgrades

The extension of light rail south to Coolangatta?

• I have major concerns for the property values, the parking and the retailers all along the proposed line. Southport is struggling to recover and I dont view retailers as "collateral damage" which is what the sitting councillor called the shop owners in Southport in a public meeting in 2012
• I would rather see a hard rail line to the airport because I think the light rail will take to long to get to the airport anyway.

What are your priorities for public transport on the Gold Coast?

• hard rail line would be better but I don't know the feasibility which I am sure has to have been conducted by either or both parties during their time/s in government so doesnt require more money being spent just time to read the paperwork
• express buses and shuttles like we used to have to get people to and from stations ....the light rail has not been constructed well enough to even allow a bus stop to minimize walking distances for the elderly and disabled

What is your opinion of plans to establish beach bars on five public beaches, to sell food and alcoholic drinks?
Who is running them?
Who is profiting from them?
What are their hours of operation?
Who is cleaning up?
Can't they walk to the shops that pay rates and rents across the road?
We don't have any bins on the beaches
What is the difference between this and other things for sale?  How will they control it? How will they control RSA? Are they walking down to the beach to the people or are they just after a land grab on the beaches?

Do you think it is necessary for Council to continue to purchase more land for either conservation or recreational uses as the population grows?
Yes

What is your opinion of a second casino?
No thanks


The Ridong development proposal Tallebudgera Valley and the Songcheng development on the Carrara Floodplain?
I am not sure this level of foreign investment is wise particularly given the volatility of the market.
Who will insure this development on a flood plain? What is the small print in the contract of the sale and the ongoing maintenance etc?
What are their rates?
I love the idea of a wellness resort
I love the idea of an art gallery but what about the one at Bundall and why do we need one there and now when the GCCC squashed a great one we had in Surfers and then in Southport?
I think development in that area must low to medium rise
I would like to see the actual plans, the improvements to surrounding infrastructure and the impact on homes and roads in the area to make a firm decision.


What are your top 3 priorities for the city?

Picking just 3 is hard .... and I have a focus in Division 6......I believe the job is to act as a conduit between the people and the council by strengthening connections, solving problems and finding solutions for the locals with the locals;


> Create a task force comprised of established, successful and ethical groups to tackle the homelessness issue - it cannot be fixed at 1 level or by 1 person.  People should be valued and loved, we all need to make a contribution to the community in which we live to the best of our ability ...some people need help to find that ability and then the outlet.   

> Protect our green and open spaces while ensuring (division) assets are operating profitably, not sold off 

> parking and public transport availability and accessibility   


If I can have a few more: 

> To spend our money at home - in the community,  supporting local businesses,  artists, designers  and entertainers -  stop to spending money on overseas talent when we have so much here.

> Fight for changes to planning and building laws to ensure more sustainable and environmentally friendly development - reuse, reduce, recycle.....cradle to cradle concepts for building, zero emissions, all new building should have water tanks and solar power 

> To implement more accountability and transparency in Council operations and less closed doors.

> clean up our streets - if that means bring hard rubbish day back, then let's do that....if it was too expensive the way we used to do it - let's find a new way!


Thank you for your email and I hope to meet you in my travels.
Kind regards,
Susie Gallagher

https://mailchi.mp/f0b87abd4ab9/susie-gallagher-for-division-6


https://www.susangallagher.com.au/

Susie Gallagher Division 6
Susie Gallagher for Division 6 GCCC 2020. I grew up in Division 6. I went to kindergarten here. Then primary school, high school and later university.
www.susangallagher.com.au
https://www.facebook.com/SusanGallagherVote1Division6Gccc/


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