Suzie Pearce looks to bring council experience to Benalla Rural City

By Contributed

Sep 23, 2024

Suzie Pearce is running for Benalla Rural City Council in the upcoming local government elections. Photo by Simon Ruppert

Suzie Pearce is the latest community member to join the race for Benalla Rural City Council in the local government elections.

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She has provided this statement.

I am standing for election to council because I know and love Benalla, know local government and know that I can get things done.

Benalla deserves better local government and better outcomes for our future than our Council Plan is aiming to achieve.

The size of a town does not matter, it is the people. They bring out the best a town can offer.

Having council support is vital.

My vision is that Benalla becomes identified for its wide multi-use paths linking the Botanic Gardens, Lake Benalla and the showgrounds.

Also, that children can walk or ride their bikes safely to school and the elderly with their various mobility aids enjoy their outings.

I want the wrought iron showgrounds sign put back over the main gates.

Another vision is that our small satellite towns are given the attention they need to ignite their viability and ensure their existing infrastructure is not wasted.

I believe our drainage and flood mitigation works must be reviewed and improved.

With our ageing population I want a strategy for providing aged care, especially home care.

I want a strategy developed to address homelessness and associated matters.

However, I know we have to balance needs and wants so they have to be prioritised and basic or essential needs should come first.

My qualifications to support my assertion that I can achieve in council include having an LLB (Hons) and M Ag. degree and serving two terms as a rural ward councillor in the Geelong region during the 1980/1990s.

During that time I served on the Technical and Environment Committee dealing with core local government matters including roads, footpaths, drainage, sports facilities and the ‘tip’.

I was a board member of the Geelong Regional Art Gallery, inaugural member of the Regional Development Board and founding board member of Geelong Otway Tourism.

I was employed as the development manager for the Geelong Performing Arts Centre. It saddens me that our BPACC has now closed.

While I am known as president of Better Benalla Rail I am not standing as a single-issue candidate.

My decision to stand for election has not come easily, there is a big task ahead.