Leadership during tough times requires strength, resilience and tenacity. This campaign is deeply personal to me. In 2023, I underwent a bilateral lung transplant, a transformative experience that provided me with a renewed perspective and an even greater drive to give back to our community. Running for council is my way of honouring the family and friends of my donor, committing myself to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
My campaign focuses on ensuring council prioritises core local government responsibilities. It is imperative that we emphasise essential services, eliminate waste and ensure every dollar is spent effectively. By concentrating on what truly matters, we can maximise the benefits for the entire community and avoid unnecessary distractions. A key goal is to alleviate the cost of living for residents. Rising costs continue to place significant burdens on families and businesses. Therefore, I aim to make core services more affordable while maintaining high-quality standards. This involves reducing unnecessary expenses and strategically directing funds to areas that make a real difference, easing financial pressures on households and supporting local businesses.
Addressing the housing crisis is another crucial priority. The solution lies in increasing supply, and council is uniquely positioned to facilitate this. Streamlining estate development and expediting building and planning permits are crucial steps to making housing more accessible and affordable. We must ensure people can build homes more quickly, making the development process more efficient, meeting housing demand and fostering regional growth.
Maintaining existing assets is more important than creating new ones. Ensuring our roads and community facilities are up to a high standard is essential. We need to take care of what we have before investing in new projects, ensuring our infrastructure remains safe and functional for everyone. By focusing on maintenance, we can preserve the integrity and usability of these assets for future generations.
I have played an extensive role in developing many of the facilities in Greater Shepparton that support major events, including the Shepparton Sports City, Deakin Reserve, Kialla Park Reserve and Aquamoves. My involvement in these projects has contributed to making our region a hub for sporting and recreational activities, benefiting both locals and visitors alike.
A significant aspect of my platform is the review of the feasibility of upgrading the Shepparton Airport. This includes identifying the potential benefits of expanding its capacity to allow for higher volume domestic travel and air freight on an economically viable scale. This review would consider all environmental and amenity concerns. I will also include a second comparison based on a relocation option.
Brendan Gosstray, candidate for Kialla Ward
