The Mayoralympics, Heat 2
For some people, the cost of living 'crisis' is about mortgage repayments and house prices. For others, it is about paying basic medicine and food bills. For politicians, it is an emotive battleground.
Local councils don't cause problems with inflation, property booms and stagnant wages, but they are at the frontline of everyday solutions.
If you became Shoalhaven Mayor, what are three initiatives, services or ideas you would champion in Council to help alleviate cost-of-living pressures for locals? Explain WHAT the project is, WHO in our community would benefit and HOW Shoalhaven Council would fund it.
Kaye Gartner
In conversations with this community, I hear about the impact of rent, mortgage payments, energy bills. Family budgets are stripped of discretionary spending and the cheapest food available is on the table. I also hear about long wait times for childcare.
Australians are facing a cost-of-living crisis. Federal and State government policies are placing significant financial pressures on local communities and local councils. After many discussions with community members, colleagues, friends and advisors, I have plan as Mayor of Shoalhaven City Council:
- Establish a Revenue taskforce.
Shoalhaven Council has a revenue problem. The budget for community services cannot be cut further. We need new revenue streams – like Visitor Paid Parking - to ensure healthy budgets keep our Aquatic centres, BBQ areas, skateparks and adventure playgrounds well-maintained and affordable for all.
I will also join the campaign to restore the value of the Federal Assistance Grants that support all Australian Councils. These two measures will mean community facilities can stay open, be kept in top shape and be affordable for families, students and concession card holders alike.
- Restore Childcare Services
Council can ease cost of living pressures by facilitating good quality childcare to enable parents to work.
Cost cutting and Covid diminished this vital Council service for working parents. As Mayor, I will the revitalise Children’s Services in the Shoalhaven. That means Children’s Services staff, a vibrant Family Day Care service and support for community childcare centres and after school centres. Parents who need to work need stress-free access to quality childcare.
- Drive down energy bills
Council can ease cost of living pressures by driving energy efficiency and renewable energy benefits to reduce household energy bills. The Council I lead will participate in programs that make independent advice available to households to reduce heating and cooling costs. Advice will be available for households wanting solar and batteries to reduce energy bills. Rewiring Australia estimates savings of up to $4,400 per year with the electrification of everything. That’s a huge saving for each household and that extra money stays in our community, supporting local businesses. It’s a virtuous circle that I will keenly promote.
Jemma Tribe
There is no doubt people are hurting, I see it every day. I see it at the charity food store I operate, where people are telling me they are choosing between putting the heater on, filling up their car and buying food. It’s heartbreaking. Baked beans and bread are back to being the biggest sellers in store and we are seeing a different cohort of customers coming through.
Similarly, business owners are struggling. Insurance costs have tripled, electricity bills, raw materials, petrol, wages and superannuation have all risen significantly. To make matters worse, spending is down.
Despite this, I don’t believe it is the role of local government to deliver support. Especially not at a time when addressing the maintenance backlog is critical and Council's own reports predict an annual structural deficit of $25-$35 million. If that is not addressed, Council is in no position to help anyone and will only add to the burden of others.
Council cannot afford to delve into State and Federal issues when they aren’t delivering on their core business of roads, rates and rubbish.
I personally pledge however, to continue making a difference in our community for those doing it tough. I deliver mentoring and resources to not for profit organisations who would like to learn more about utilising commercial principles to be more sustainable.
I’ve published a free Blueprint for anyone thinking of starting or scaling up a food relief service and I would also love to support other social entrepreneurs who are finding innovative solutions to challenging issues – particularly in the circular economy space.
This won’t be popular to mention here but it needs to be said. It was only a few years ago that Council provided ‘direct financial support’ to Shoalhaven ratepayers to reduce the cost of their rates, water, sewer and domestic waste management charges during COVID. This was not means tested, it has had a compound effect on Council’s finances, and we are still paying the price today. We can't afford to make that mistake again.
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Got a question to ask Jemma Tribe or Kaye Gartner? Post it in the comments or email it to thesparkshoalhaven@gmail.com
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