I stood for a position on council to represent all the ratepayers of the Upper Lachlan Shire and also to work as a united team for the benefit of all members of the community. In this position I have felt it necessary to ask questions of the council management. I know it is my duty to those who elected me to engage in debate on issues that I feel the community are not comfortable with.

I do not ask questions just for the sake of asking them, but because I have been directed in my questioning by queries from the wider community.  At the ‘meet the candidates evening’ held in Crookwell during the campaign period a senior member of our community made a valid comment, she questioned the level of care shown to our populace by Councillors and members of the Council management within our Shire.

I had also assessed this sentiment within the community and that induced me to put myself forward as a candidate for election to the Upper Lachlan Shire. I stressed during my campaign that I believed unity was the way forward for the council to bring successful outcomes to the ratepayers. After all these are the people we serve. The information presented at The Council Meeting on Thursday February 16 was different to the information released in the Mayor's press release published on the in relation to the Building Better Region Fund.

The proposed application for funds for the Civic Centre that was disclosed at the Council meeting was based on 50 percent funding criteria from the BBRF unlike the media press release, that is 100 percent funding from the BBRF – this is a wonderful outcome.

I fear this press release on social media has been presented in its existing form to make the four councillors who voted against the original motion at the Council Meeting on Thursday February 16 look unscrupulous and negative. If this is the case, my confidence in my future role is greatly comprised.