Signed in as:
filler@godaddy.com
Signed in as:
filler@godaddy.com
There are many ways I can be of help during the next three years as one of nine elected representatives in the Sorell Municipality.
>> Subscribe and spread the word about my newsletter to receive updates on the work I am doing and the community events I organise.
>> Come along to Tea, Cookies, and Ideas that's happening once a month. This is a meetup where we get together to brainstorm ideas on how might we go about changing or improving the issues that matter to us. If you wish to attend send me an email or join in the newsletter to receive updates and invites.
>> Write me a letter with the issues you would like to discuss. Include your name, contact details, the issue explained, and how you would like to see the issue resolved.
>> Would you like to connect with other locals who are passionate about changing things for the better for our children and youth, mobility and connectivity, community oriented living, governance, or the natural environment? Send me an email.
If you are curious, my role as one of 9 Sorell Councillors for the next four years is defined by Section 28 of the Local Government Act. As your local representative these are some of the things that are part of my role:
After my first months observing existing practices on development of strategies, policies, and plans I had a chat with fellow elected members from our and other councils, and with locals to create the ideal process, and have been using it to advocate for improvement.
>> Didn't support the rate increase for 2023-2024
With my vote in opposition to the rate and fees and charges increase I stood up in support of our community that is under financial stress. During this budget season I have strongly advocated for no or low rate increase and for a balanced budget that includes the needs of the most vulnerable.
>> Submission on the Public Consultation on the State Housing Strategy (1st July 2023)
I submitted feedback to Homes Tasmania from the Tasmanian Government. I asked them to transform the state’s housing business model to achieve a vision of “high-quality housing for all”.
Here's a highlight of the proposal: The “safe, appropriate, and affordable” housing strategy proposed could be so much better if we, as a state, had a stronger vision, a proven business model, and innovative legal framework conditions.
An evolved “high-quality housing for all” tenant-and-community-centred strategy based on the Viena model would transition our regions from places to live temporarily to ones that people will come to have a stable life, work, play, and stay for generations.
>> Better Stormwater Management for Dodges Ferry's town and the Blue Lagoon Catchment
After meeting and emailing with many locals that are concerned about the approach that’s being taken to deal with the Dodges Ferry town’s stormwater, and that are opposed to the pipe that’s being proposed on Blue Lagoon beach to drain the lagoon onto the beach, I’ve submitted a budget proposal in line with the expectations of many in the community to allocate funds for developing, designing, and costing alternative solutions to managing the stormwater flows within the Blue Lagoon catchment.
This proposal has been accepted and consultants been engaged to get a quote and a project proposal is underway.
You can send me a message to tell me how do you want me to represent you on this important issue and have your say by emailing council.
>> Championing the Vision: For the municipality of Sorell to be the best place in Australia to raise or be a child & young person (0-24 years old)
During Council's April workshop and in collaboration with other three fellow Councillors, we presented and discussed our recommendations and proposal to gather extensive insight and data about the needs and wants of our children and young people from 0 to 24 years of age to create a plan and a strategy and for this to be included in the 23/24 budget.
This initiative was informed by the community consultation I organised in March 2023 in which I interviewed 15 local parents, carers, grandparents, youth and children service providers, Councillors, and young locals to better understand what are the gaps they are facing and how we can go about figuring out what's needed to start changing things for the better.
One of the initiatives I am helping organise is Zero to Twenty-four to advocate and create initiatives to advance this vision. Do you know any parents, young locals, grandparents, or anyone keen to bring your ideas or volunteer to create for the 4,292 children and young people a better life? Please let me know.
During this budget season (2023-24) I have advocated for for a balanced budget that includes the needs of children and young people with various initiatives and proposals, that were approved, like the children and youth strategy that will be developed this year.
>> Safe public spaces and streets for children
At 13th Dec. Council general meeting I submitted a Question on Notice “Safe public spaces and streets for children” to better understand where the gaps in our current approach to crime and anti-social behaviour prevention are. You can read the questions and the responses from the General Manager in the Agenda on page 7, Item 8.2.
I am currently investigating how CPTED Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design guidelines might be adopted at a planning level and at a social service level, how a youth program might be implemented.
I have put forward a budget request for the 2023/24 financial year to audit at a municipal level areas where children walk, wheel, and cross the street to assess gaps and needs to add speed or crossing signs to make streets safer for them. This might include areas around parks, schools, shops, beaches, bust stops, etc.
>> Local representation and good governance
At 13th Dec. Council general meeting I submitted a Question on Notice “Local representation and good governance" to better understand where the gaps in our current approach to council governance and in community representation are. You can read the questions and the responses from the General Manager in the Agenda on page 4, Item 8.1.
I am currently investigating what actions I could take to improve local representation and good governance; community engagement; the representativeness, skills and professionalism of elected members; workplace culture; and performance.
>> Current Aircraft Flight Paths over Carlton River, Carlton & Primrose Sands
During the month of December I received several letters from residents with concern on the impact that the current aircraft paths are having in the residents quality of life, the environmental impact (noise), impact on their business, the loss in real estate value, people leaving the area, and poorly done community consultation.
To support these residents, and to grow my understanding I built a physical model of the area that I made available in January and a letter was sent from council to Air Services Australia in support.
>> Resident's Vision and extensive community consultation
Our strategic plan was for review and I advocated for extensive community consultation to better understand what our residents want and need and for the strategic plan to be a living document that is reviewed on a regular basis. I have interviewed residents to help craft a vision that's helping me champion what's important to us as residents and also proposed the inclusion of the environment and climate change resilience in it.
>> Submission on the Public Consultation on the Arthur Highway Road Improvement Strategy (30th April 2023)
I submitted feedback to Transport Services from the Department of State Growth. I asked them to develop the Arthur Highway along the Sorell region as a transportation corridor for multimodal mobility and to prioritise in the Arthur Highway Road Improvement Strategy other modes of transport such as walking, wheeling, cycling, and public transport.
Here's a highlight of the proposal: The car-oriented Arthur Highway currently cuts across the Sorell region and speeds people up. An evolved multimodal-oriented transportation corridor would strengthen the connection between towns and suburbs and transition our region from a place to drive through to one that people will come to slow down, stay, and enjoy
A multimodal transportation corridor will enable multimodal journeys and allow to seamlessly switch between transport modes interconnecting towns and suburbs to enhance the way we live, work, commute, and travel to serve the local population while at the same time serving the growing bicycle and walking slow tourism industry.
I will help you make, a STRATEGY and a VISION for your community group or initiative, so that you increase the impact of the very thing you’re doing.
Here’s how I can help. I will facilitate a one-hour session for you and your group members to help you craft a common vision and create a simple strategy that will bring you all together in pursuing what you all want. Identity, belonging, value, and purpose are some of the things we will nurture.
The session will be fun, uncomplicated, and with some post-its at a café, public park, or community house.
Oh! And is completely on me. No cost, no fees, no charges. FREE. With a single condition, that you use it to impact positively our very own Sorell-region community… and that you keep me updated on how you go about bringing value to your members (sorry, those were two conditions).
Just send me an email applying to be one of the groups I’ll be supporting.
Who can apply? Positive impact not for profit, community, hobby, and sports groups and initiatives in the Sorell Region. This is not for businesses or government organisations.
PS: Please share this initiative with your neighbours, friends, and family, and anyone you think will be interested.
I launched this independent community consultation during 2022 because if you are a bit like me, then you are probably looking to find out what matters to us as a community and how we might collaborate to getting it.
I live in Dodges Ferry with my family and for many years I’ve been involved in community initiatives where locals have shared with me how there doesn’t seem to be an accessible way to have a say and actively participate in the shaping of our towns.
That’s when I discovered I could do something about it by organising this grassroots consultation that became the launching pad for my running for council… I invite you to read the results that capture the sentiment of 120 residents ages 16 to 80+ from our 23 towns and discover with me what our community has to say about going into the future together.
Copyright © 2022 Authorised by Marisol Miró Quesada Le Roux - PO Box 89 Dodges Ferry, TAS 7173 - All Rights Reserved.