1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:03,200 Speaker 1: Joining me live on the line right now is Belinda Coolstad, 2 00:00:03,240 --> 00:00:06,520 Speaker 1: who is indeed running as an independent in the seat 3 00:00:06,519 --> 00:00:08,560 Speaker 1: of goid. Good morning to you, Belinda. 4 00:00:09,160 --> 00:00:10,160 Speaker 2: Good morning Katie. 5 00:00:10,200 --> 00:00:13,000 Speaker 1: Now, Belinda, we've got seven minutes. Are you ready to 6 00:00:13,000 --> 00:00:17,200 Speaker 1: get started? Certainly, let's do it all right. Why did 7 00:00:17,200 --> 00:00:19,240 Speaker 1: you decide to put your hand up to run? 8 00:00:20,520 --> 00:00:22,960 Speaker 2: Okay, Katie. My decision to run for the ceeda Goiter 9 00:00:23,480 --> 00:00:27,200 Speaker 2: was inspired by my life experiences from raising our family here, 10 00:00:27,280 --> 00:00:30,200 Speaker 2: along with the beautiful and unique lifestyle this place offers. 11 00:00:30,920 --> 00:00:34,360 Speaker 2: Managing my small business. A decade of volunteering as a 12 00:00:34,400 --> 00:00:38,280 Speaker 2: firefighter within the lictical community, I've become deeply connected to 13 00:00:38,320 --> 00:00:42,720 Speaker 2: local life. Engaging with my community has provided vayable insights 14 00:00:42,800 --> 00:00:46,160 Speaker 2: into our needs and challenges, fueling my commitment to serve 15 00:00:46,200 --> 00:00:48,240 Speaker 2: the rural people and advocate effectively. 16 00:00:49,640 --> 00:00:51,680 Speaker 1: Now, why do you think you're the best person for 17 00:00:51,720 --> 00:00:55,040 Speaker 1: the role? Based on that previous experience in the community 18 00:00:55,120 --> 00:00:56,840 Speaker 1: and through other work that you've done. 19 00:00:57,880 --> 00:01:01,160 Speaker 2: Katie, the community pointed out to me the combined value 20 00:01:01,200 --> 00:01:05,400 Speaker 2: of my life experiences, my passion for community engagement, combined 21 00:01:05,440 --> 00:01:08,040 Speaker 2: with a wealth of life ups and downs, and there 22 00:01:08,040 --> 00:01:11,160 Speaker 2: have certainly been some of those. I believe this makes 23 00:01:11,200 --> 00:01:14,120 Speaker 2: me well suited to support and represent the people in 24 00:01:14,160 --> 00:01:18,680 Speaker 2: my community effectively to the highest of standards. I'm confident 25 00:01:18,720 --> 00:01:21,360 Speaker 2: that I can make a lasting impact and continue to 26 00:01:21,480 --> 00:01:24,200 Speaker 2: advocate effectively for the rural residence in Goider. 27 00:01:25,200 --> 00:01:27,160 Speaker 1: Now, what do you see as being the biggest issues 28 00:01:27,200 --> 00:01:30,840 Speaker 1: in the electrode, Katie. 29 00:01:31,319 --> 00:01:34,679 Speaker 2: There's always a lot of issues in the rural, but 30 00:01:34,800 --> 00:01:39,360 Speaker 2: probably one of the biggest issues that I come across. 31 00:01:42,160 --> 00:01:44,280 Speaker 2: Crime is something you know that I've noticed on your 32 00:01:44,360 --> 00:01:47,640 Speaker 2: radio show that everyone has spoken about as candidates over 33 00:01:47,640 --> 00:01:49,600 Speaker 2: the last few days. So we certainly know that you know, 34 00:01:49,680 --> 00:01:53,480 Speaker 2: crime weighs heavily on everyone's mind at the moment. But 35 00:01:53,640 --> 00:01:56,560 Speaker 2: out of the rural way, the biggest issue is everything 36 00:01:56,600 --> 00:01:59,960 Speaker 2: to do with planning and organization, So I will take 37 00:02:00,040 --> 00:02:03,920 Speaker 2: an active approach, communicate with residents and ensure that the 38 00:02:03,960 --> 00:02:08,200 Speaker 2: rural stays rule. This ties directly into water security in subpli, 39 00:02:08,720 --> 00:02:11,480 Speaker 2: which are critical issues. The bulk of the rural area 40 00:02:11,560 --> 00:02:14,760 Speaker 2: relies on bares. We've got about seven five hundred bores 41 00:02:14,800 --> 00:02:18,680 Speaker 2: in the rural. Rural people are conscious of their water usage, 42 00:02:19,040 --> 00:02:21,800 Speaker 2: but there are some government bores accessing the same water 43 00:02:21,880 --> 00:02:26,160 Speaker 2: tables to maintain our rural character. We need to balance 44 00:02:26,440 --> 00:02:31,720 Speaker 2: rural and urban water users, ensuring sustainable development that respects 45 00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:33,160 Speaker 2: our water resources and supply. 46 00:02:35,080 --> 00:02:38,720 Speaker 1: Now, in terms of well, we're asking, actually we're asking 47 00:02:38,720 --> 00:02:41,160 Speaker 1: all the candidates do you live in the electorate. 48 00:02:42,560 --> 00:02:46,240 Speaker 2: Katie. At this stage of my family life, we have 49 00:02:46,360 --> 00:02:49,480 Speaker 2: needed to live nearby Forest Parade School for the needs 50 00:02:49,480 --> 00:02:53,040 Speaker 2: of our son. However, he will be attending to Minmin 51 00:02:53,160 --> 00:02:56,360 Speaker 2: next year. This has been part of our family planning 52 00:02:56,800 --> 00:02:59,400 Speaker 2: to be able to move back to the rural lifestyle 53 00:02:59,440 --> 00:03:01,200 Speaker 2: that my husband and that I have grown up with. 54 00:03:02,600 --> 00:03:05,760 Speaker 2: What truly matters is my deep understanding and commitment to 55 00:03:05,800 --> 00:03:08,560 Speaker 2: the community. I have thought dozens of fires in the 56 00:03:08,639 --> 00:03:12,840 Speaker 2: Literate area. With the Virginia Bee's Creek Volunteer Fibrigade, I 57 00:03:12,919 --> 00:03:17,640 Speaker 2: spent countless hours engaging with residents, understanding their needs and concerns, 58 00:03:17,800 --> 00:03:22,320 Speaker 2: working alongside them, helping them find solutions. While living nearby 59 00:03:22,520 --> 00:03:26,639 Speaker 2: allows me to experience issues firsthand and stay closely connected 60 00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:30,040 Speaker 2: with the people I will be representing. It's about being dedicated, 61 00:03:30,200 --> 00:03:33,120 Speaker 2: accessible and responsive to the needs of Goud's community. 62 00:03:33,160 --> 00:03:35,720 Speaker 1: All right, So planning to move in there into that? 63 00:03:36,000 --> 00:03:36,520 Speaker 2: Sorry, yees? 64 00:03:36,600 --> 00:03:40,240 Speaker 1: So planning to move into the electros. 65 00:03:40,720 --> 00:03:43,240 Speaker 2: Yes, of course, yes, So unfortunately we have had to 66 00:03:43,280 --> 00:03:45,600 Speaker 2: stay by Forest Grade School, which is a special needs 67 00:03:45,640 --> 00:03:48,520 Speaker 2: school for our sun. However, he will be heading to 68 00:03:48,560 --> 00:03:50,760 Speaker 2: to min mid next year, so we will certainly be 69 00:03:50,760 --> 00:03:52,880 Speaker 2: looking at moving back into the rural area. 70 00:03:53,120 --> 00:03:53,320 Speaker 1: Yep. 71 00:03:53,720 --> 00:03:56,960 Speaker 2: Now, I know there has been some dirty tricks along 72 00:03:57,000 --> 00:04:01,440 Speaker 2: this campaign on this issue which is quite disappointing, and 73 00:04:01,760 --> 00:04:05,280 Speaker 2: it does not understand the needs of my family. 74 00:04:06,040 --> 00:04:09,440 Speaker 1: All right, So you reckon people have been luck sort 75 00:04:09,480 --> 00:04:11,160 Speaker 1: of having a crack at you because you're not in 76 00:04:11,640 --> 00:04:12,240 Speaker 1: the electorate. 77 00:04:13,080 --> 00:04:16,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, most certainly without knowing or understanding the needs of 78 00:04:16,600 --> 00:04:18,640 Speaker 2: what my family currently needs. We need to put our 79 00:04:18,720 --> 00:04:21,120 Speaker 2: children first, after all, at the end of the day, 80 00:04:21,160 --> 00:04:22,400 Speaker 2: we are a family, all right. 81 00:04:22,640 --> 00:04:25,000 Speaker 1: Now, in terms of some of the other issues in 82 00:04:25,040 --> 00:04:29,080 Speaker 1: the electrodes, do you support the five hundred large suburban blocks, 83 00:04:29,160 --> 00:04:32,520 Speaker 1: those four thousand square meter blocks shown in the final 84 00:04:32,600 --> 00:04:35,680 Speaker 1: draft of the Humpty Do Activity Center as proposed by 85 00:04:35,720 --> 00:04:38,000 Speaker 1: the Planning Commission? And do you think that these many 86 00:04:38,120 --> 00:04:41,479 Speaker 1: large suburban blocks are going to affect negatively the amenity 87 00:04:41,600 --> 00:04:43,239 Speaker 1: and character of the rural area. 88 00:04:44,760 --> 00:04:47,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, look, Katie, no, I don't support them. The planning 89 00:04:47,680 --> 00:04:51,080 Speaker 2: document recently released is exactly the same as the first 90 00:04:51,120 --> 00:04:54,320 Speaker 2: document released on this area. They have not changed anything 91 00:04:54,320 --> 00:04:57,320 Speaker 2: from the original document. It really annoys me in an 92 00:04:57,320 --> 00:05:00,120 Speaker 2: annoys a rural residence. I've looked at the planned and 93 00:05:00,120 --> 00:05:02,720 Speaker 2: I am definitely concerned. I know people who have put 94 00:05:02,760 --> 00:05:05,719 Speaker 2: into admissions to the Planning Commission and they have not 95 00:05:05,800 --> 00:05:08,400 Speaker 2: listened to any of them. If elected, one of my 96 00:05:08,480 --> 00:05:10,800 Speaker 2: first jobs as a priority will be to set up 97 00:05:10,800 --> 00:05:13,120 Speaker 2: a meeting with the Planning Commission and ask them why 98 00:05:13,160 --> 00:05:18,200 Speaker 2: they did not take into consideration the needs of the residents. 99 00:05:18,279 --> 00:05:20,400 Speaker 2: And I sat down with Jerry actually on this one 100 00:05:20,400 --> 00:05:21,520 Speaker 2: the other day and we had a bit of a 101 00:05:21,560 --> 00:05:23,760 Speaker 2: look over it. You know, there's a large section of 102 00:05:23,760 --> 00:05:26,440 Speaker 2: this area that is prone to flooding as well, so 103 00:05:26,600 --> 00:05:29,920 Speaker 2: some of these blocks are not suitable. All right, do 104 00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:30,760 Speaker 2: you for the area? 105 00:05:30,960 --> 00:05:35,320 Speaker 1: Do you support the incorporation of Marakai into Lichfield Council boundaries. 106 00:05:36,440 --> 00:05:40,479 Speaker 2: I definitely do not. I've been to Marachai many times 107 00:05:40,520 --> 00:05:42,720 Speaker 2: and had lots of chats with people there, but people 108 00:05:42,760 --> 00:05:44,920 Speaker 2: are quite happy with how things are going down there. 109 00:05:45,080 --> 00:05:48,200 Speaker 2: The community is cohesive and they really like it that way. 110 00:05:48,520 --> 00:05:52,520 Speaker 2: There are no benefit to gains to being incorporated under 111 00:05:52,560 --> 00:05:55,520 Speaker 2: Lichfield Council. The Labor government have tried it and the 112 00:05:55,520 --> 00:05:58,320 Speaker 2: COP has thought about it, but it is wrong and 113 00:05:58,360 --> 00:06:01,520 Speaker 2: I strongly oppose it. A lot with the constituent. 114 00:06:01,279 --> 00:06:04,400 Speaker 1: Blindra a few questions coming through people asking or saying 115 00:06:04,440 --> 00:06:07,880 Speaker 1: that you'd also run for the CLP or try it, 116 00:06:08,000 --> 00:06:10,200 Speaker 1: or you know, I ran for pre selection for the CLP. 117 00:06:10,360 --> 00:06:11,040 Speaker 1: Is that correct? 118 00:06:11,960 --> 00:06:15,320 Speaker 2: Yes, that is correct, Katie. I have been in CLP. 119 00:06:15,400 --> 00:06:17,880 Speaker 2: I sat with CLP for about six months. I was 120 00:06:17,880 --> 00:06:20,680 Speaker 2: initially sourced by them. I'm really glad I did that. 121 00:06:20,760 --> 00:06:23,760 Speaker 2: It gave me a very good insight into party politics 122 00:06:23,839 --> 00:06:26,680 Speaker 2: over that so over that time, but I found that 123 00:06:26,720 --> 00:06:28,800 Speaker 2: I was uncomfortable and that it did not suit me 124 00:06:28,960 --> 00:06:31,080 Speaker 2: as a person, so I resigned from the CLP. 125 00:06:31,279 --> 00:06:33,520 Speaker 1: All right, now you've got forty five seconds to go. 126 00:06:33,560 --> 00:06:40,200 Speaker 1: Why should people vote for you, Belinda O Katie. 127 00:06:40,640 --> 00:06:43,320 Speaker 2: Look, I feel that we need a strong person to 128 00:06:43,680 --> 00:06:47,839 Speaker 2: represent our community here, and you know we'll fight for 129 00:06:47,880 --> 00:06:50,760 Speaker 2: its fair share. I'm a strong candidate for this role. 130 00:06:50,880 --> 00:06:54,839 Speaker 2: I'm persistent, I'm determined. I'm a good communicator, and I 131 00:06:54,960 --> 00:06:58,719 Speaker 2: believe that open a frank communication as an independent is 132 00:06:58,720 --> 00:07:01,240 Speaker 2: the only way to go to ensure that people's views 133 00:07:01,320 --> 00:07:04,960 Speaker 2: and concern the heard, valued, actioned and brought forward. As 134 00:07:04,960 --> 00:07:08,159 Speaker 2: an independent, I don't have to compromise the needs of 135 00:07:08,160 --> 00:07:10,200 Speaker 2: the electorate to any party platform. 136 00:07:11,080 --> 00:07:15,200 Speaker 1: All right, well, Belinda, you're about four seconds under, as 137 00:07:15,320 --> 00:07:17,560 Speaker 1: our other candidates have been as well. Thank you so 138 00:07:17,640 --> 00:07:19,680 Speaker 1: much for your time this morning. Really appreciate it. 139 00:07:20,760 --> 00:07:22,200 Speaker 2: Thanks Katie, thank you.