1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:02,840 Speaker 1: Right now. I believe that I've got on the line. 2 00:00:03,080 --> 00:00:06,880 Speaker 1: I believe I am joined by Athena Pasco Bell. Right now, 3 00:00:06,960 --> 00:00:08,760 Speaker 1: let me make sure that I've got it all organized. 4 00:00:08,960 --> 00:00:10,200 Speaker 1: Good morning to you, Athena. 5 00:00:11,400 --> 00:00:12,720 Speaker 2: Good morning, Athena. 6 00:00:12,800 --> 00:00:14,920 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for your time. Now are you 7 00:00:15,080 --> 00:00:16,560 Speaker 1: ready to get started? 8 00:00:17,560 --> 00:00:18,880 Speaker 2: I am ready, all right. 9 00:00:18,760 --> 00:00:21,520 Speaker 1: We've got four minutes now. Athena, let me ask you first. 10 00:00:21,840 --> 00:00:23,960 Speaker 1: I know that you're obviously in the mayor's role now, 11 00:00:24,040 --> 00:00:26,480 Speaker 1: but what job were you in before you became mayor? 12 00:00:28,160 --> 00:00:31,520 Speaker 2: Previously I managed a small team of photographers, data analysts 13 00:00:31,600 --> 00:00:36,160 Speaker 2: and geographic information system stuff, and we managed databases and systems. 14 00:00:36,400 --> 00:00:40,040 Speaker 2: Undertook data analysis to the Northern Territory government and developed 15 00:00:40,040 --> 00:00:43,800 Speaker 2: a number of web applications for what was the Department 16 00:00:43,840 --> 00:00:47,440 Speaker 2: of Environment Natural Resources a few years ago. So that 17 00:00:47,600 --> 00:00:50,240 Speaker 2: was me data analysis and databases. 18 00:00:50,840 --> 00:00:53,320 Speaker 1: And Athena, how long have you lived in Palmerston. 19 00:00:55,040 --> 00:00:57,560 Speaker 2: We moved here in two thousand and four and my 20 00:00:57,680 --> 00:00:58,960 Speaker 2: kids were born here as well. 21 00:01:00,320 --> 00:01:02,520 Speaker 1: And why did you decide to put your hand up 22 00:01:02,560 --> 00:01:05,680 Speaker 1: to run for there? Not only initially but this time round? 23 00:01:07,600 --> 00:01:10,600 Speaker 2: Well, initially because there was a need to overhaul the 24 00:01:10,640 --> 00:01:14,240 Speaker 2: way council operated and service the community. So I've seen 25 00:01:14,280 --> 00:01:18,080 Speaker 2: significant changes in the way. I've overseen significant changes in 26 00:01:18,080 --> 00:01:21,759 Speaker 2: the way that council operates, including new strategic direction through 27 00:01:21,760 --> 00:01:25,440 Speaker 2: the community Plan, finding efficiencies. So we found nine hundred 28 00:01:25,520 --> 00:01:29,680 Speaker 2: thousand dollars savings annually in our waste services by converting 29 00:01:29,680 --> 00:01:33,160 Speaker 2: to LED street lights, five hundred thousand dollars in maintenance 30 00:01:33,160 --> 00:01:36,240 Speaker 2: and running costs every year. We are continuing to find 31 00:01:36,280 --> 00:01:41,240 Speaker 2: those efficiencies through the installation of LED lighting and solar 32 00:01:41,280 --> 00:01:45,199 Speaker 2: to council facilities. We're in the process of redeveloping Gray 33 00:01:45,240 --> 00:01:48,400 Speaker 2: Community Hall and we've got plans to redevelop the swimming 34 00:01:48,400 --> 00:01:52,480 Speaker 2: pool site into a very modern and contemporary community facility 35 00:01:52,840 --> 00:01:56,120 Speaker 2: and an additional community facility out of the Collie as 36 00:01:56,160 --> 00:01:58,760 Speaker 2: a COALA Community Hub, which we've just secured a lease over. 37 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:01,760 Speaker 2: Its still a lot of work that needs to be 38 00:02:01,920 --> 00:02:05,600 Speaker 2: done and I'm the person with the proven track record 39 00:02:05,760 --> 00:02:09,040 Speaker 2: and the skills to keep delivering for Palmerston and Asina. 40 00:02:09,200 --> 00:02:11,440 Speaker 1: What are some of the bigger issues do you feel 41 00:02:11,480 --> 00:02:12,800 Speaker 1: for Palmerston at the moment. 42 00:02:14,560 --> 00:02:18,959 Speaker 2: Look, crime is always an issue, It's always at people's forethoughts. 43 00:02:19,840 --> 00:02:23,720 Speaker 2: It's not completely a council responsibility, but I have been 44 00:02:23,800 --> 00:02:27,600 Speaker 2: meeting regularly with the local MLA Police Northern Territory Government 45 00:02:27,840 --> 00:02:32,360 Speaker 2: to work collaboratively on those sort of solutions. We have 46 00:02:32,440 --> 00:02:36,160 Speaker 2: assisted police to get additional CCTV cameras in our city 47 00:02:36,200 --> 00:02:40,600 Speaker 2: center and some of the surrounding areas. There's also changing 48 00:02:40,680 --> 00:02:44,040 Speaker 2: technology which the City of Palmerston needs to keep on 49 00:02:44,120 --> 00:02:46,480 Speaker 2: top of, and that's to help with our service improvements 50 00:02:46,480 --> 00:02:51,760 Speaker 2: and efficiencies. There is a need to improve efficiency in 51 00:02:51,880 --> 00:02:55,240 Speaker 2: water use across a number of areas, including our notable 52 00:02:55,280 --> 00:02:58,720 Speaker 2: water supply and the groundwater which I know Ryan mentioned 53 00:02:59,280 --> 00:03:02,160 Speaker 2: it's not unknown, it is very well known that that 54 00:03:02,320 --> 00:03:05,840 Speaker 2: system is overutilized and we've already started to look into 55 00:03:05,880 --> 00:03:09,760 Speaker 2: things like manage groundwater recharged in order to protect that 56 00:03:09,800 --> 00:03:14,280 Speaker 2: system and also reducing consumption of that water. The smartest 57 00:03:14,280 --> 00:03:16,880 Speaker 2: way to undertake countful business, and this is part of 58 00:03:16,880 --> 00:03:20,440 Speaker 2: the work I did in government was redeveloping systems in 59 00:03:20,520 --> 00:03:25,120 Speaker 2: order to make our business more efficient. We're upgrading council fability, 60 00:03:25,200 --> 00:03:28,200 Speaker 2: so that needs to be done as well. We cater 61 00:03:28,320 --> 00:03:31,720 Speaker 2: to the requirements of the Palmerston community and we're looking 62 00:03:31,760 --> 00:03:35,640 Speaker 2: at age appropriate services and opportunities. We have a community 63 00:03:35,680 --> 00:03:38,640 Speaker 2: Reporting studio which is currently being built in the library. 64 00:03:39,600 --> 00:03:42,280 Speaker 2: There's a need for strong economic growth and development of 65 00:03:42,320 --> 00:03:45,240 Speaker 2: industries and we'd like them to set up in Palmerston. 66 00:03:45,360 --> 00:03:48,120 Speaker 2: So there is the Palmerston Local Economic Plan that was 67 00:03:48,200 --> 00:03:49,880 Speaker 2: developed and we need to implement that. 68 00:03:50,400 --> 00:03:53,720 Speaker 1: Sena, you've only got about only got about thirty seconds left. 69 00:03:53,760 --> 00:03:55,280 Speaker 1: Do you want to tell us? Why do you reckon? 70 00:03:55,280 --> 00:03:56,440 Speaker 1: People should vote for you? 71 00:03:58,560 --> 00:04:01,400 Speaker 2: Look, I am and that's member of the community. I'm 72 00:04:01,400 --> 00:04:04,800 Speaker 2: involved in various community groups as a volunteers. I'm independent, 73 00:04:04,960 --> 00:04:08,000 Speaker 2: I work with all stakeholders. I've been an effective lobbyer 74 00:04:08,120 --> 00:04:11,640 Speaker 2: with both tiers of government. I don't really care for 75 00:04:11,960 --> 00:04:14,560 Speaker 2: what political persuasion they are. We just need to get 76 00:04:14,560 --> 00:04:16,960 Speaker 2: on and do the job. And I have a demonstrated 77 00:04:17,120 --> 00:04:20,159 Speaker 2: track record in government as a public service and also 78 00:04:20,240 --> 00:04:22,760 Speaker 2: as mayor on the council. I just get in there 79 00:04:22,760 --> 00:04:26,599 Speaker 2: and get the job done. I don't bring my personal mayor. 80 00:04:27,400 --> 00:04:30,320 Speaker 1: We have run out of time a Sena Pasco Bell, 81 00:04:30,480 --> 00:04:32,559 Speaker 1: thank you very much for your time. All the best 82 00:04:32,600 --> 00:04:35,600 Speaker 1: on the weekend. Thank you, thank you.