NORTH Coast ward councillor Sonet Coetzee says it’s time for change at the City of Wanneroo.
Cr Coetzee said during her two years as a councillor she had seen a lot of the politics and when the opportunity to run for mayor came up she put her hand up.
“I’ve got fresh ideas and I’ve got the energy,’’ she said.
If elected as mayor on Saturday, October 19 Cr Coetzee said she wants to establish council permit and licence fee relief for new small, home-based and start-up businesses in the City of Wanneroo, more affordable recreational options, plant an extra 20,000 trees and better facilities for junior sports as well as rejuvenate the older suburbs.
Cr Coetzee, who said she is not a member of any political party, said these issues were in feedback from friends and people in the community.
As far as she was concerned each item should be given an equal high priority.
She said people were against any rate increase even the 1.8 per cent increase this year and continuing to deliver low rate increases was something ratepayers told her they wanted.
When asked where the city would get the money from to fund more affordable recreational options, plant an extra 20,000 trees and better facilities for junior sports as well as rejuvenate the older suburbs if it was also providing permit and licence fee relief as well as minimising rate increases she said from the fees the city charges, the state and federal governments and Lotterywest grants.
“It’s all in the housekeeping – making sure that money is not spent on unnecessary things.’’
She said the city should avoid going into debt.
“Yes you go into debt with a loan but you have a lot of assets around it and only for long-term commitments.’’
One of her commitments if she becomes the mayor will be to have new short stay camping and caravan park facilities built in the City of Wanneroo.
“The priority is the Quinns caravan park, which has been talked about for years and there is a consultation group going now and a working group due to start but things need to move faster.
“But not that fast that the community is not consulted.
“I want the community to be on board with everything – I want everyone to be happy.’’
Her other campaign pledge is to work to have council-owned land developed for hotel accommodation.
“The city has two golf courses where hotels or motels could go and we should explore that opportunity.
“Tourism comes into it as well – tourism brings more jobs.’’
On Wednesday, October 16 a text message titled Vote4Pool was sent to North Coast ward residents implying the only way to get a north coast swimming pool would require voting for Sonet Coetzee for mayor and Chris Baker for councillor.
Cr Coetzee said she understood there was land about 250m from the proposed Yanchep train station available for the proposed north coast swimming pool.
She said once the rail line was extended to Yanchep children in Clarkson and the stations in between would be able to get to the swimming pool.
Her concern with the Alkimos swimming pool proposal was the state government was still to buy the land and at present it was still a strawberry farm.
