What I see for Glenorchy.

Not long ago I stood at a resident's front door and asked him what he wanted from his council. His list was short. “I want to get to the shops and to work without hassle, a park for the kids and somewhere to let the dog off the lead. Oh, and can you do something about the driveway crossover that scrapes my car every time? And keep the rates down while you're at it.”

He wasn't asking for much. He was asking for what he'd already paid for. Simple things, done well, by a council that gets on with it. That's what every good city is built on.

But here's what stood out to me most. He never once mentioned leaving. He loves his suburb and he wants his future here. He just wants everyday life to be a little easier. That's Glenorchy all over, we don't want handouts, we want a fair go and we'll do the rest ourselves.

I've tried to bring that same work ethic to the council table since 2021. I've asked the tough questions, pointed out the risks and made some hard decisions. The pool closure was one of the hardest. But look at what's come from it. The funding has repaired and reopened a much loved asset and we now have a business case and future plans for a regional aquatic centre. Exactly what I said we needed.

I was loud in helping deliver our life changing Youth Hub, new parks across our suburbs and the major playground at Benjafield Park. The Tolosa Dam renewal, with the Tolosa Park renewal now well on the way. I inspired a cultural events grant program and I even got the major supermarkets to pick up stray shopping trolleys, because pride in a city starts with the small things, including representing resident issues to Council. All of this shows I'm an active representative, not just talk. I've helped deliver the strategic plan set at the start of this term.

Looking forward, we have a new Strategic Plan to create and I'm determined to refresh our Community Plan. That means leading a new team of elected members and setting a vision and course for the next ten years.

We are the second largest city in southern Tasmania, we're Hobart's biggest competitor and it's time we acted like it. For too long we've taken what's left over, overlooked for funding and passed over for priority. If elected as Mayor, that stops. I'm determined that we start backing ourselves and securing our fair share.

Let's attract new business and industry, create and fill office spaces with careers our kids don't have to leave home to find. We can build the homes, from medium density to new subdivisions and finally activate the Northern Suburbs transport corridor. We must expand our sporting fields and reimagine the KGV sporting precinct. We can finish the new Tolosa Park, imagine treetop walks, adventure trails, a renewed mountain bike track and a variety of walking trails. A place families across the south, and even the north, drive to, not through. None of this is a dream, it's a plan.

So here's what I ask of you. Expect more. From your Mayor, from your elected members, from your city, from your neighbours and from yourself. Talk to your neighbours and back local business, because the next chapter of Glenorchy won't be written for us. It will be written by us, street by street, suburb by suburb, choice by choice.

I live here. I came to this city by choice and it has given me everything. My aim is simple, to leave every person and every place better than I found them. Together, that's exactly what we'll do, the essentials done brilliantly, a city proud, clean and safe, with a strong voice that will not live in anyone's shadow.

The best of Glenorchy is ahead of us. Let's go and get it.

Glenorchy First.