Labor Candidate for Eden-Monaro, Colonel Mike Kelly attended a barbecue hosted by the Majors Creek Branch of Country Labor on Sunday.
While quite familiar with stopping in Braidwood, it was Colonel Kelly's first trip to Majors Creek. Around 50 people attended the function.
Col. Kelly said that he was "very impressed with the character of the area and was hoping to promote cultural and heritage tourism in the area".
Col. Kelly was aware of the strength of the arts sector locally and had been informed of the need for an artists' centre and was keen to explore the idea.
Calling himself a 'history buff', who had studied a double major in ancient and modern history at University.
Kelly can claim a connection to Braidwood, with his 90 year old Grand Uncle, Father John Kelly serving as Parish priest at St Bedes in the 1970s. Within the electorate, his forebear also started the Bega Cheese Factory.
Kelly sees the Kings Highway as a significant issue locally, as well as the pressure that will be put on the road by the Bungendore Defence HQ, which he described as being "shamelessly politically driven" and with "no thought to the infrastructure."
As a military man, Colonel Kelly surmised that many of the defence workers would have spouses in employment and kids at high school, so would mostly live in Queanbeyan and Jerrabomberra. However he said that there would be a significant impact with the extra traffic, pointing out that many of the staff would be working day and night and suffering fatigue.
Kelly is concerned for the levels of funding to local government and said he wants "to see what can be done to improve the levels of money, which tends to focus on the cities rather than regions."
On a wider level, Col. Kelly said that climate change was a big issue. Farmers in the electorate were effected by climate change as much as anyone else. "Water management was a significant issue" he said and there are a "range of solutions available including funding for water tanks and micro generation of power."
Recently attending a community meeting in Bermagui to seek feedback on the clean energy action plan for Bega Valley Shire: 50/50 by 2020 plan, Kelly said that a "Rudd Labor Government would offer Bega Valley Shire homeowners interest free loans of up to $10,000 to help make existing homes greener and more energy and water efficient."
"A lot is being done by people in Bega Valley Shire already to green their homes." In 2006, the Bega Valley Shire community voted to adopt targets of a 50% reduction in energy consumption and a 50% use of renewable energy by the year 2020. These targets were unanimously supported by the Bega Valley Shire Council. Eurobbodalla Shire adopted the targets later that year, followed by The Snowy River Shire this year.
Labor's green renovation loans will help with the upfront costs to purchase items including: solar panels, rainwater tanks, roof insulation, solar hot water heaters, high efficiency gas hot water, heaters, awnings, grey water recycling, systems; and energy efficient lighting.
The loans of up to $10,000 will be available to households across Australia whose household income is below $250,000, would be interest free and only indexed to CPI.
With the Federal Election approaching the seat of Eden-Monaro, Colonel Kelly's performance is being watched carefully by election analysts. As a bellwether seat Eden-Monaro traditionally goes to the party that wins government.
Colonel Kelly's new campaign office will open shortly in Crawford Street Queanbeyan close to the Council Chambers.
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