The Queanbeyan West resident said she’s keen to serve her community once again, and said it’s important the new council works for the community.

“It’s a very exciting time for the region, in bringing the two councils together, and there is a lot of work to be done there,” Ms Whelan said.

She hopes to bring her years of experience to the table for the new council.

“I want to see the CBD redeveloped, but I want to see it redeveloped in keeping with Queanbeyan. I don’t want something that looks like any anonymous town in Australia,” she said.

“We need to encourage business in the CBD, that’s why one of the things I did in the last term was get an economic development unit up and running. I’m hoping out of that we can get some really good strategies to encourage new business in the CBD, so once again our CBD is thriving. “

Ms Whelan said she’s spoken to constituents who talk about how the town centre used to be bustling.

“I want to get back to where we’ve got a thriving business sector in the city, that’s one of the things I’m really hoping council can focus on in the next three years.”

Ms Whelan also hopes to see the regional sporting complex at South Jerrabomberra completed.

“It’s something I’ve had on my to-do list for a long time, and it’s finally starting to happen,” she said.

Ms Whelan is running as an independent in a group with her daughter Katie Whelan, Karabar residents Jason Webb and Helen Langford, Wamboin’s Tanya Davis and John Martin of Bungendore.