Ruth Fagan has said parking options off the main street as well as an alternate heavy vehicle route should be developed before Kendal St undergoes changes
Changes to Kendal St outlined in the draft main street redevelopment proposal are not appropriate for Cowra at this time, council election candidate Ruth Fagan has said.
Ms Fagan said parking options off the main street as well as an alternate heavy vehicle route should be developed before Kendal St undergoes changes.
Money that would be spent on redeveloping the main street as proposed in the draft plan would be better spent investigating an alternate heavy vehicle route, she said.
"It's taken us 30 years to get the main street looking as good as it does. They're proposing to take the trees out now and plant new ones," she said.
Ms Fagan, a councillor between 2004 and 2008, said if elected to council she would advocate for an alternate heavy vehicle route for Cowra, describing it as "crucial" for the town.
"I think the main street is just chock-a-block with heavy vehicles travelling through," she said.
If on council she said she would encourage it to look at forming a development plan for Railway Lane, consider a local cinema, investigate more tourism attractions, and encourage development of education options for school leavers.
Ms Fagan said she would also encourage council to look at establishing new technology to prepare for the National Broadband Network's arrival, and working with the business community to grow their businesses and employee numbers.
"I think we should encourage the businesses we've got to expand," she said.
"The best way to have more employment is to encourage the businesses we have to expand."
Ms Fagan said she is standing for election to council because she has enthusiasm, innovative ideas and experience.
"A strong community, with an excellent plan for the future, taking on modern ideas and confident in making changes will attract more people, new businesses and thrive in regional NSW.
"My experience, interests, passion, vision and willingness to make hard decisions will help take Cowra into the future.
"A number of initiatives in which I was involved, as a councillor from 2004 to 2008, including the [sewage] treatment works, the emergency water supply, the Peace Park Precinct, Darbys Falls water treatment and the Local Environmental Plan have been started and I would like to see these finalised and others begun."
She said her local involvement as manager and owner of businesses has given her firsthand knowledge of the community.
Ms Fagan has worked as editor of the Cowra Guardian, owner of the Bottom Drawer gift shop, owner of the Vineyard Motel, tourism manager of the Japanese Garden and Visitors Centre, owner of a business consultancy and owner of The Closet women's retail store.
She has also gained executive and board experience spending 10 years on the Tourism NSW Board, 10 years on the Cowra Tourism Corporation Board, eight years on the Board of the Central West Community College, and three years on the NSW Department of Planning Regional Advisory Panel.
Ms Fagan is also currently on the Western Joint Regional Planning Panel.