Survey Responses

Q. What are the three key issues impacting your council?

 

​A.

• The Ballarat City Council’s priorities are not the same as our priorities. They are spending our money on things that we don’t want and don’t need. They are doing what they want, not what we want. We want them to have real and transparent community consultation, without a predetermined agenda. The silent majority matters.

 

 

• Focus on delivering the basics very well. Fix our roads. Keep our rates down.

       Collect our rubbish weekly, not fortnightly. Fix our footpaths. Free parking in the CBD 

       to support small businesses.

       Street cleaning. Sports facilities. Heritage protection.

       Sufficient infrastructure for growth, including drains.

       New and improved children’s playgrounds. Elderly, Disability & Youth Services. More             green, open spaces. Off leash dog parks. Public Amenities. Services for the homeless.

       Public safety.

       Responsible resource management and best value.

       Local issues only, not politics. No junkets.

       In the 2024 Community Satisfaction Survey most residents surveyed were unsatisfied           with Ballarat City Council on:

       -Value for money

       -Overall Council direction

       -Consultation and engagement

       -Community decisions

       -Sealed local roads. 

       In those categories its performance was also below the state average. This is                         unacceptable.

 

• Ballarat needs councilors who are not afraid to hold the City of Ballarat CEO accountable.

       I have integrity, common sense, experience and determination.

       I’m a practical problem solver, focused on workable solutions that get results.

       I will stand up for what you want, acting in your best interests.

       I will ask questions, provide scrutiny and hold them accountable for delivering what we         want.

 

 

Q. Do you have any political party affiliations or memberships? If so, what are they?

A. No, I have none.

 

Q. Have you ever been a member of a political party or union? If so, what and when?

A. I am a self funded, Independent Candidate. I have accepted no donations from anybody. I was a member of the United Australia Party briefly, their memberships were free. I have since cancelled it.  

 

Q. Do you live in the ward you are running in?

A. I live in Delacombe, close to Alfredton. For 34 years, as a uniformed patrol policeman, prosecutor and specialist fraud detective, I have helped thousands of people with their problems, all sorts of problems and also protected the public from criminals.

I really do care and I like helping people. That is exactly the reason I joined the police force when I was just twenty years old.

My point is that I did my best on every single shift I worked, every job I attended, for the people I was helping.

I am professional and I take pride in doing a good job. I worked my arse off to help those people, I went above and beyond to solve their problems & improve their situations because it was my job and my responsibility to do so. I gave them excellent customer service. I was driven.

I do get good results using my knowledge, experience, skills and persistence. I am results focused.

I am also a fighter against corruption.

If I am elected to council I would do the same type of caring, professional, diligent and determined job to represent the people of Alfredton Ward and also of Ballarat. It would be my honor to do so.

​

Vote 1 Damon Saunders for Alfredton Ward – Ballarat Council.  

 

See damonsaunders.com