Cambridge has been my home for eight years, where I work and where my children attend local schools. Our heritage architecture, green belt, and magnificent trees make up the towns character that we need to build with care and integrity.
Prioritised spending on what we need rather than what we may want can be politically unpopular but financially prudent.

Managing the Cambridge Information Centre for three years gave me the privilege of meeting and listening to many local people as well as visitors, and as an Autumn Festival trustee I support events that benefit our community. However, I believe we need a sustainable long term plan to prepare the town for economic and social impacts of an aging and growing community, and the SH1 bypass.

Attracting visitors, businesses that share the values of the town, and sustaining the social and economic well-being of the community are my priorities.   

Top 5 Issues

1. Sustainable long term plannning to prepare for an aging and growing population.
2. Prioritised spending based on need.
3. Preparation for the SH1 bypass
4. An effective communiciation link between council and the community.
5. Maintain town character.

Personal Profile

My family, my husband and two children, moved to Cambridge to be closer to our families and to enjoy a lifestyle away from hours spent in Auckland traffic. After eight years in Cambridge we still appreciate the short trip to work, our children can cycle to school and if we are feeling particularly energetic we can walk the 6 km to town from our small lifestyle block.
I'm originally from the Waikato and was pleased be back after years in Auckland, a short time in Wellington and several years living overseas.
I represent a portion of the community who: are aged under 50; are parents of school age children (including a teenager); are a community volunteer; play sport; have children who play sport; work in Cambridge; are relatively new to Cambridge; are ratepayers; and once rented a house in Cambridge. Until recently my elderly father was in Resthaven Resthome and I have an appreciation of what life is like for the senior members of our community. 
I have also had several businesses and been employed in a variety of roles including central government. (I was told this might help me cope with the frustrating bureaucracy of local goverment- one can only hope!)

I'm a person who looks a the whole picture and longterm, but also who likes to get things done. We have  some in the community who are very keen to have a third bridge built over the Waikato River.  It was made apparent recently by our Mayor that the cost (in the many millions of dollars) for a new bridge would fall on the community as it would not be Transit funded. We are going to be bypassed by SH1 in the next few years and we do not yet know the impact the drop in traffic will have on traffic over our existing bridges. I believe it is best that we wait and see how everything changes before we consider making such a major decision.

Cambridge can be a fun place for all ages. If we plan well Cambridge can be an even better place that our children to enjoy from when they are very young up till when they are adults, and where they may evenutally settle.  

My role working for Sustainable Cambridge has a long term vision to make Cambridge a better place now and for our future generations.  It's a very positive and manageable  goal that we can all share.