Augusta Margaret River Shire council candidates:
GETTING more business on the Main Street, finishing the Perimeter Road and finding innovative ways to fund the cultural centre are all on the books for councillor-hopeful Pauline McLeod.
After living in Margaret River for 30 years Mrs McLeod has decided to throw her hat into the ring to help serve the community.
Owning Margaret River Book Shop for eight years, Mrs McLeod knows the difficulties running a small business in town can have and aims to help get more local businesses on the main street.
"It's a real challenge in our community to ensure locally owned business can get up in the main strip," she said.
"That requires good strategic planning by council.
"When you look at it now it's full of chain stores as they are the only ones who can afford to be there."
Mrs McLeod believes the shire needs to think strategically if businesses are to survive and thrive on the main street and in the region.
"If more jobs are going to be created and our local economy is to remain vibrant community venture that identify our unique rural character, such as the farmers and street markets need to recognised as vital to the design process," she said.
"The Margaret River brand is important, but what's more important is the community that creates that brand."
This strategic thinking could also apply to other areas of council.
"The shire has a relatively small rate base from which to fund essential services," Mrs McLeod said.
"Necessary infrastructure, such as the redevelopment of the cultural centre precinct, can occur without the burden falling on ratepayers through innovative design that will attract financial support from state and federal governments."
As a former president of Tourism South West, Mrs McLeod hopes Margaret River can further its reputation as a biodiversity hotspot and plans to tackle environmental issues.
During her time as president she played a role in saving the old growth forest in the South West and lobbied against coal mining in the region.
"The future of the world is in renewable energy," she said.
"If elected I would enjoy the challenge of helping with the promotion of renewable energy sources within the community."
Mrs McLeod is standing in the North Ward in the upcoming elections scheduled to take place on October 17.
