By Corey Everitt
Promising to tackle the ‘alarming deterioration’ of the shire’s roads and be the voice for ‘overlooked’ rural residents, Trudi Paton is a brand-new candidate to this year’s election looking to put ‘a lot of questions’ to the council.
An Upper Beaconsfield resident for 30 years, Paton nominated for the Westernport Ward as she grew up in Cardinia’s rural areas of Catani and Garfield.
The family ran a farm in Catani and it was sold only a few years ago.
She wants to tackle the bread-and-butter issues, roads and rates, both felt acutely throughout Westernport.
“I hear others comment on their dissatisfaction about the state of our roads and roadsides. I think council has responsibility to spend ratepayer’s funds where ratepayers want it to be spent. I’m concerned about economic and social futures in Cardinia and so, want to protect rights and have a positive impact on the debt crisis that is growing,” Paton said.
“Residents in rural communities in Cardinia face unique challenges and I think that they are somewhat overlooked with council focusing on expanding development along main growth corridors.
“I want to be a voice for Westernport Ward and other rural communities at council meetings to ensure that everyone feels heard, not just the loudest platforms.”
Paton has a business background working in IT and has experience in volunteering particularly through sporting clubs and music groups.
She raised her four children with her husband in the local area, her endearment for the shire comes from it’s natural beauty and her love for walking.
In 2019 she and her husband walked the Camino Frances, walking 800km over 35 days from southern France to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. They would do the walk again in 2022 from Lisbon.
For over 20 years, she has been involved with the Melbourne Youth Chorale where she helps develop young people’s social and musical skills.
“My main passion is to promote young people in their journey to adult,” Paton said.
“Being part of each child’s journey, witnessing their transformation has been a great reward for my efforts.”
This experience in these roles she wants to take to the council to address the concerns of residents across the shire.
From losing farming land to declining local business, this is ‘not the direction that I want to see Cardinia heading’.
“In recent years I’ve observed an alarming deterioration in the state of our roads and footpaths and also the street appeal of our main towns,” she said.
“I don’t understand how council has not acted to prevent the demise of Pakenham Place as a shopping precinct.
“Businesses across the shire are closing or moving away due to declining economic activity, fuelled by rising cost of living and increasing taxes, rates and charges.
“Cardinia has no infrastructure to support the rate of housing development in Cardinia and our prized farming land is being lost. How will we feed our future selves?
“I’m all for inner Melbourne increasing housing density but expansion and congestion out here doesn’t make sense to me.”
In 2022, Paton joined the Libertarian Party but received no endorsement from the party on her nomination and no direction for preferences.
She says she will run a campaign as an independent with her intention only to better the community and approach residents outside of ‘labels’.
“My only motive in taking on this role is for the betterment of Cardinia people and environs. I have no private ambition,” Paton said.
“I don’t see labels, I see people. I approach my work with commitment, diligence and integrity. I won’t offer what I can’t deliver. I am a resourceful and creative troubleshooter. If there’s a better way to solve an issue, I’ll find it and act on it.
“My role will be to help residents help themselves and to clear barriers from their path to prosperity.”
